$1.3m for Laverton airport upgrades
A $1.3 million upgrade of the Laverton Airport is set to start later this year after councillors voted to accept a tender for the runway works. The $1.3m tender by Fulton Hogan for the construction of turning nodes, resealing the runway, taxiways, apron and parking areas was accepted at last week’s council meeting, with work expected to be completed by the end of October.
Shire of Laverton chief executive Peter Naylor said the work would provide the opportunity for mining charter flights to bring in slightly bigger planes, with the airport seeing about 90 flights a month. He said once works were complete, the shire would turn its attention to upgrading the airport terminal and surrounding landscaping.
A 3 per cent differential rate increase and 9.4 per cent increase in minimums were also endorsed by the council at last week’s meeting. The increase in minimums is the first since being held at the same rate from 2019-20. A report to the council stated other rating categories remained in line with the past two years as council received about 94 per cent of its rates from mining categories.
Councillors also approved the development of focus groups including community representatives to undertake research and provide input into matters including airport, racecourse and townscape development.