Deputy premier John Barilaro has joined the campaign for federal funding to upgrade Newcastle Airport's runway to international standard.
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Mr Barilaro received an update on the campaign to attract $56million for the project prior to unveiling the Astra Aerolab on Tuesday
"Part of the Special Activation Precinct is the airport; but the airport is more than just a passenger airport, it's freight and the industries associated with this region and this precinct. I'm going to have another look at it (the runway)," he said.
"I will get a brief from my agency first and (get an) understanding where the issues may lay and we will revisit the business case on it then we will come back in the new year and talk about it a bit more."
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While Mr Barilaro was keen for the runway upgrade to occur, he insisted the project was a federal responsibility.
"The federal government [should] actually stump up their share for a change, that's the truth," he said.
"I've seen over the past few years that the federal government is quite comfortable with the state picking up the tab for things they would normally have to pay for."
Newcastle Airport chief executive Peter Cock said the Code E upgrade was "incredibly important" for the region and the nation. But he added he remained optimistic about securing federal funding for the project.
"It was exciting today, to hear the Deputy Premier talk about the key role the state government can play in the airport's broader expansion and how essential this was for the success of the Williamtown SAP," he said.
"This would ideally mean the state government co-investing with the airport in upgrading the terminal facilities to complement the federal government's investment in the runway.
"We see the development of international capability, both runway and terminal, as a project where all three levels of government come together to boost regional, state and national recovery at a time when it is most needed."
Mr Barilaro said the newly completed areolab infrastructure would kick-start the site's development, driving innovation and collaboration in the Hunter and benefitting the local community through the creation of thousands of jobs.
"I turned the first sod on this project 18 months ago, and this site has already been transformed to pave the way for a world-leading defence and aerospace precinct," Mr Barilaro said.
"This will allow aviation companies to establish themselves at this new location at Williamtown, as well as create jobs for aerospace engineers, aviation, IT and avionics specialists and attract workers to the Hunter region.
"I want to thank Newcastle Airport, the City of Newcastle and Port Stephens Council for their hard work and commitment to making this project a reality."
Newcastle Airport chief executive Peter Cock thanked the NSW Government for its $11.7million investment in Astra and expanded further about what was to come in the precinct.
"Astra Aerolab is a place where world leading defence, research, aerospace and industry partners will converge to push boundaries, embrace new technologies and develop the jobs for the future," he said.
"It will be truly uplifting for both businesses and their employees. We are determined that it will connect a global workforce with the RAAF Base Williamtown and Newcastle Airport, and is also a place where people will want to work.
"Stage one has employed 70 full time staff through the depths of the pandemic when economic activity was so vital to regions. We have developed the site sustainably from the outset, including establishing over 200,000 plants and retention of a historically significant Aboriginal keeping place."
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Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
