MOUNT Gambier has missed out on hosting the Qantas Group Pilot Academy capable of training up to 500 pilots a year following the release of a location shortlist by the national carrier.
More than 60 regional cities submitted proposals, culminating in nine regional cities – including Alice Springs, Bendigo, Busselton, Dubbo, Launceston, Mackay, Tamworth, Toowoomba and Wagga Wagga – being selected as finalists.
The academy is due to open in 2019 and seeks to build a “long-term talent pipeline” for Qantas Group airlines, as well as meeting the increasing need for skilled aviators.
Last month, regional cities and state governments were invited to coordinate their applications and put forward their best case to be the home of the new academy.
Criteria included access to uncongested airspace, a certain number of clear weather days per year and infrastructure to support and accommodate up to 100 students in the first year of operation.
Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister David Ridgway expressed disappointment no South Australian regional cities made the shortlist after the government put forward a strong case in support of the regions.
“It is unlikely that any site in Australia would have been able to fulfill all of Qantas’ requirements overnight,” he said.
“Each location within South Australia would have required additional investment from State Government, local councils and the private sector.
“We always stood ready to assist with those investments, but we must always be mindful of value for taxpayers’ money.”
“While we are disappointed with the decision, the government is getting on with delivering payroll tax relief for small businesses, growing our regional visitor economy and investing in regional infrastructure and roads – all of which are important to regional businesses and households.”
Labor MLC Clare Scriven said the academy was an opportunity for the region to create local jobs and train hundreds of pilots.
“This would have been a huge boost for the Limestone Coast,” she said.
“The training of up to 500 pilots in Mount Gambier would have lifted the profile of our area, as well as bringing great economic benefits.
“We need to know what the Marshall Liberal Government did to try to attract this academy to South Australia.
“Did Minister Ridgway meet with Qantas to put our case? Did he lobby on South Australia’s behalf?
“Or does this government’s reluctance to intervene mean that it just sat back and let this opportunity go to the other states?”
Qantas Group Pilot Academy executive manager Wes Nobelius said cities could still be in contention to host a second academy if the demand for pilots was strong enough.
“We think there could be enough demand from the broader industry for us to train up to 500 pilots a year,” he said.
“To do that, we are likely to need two separate academies because of the practical realities of trying to do that much training in a single location.”
