Wagga City Council has remained tight-lipped on whether mandatory upgrades to security screening will affect the city's airport.
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It follows an announcement by the federal government, that $50 million will be spent on new security equipment at 64 terminals around the nation.
While the initial purchase will be covered, it will be up to local councils to foot the ongoing bill for operation and maintenance, which is estimated to cost between $530,000 and $760,000 each year.
"It has been a longstanding policy of successive Governments that industry is responsible for the cost of security - this includes operating costs," said a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs.
"Airports will continue to meet the operating costs for the new equipment.
"The actual operating costs at each airport will depend on a number of factors including location and the type of equipment in use, as well as the number of screening staff employed.
"The Government is conscious of the impact of security requirements on regional airports and local communities."
The Department of Home Affairs has not indicated whether Wagga will be required to do any upgrades, but has said that each airport has assessed "risk profiles" and "aligned security requirements" with each "threat analysis".
"For security reasons, the Department does not provide details on changes to individual airport security requirements," a spokesperson for the office said.
Similarly council's director of commercial operations, Caroline Angel, has said "Council is not able to discuss any information regarding security matters or upgrades."
But as many of the region's airports currently lack any security screening facilities, the changes are expected to affect some of the Riverina's smaller airports, at least.
"The majority of regional airports required to upgrade screening equipment are already undertaking security screening," the Department spokesperson said.
"These airports are currently responsible for equipment operating and maintenance costs."
Wagga resident John Trevaskis is outraged at the plans, saying the necessity of security should be based on the airport's size and traffic.
"What will be next, security at every train station? People there to check every suitcase as as you go through," Mr Trevaskis asked.
During his brother's prolonged illness earlier this year, Mr Trevaskis became something of a frequent flyer out of Wagga airport.
Each time he made the trip, the return-flight cost in excess of $300.
"I'd pay about $50 for a taxi from San Isidore to the airport, or I'd pay to keep my car there," he said.
"It adds up pretty quickly."
Mr Trevaskis fears the increased cost of operation on airports will either force councils to raise rates or airlines to raise fares.
"It will drive up the prices and drive people off the planes, straining other transport like the trains, and they call that progress," Mr Trevaskis said.
But, of equal concern to Mr Trevaskis is that greater security does not equate greater safety.
"It's ludicrous what they're proposing, it won't stop [terrorism], it'll just make things more expensive for the rest of us," he said.
"Look what happened in New Zealand, it can happen in a church, it can happen anywhere.
"So what are they going to do? Have security screening inside every church? If they really want to do it, they'll find a way.
"What is it they say? Locks are only for the honest. If you want to break in, locks won't stop you."