A GROUNDBREAKING alliance between Grant District Council and Regional Express (Rex) Airlines will soon be inked following productive meetings with stakeholders in Sydney this week.
Council chief executive David Singe and mayor Richard Sage met with heads of Australia’s largest regional carrier at its interstate headquarters on Monday to discuss the proposed $129 one-way community fare on 25pc of seats.
Mr Singe said the partnership agreement between council and the airline was expected to be drafted by Rex by the end of the week and was expected to be discussed at next week’s council meeting.
“We have agreed there will be a new fare structure and all we have to do is sort out the details of the working document,” he said.
“Rex will send Grant District Council a detailed proposal of everything involved and then we will get the final details, including when the fares will start.
“While we did discuss some of the details, the meeting was all about how the partnership will work, the bigger picture and how we can build and strengthen the positive relationship between council, Rex and the community.
“We are very excited and we feel it will be both fantastic and a relief for the community when it finally gets sorted out.”
Mr Sage said he was pleased for both the community and council, adding the elected members looked forward to being presented the finer details in the document.
It is hoped the historic agreement signifies an end to turbulence in the relationship between the airline and council.
The agreement follows roundtable talks recently held in Mount Gambier between South East stakeholders and the regional aviation giant, convened by Member for Barker Tony Pasin.
Mr Pasin said the imminent signing of the agreement was a major coup for the South East.
“I am very pleased to hear at a meeting in Sydney, Grant District Council and Rex have executed the partnership agreement, which will see airfares reduced from $177 between Mount Gambier and Adelaide and Mount Gambier and Melbourne to $129,” he said.
“This is the direct result of the meeting commissioned by myself in Mount Gambier and the direct investment the Federal Government has made to the airport redevelopment.
“Obviously the investment in the Mount Gambier Airport and the partnership that has been reached will provide significant dividends for the people in Mount Gambier, in particular in and around the costs of air travel.
“It was clear to me the parties to the partnership, being REX Airlines and Grant District Council, needed to come together and discuss their differences and seek a solution to the issue of expensive flights in and out of Mount Gambier.
“I am pleased in doing so we have achieved a fantastic outcome for the people of Mount Gambier.”
Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell, who also attended the Sydney meeting, said the partnership would benefit travellers and the region’s economy.
“I believe this partnership signals a positive future and I am committed to working with REX to not only ensure the viability of air services to and from Mount Gambier, but hopefully see an increase in services and passenger numbers,” he said.
“The proposed upgrade to the Mount Gambier Airport will provide improved services for the 78,000 passengers a year who use it without increasing passenger levies.
“While there has been much heated debate over airline services in the past, we have now reached a stage where we can all move forward.
“As a community, I suggest we all support this move by REX and Grant District Council and embrace this partnership for the good of our region.”
