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The Advertiser
a day ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Newcastle Airport's transformation is a golden opportunity for region
Newcastle Airport has come a long way since commercial flights began operating out of a tin shed in 1948. It is not among the signature rural or remote airfields that provide limited, but essential, services for emergency, flight training, charter flights and industry. Newcastle Airport instead services a catchment of more than 1.1 million, connecting 1.2 million passengers a year to capital cities, regional centres and tourism hotspots. It directly supports more than 5700 local jobs and generates $1 billion in economic impact. With scale comes complexity and risk, and the airport has a corporate structure, board and a big balance sheet. The reporting that readers have seen provides insights into governance and risk management frameworks in action. As a government-owned asset, the airport also reports to councils under frameworks mandated by the Local Government Act. Aviation is one of the most regulated sectors in Australia, bringing heavy compliance and reporting obligations. Add requirements under the Corporations Act, Newcastle Airport is not a business that can avoid transparency and accountability: to shareholders, markets, regulators or the public. As the airport expands, so do the obligations, revenue and operational costs, requiring more ambitious investment to maintain standards and competitiveness. More flights to more destinations, more competition on airfares, more freight options for NSW suppliers, more jobs, and the option to avoid driving to Sydney or risk a domestic connection to another city for an international flight. Newcastle Airport is advanced in plans to be the airport we deserve, with investment in an international runway and terminal. This week, direct flights to Perth were announced, providing one-stop links to London and Europe. No different to strategies progressed by most major airports, the airport is investing in property development that diversifies services and income. A 2023 Deloitte Access Economics report shows employment and economic contribution from Australian airport precincts eclipsing that of core aviation activities. Even land owners near Newcastle Airport get the opportunity, as complementary development proposals are pursued. Air freight is also an economic driver, comprising 13 per cent of Australian exports. We expect the airport to review opportunities to build this, as they have in partnership with the Joint Organisation of Councils in the proposal for an air cargo terminal. The region has much more at stake in the success of the airport than just securing that coveted flight to Singapore or the US, made possible by airport upgrades. We are a $91 billion economy entering structural adjustment as the contribution of coal declines, with 55,000 jobs at risk over the next 15 years. These government figures are not modelled on demand for coal. They reflect the supply-side hard baked into our future, including dates for the closure of coal-fired power stations and planning approvals for mines. You can hear the urgency from Upper Hunter mayors as they join advocacy for investment in the airport as part of the solution. When developments in the airport precinct, international upgrades and a cargo terminal are realised, these collectively will replace more than 16 per cent of the predicted jobs deficit. This is not a game for our region. Real jobs, communities and economic security are at risk. The committee is advocating hard with government and business for focus and investment, including the airport, positioning the region as grown-up, unified, professional and a sure bet. But the expression of local politics on airport matters shows that narrower interests are at play. In an own goal for the Hunter, this has bled into federal politics, with the Opposition threatening to air the matter in Senate Estimates. This is damaging negotiations on airport deals to secure the partnerships we need. The entire region, not just Newcastle, has an interest in the success of the airport. With the new terminal opening within months, now is the time to back-in one of the region's most important economic engines. Efforts should be focused on how to increase the feasibility of this generational opportunity and maximise benefits for Hunter residents, businesses and the economy. Newcastle Airport has come a long way since commercial flights began operating out of a tin shed in 1948. It is not among the signature rural or remote airfields that provide limited, but essential, services for emergency, flight training, charter flights and industry. Newcastle Airport instead services a catchment of more than 1.1 million, connecting 1.2 million passengers a year to capital cities, regional centres and tourism hotspots. It directly supports more than 5700 local jobs and generates $1 billion in economic impact. With scale comes complexity and risk, and the airport has a corporate structure, board and a big balance sheet. The reporting that readers have seen provides insights into governance and risk management frameworks in action. As a government-owned asset, the airport also reports to councils under frameworks mandated by the Local Government Act. Aviation is one of the most regulated sectors in Australia, bringing heavy compliance and reporting obligations. Add requirements under the Corporations Act, Newcastle Airport is not a business that can avoid transparency and accountability: to shareholders, markets, regulators or the public. As the airport expands, so do the obligations, revenue and operational costs, requiring more ambitious investment to maintain standards and competitiveness. More flights to more destinations, more competition on airfares, more freight options for NSW suppliers, more jobs, and the option to avoid driving to Sydney or risk a domestic connection to another city for an international flight. Newcastle Airport is advanced in plans to be the airport we deserve, with investment in an international runway and terminal. This week, direct flights to Perth were announced, providing one-stop links to London and Europe. No different to strategies progressed by most major airports, the airport is investing in property development that diversifies services and income. A 2023 Deloitte Access Economics report shows employment and economic contribution from Australian airport precincts eclipsing that of core aviation activities. Even land owners near Newcastle Airport get the opportunity, as complementary development proposals are pursued. Air freight is also an economic driver, comprising 13 per cent of Australian exports. We expect the airport to review opportunities to build this, as they have in partnership with the Joint Organisation of Councils in the proposal for an air cargo terminal. The region has much more at stake in the success of the airport than just securing that coveted flight to Singapore or the US, made possible by airport upgrades. We are a $91 billion economy entering structural adjustment as the contribution of coal declines, with 55,000 jobs at risk over the next 15 years. These government figures are not modelled on demand for coal. They reflect the supply-side hard baked into our future, including dates for the closure of coal-fired power stations and planning approvals for mines. You can hear the urgency from Upper Hunter mayors as they join advocacy for investment in the airport as part of the solution. When developments in the airport precinct, international upgrades and a cargo terminal are realised, these collectively will replace more than 16 per cent of the predicted jobs deficit. This is not a game for our region. Real jobs, communities and economic security are at risk. The committee is advocating hard with government and business for focus and investment, including the airport, positioning the region as grown-up, unified, professional and a sure bet. But the expression of local politics on airport matters shows that narrower interests are at play. In an own goal for the Hunter, this has bled into federal politics, with the Opposition threatening to air the matter in Senate Estimates. This is damaging negotiations on airport deals to secure the partnerships we need. The entire region, not just Newcastle, has an interest in the success of the airport. With the new terminal opening within months, now is the time to back-in one of the region's most important economic engines. Efforts should be focused on how to increase the feasibility of this generational opportunity and maximise benefits for Hunter residents, businesses and the economy. Newcastle Airport has come a long way since commercial flights began operating out of a tin shed in 1948. It is not among the signature rural or remote airfields that provide limited, but essential, services for emergency, flight training, charter flights and industry. Newcastle Airport instead services a catchment of more than 1.1 million, connecting 1.2 million passengers a year to capital cities, regional centres and tourism hotspots. It directly supports more than 5700 local jobs and generates $1 billion in economic impact. With scale comes complexity and risk, and the airport has a corporate structure, board and a big balance sheet. The reporting that readers have seen provides insights into governance and risk management frameworks in action. As a government-owned asset, the airport also reports to councils under frameworks mandated by the Local Government Act. Aviation is one of the most regulated sectors in Australia, bringing heavy compliance and reporting obligations. Add requirements under the Corporations Act, Newcastle Airport is not a business that can avoid transparency and accountability: to shareholders, markets, regulators or the public. As the airport expands, so do the obligations, revenue and operational costs, requiring more ambitious investment to maintain standards and competitiveness. More flights to more destinations, more competition on airfares, more freight options for NSW suppliers, more jobs, and the option to avoid driving to Sydney or risk a domestic connection to another city for an international flight. Newcastle Airport is advanced in plans to be the airport we deserve, with investment in an international runway and terminal. This week, direct flights to Perth were announced, providing one-stop links to London and Europe. No different to strategies progressed by most major airports, the airport is investing in property development that diversifies services and income. A 2023 Deloitte Access Economics report shows employment and economic contribution from Australian airport precincts eclipsing that of core aviation activities. Even land owners near Newcastle Airport get the opportunity, as complementary development proposals are pursued. Air freight is also an economic driver, comprising 13 per cent of Australian exports. We expect the airport to review opportunities to build this, as they have in partnership with the Joint Organisation of Councils in the proposal for an air cargo terminal. The region has much more at stake in the success of the airport than just securing that coveted flight to Singapore or the US, made possible by airport upgrades. We are a $91 billion economy entering structural adjustment as the contribution of coal declines, with 55,000 jobs at risk over the next 15 years. These government figures are not modelled on demand for coal. They reflect the supply-side hard baked into our future, including dates for the closure of coal-fired power stations and planning approvals for mines. You can hear the urgency from Upper Hunter mayors as they join advocacy for investment in the airport as part of the solution. When developments in the airport precinct, international upgrades and a cargo terminal are realised, these collectively will replace more than 16 per cent of the predicted jobs deficit. This is not a game for our region. Real jobs, communities and economic security are at risk. The committee is advocating hard with government and business for focus and investment, including the airport, positioning the region as grown-up, unified, professional and a sure bet. But the expression of local politics on airport matters shows that narrower interests are at play. In an own goal for the Hunter, this has bled into federal politics, with the Opposition threatening to air the matter in Senate Estimates. This is damaging negotiations on airport deals to secure the partnerships we need. The entire region, not just Newcastle, has an interest in the success of the airport. With the new terminal opening within months, now is the time to back-in one of the region's most important economic engines. Efforts should be focused on how to increase the feasibility of this generational opportunity and maximise benefits for Hunter residents, businesses and the economy. Newcastle Airport has come a long way since commercial flights began operating out of a tin shed in 1948. It is not among the signature rural or remote airfields that provide limited, but essential, services for emergency, flight training, charter flights and industry. Newcastle Airport instead services a catchment of more than 1.1 million, connecting 1.2 million passengers a year to capital cities, regional centres and tourism hotspots. It directly supports more than 5700 local jobs and generates $1 billion in economic impact. With scale comes complexity and risk, and the airport has a corporate structure, board and a big balance sheet. The reporting that readers have seen provides insights into governance and risk management frameworks in action. As a government-owned asset, the airport also reports to councils under frameworks mandated by the Local Government Act. Aviation is one of the most regulated sectors in Australia, bringing heavy compliance and reporting obligations. Add requirements under the Corporations Act, Newcastle Airport is not a business that can avoid transparency and accountability: to shareholders, markets, regulators or the public. As the airport expands, so do the obligations, revenue and operational costs, requiring more ambitious investment to maintain standards and competitiveness. More flights to more destinations, more competition on airfares, more freight options for NSW suppliers, more jobs, and the option to avoid driving to Sydney or risk a domestic connection to another city for an international flight. Newcastle Airport is advanced in plans to be the airport we deserve, with investment in an international runway and terminal. This week, direct flights to Perth were announced, providing one-stop links to London and Europe. No different to strategies progressed by most major airports, the airport is investing in property development that diversifies services and income. A 2023 Deloitte Access Economics report shows employment and economic contribution from Australian airport precincts eclipsing that of core aviation activities. Even land owners near Newcastle Airport get the opportunity, as complementary development proposals are pursued. Air freight is also an economic driver, comprising 13 per cent of Australian exports. We expect the airport to review opportunities to build this, as they have in partnership with the Joint Organisation of Councils in the proposal for an air cargo terminal. The region has much more at stake in the success of the airport than just securing that coveted flight to Singapore or the US, made possible by airport upgrades. We are a $91 billion economy entering structural adjustment as the contribution of coal declines, with 55,000 jobs at risk over the next 15 years. These government figures are not modelled on demand for coal. They reflect the supply-side hard baked into our future, including dates for the closure of coal-fired power stations and planning approvals for mines. You can hear the urgency from Upper Hunter mayors as they join advocacy for investment in the airport as part of the solution. When developments in the airport precinct, international upgrades and a cargo terminal are realised, these collectively will replace more than 16 per cent of the predicted jobs deficit. This is not a game for our region. Real jobs, communities and economic security are at risk. The committee is advocating hard with government and business for focus and investment, including the airport, positioning the region as grown-up, unified, professional and a sure bet. But the expression of local politics on airport matters shows that narrower interests are at play. In an own goal for the Hunter, this has bled into federal politics, with the Opposition threatening to air the matter in Senate Estimates. This is damaging negotiations on airport deals to secure the partnerships we need. The entire region, not just Newcastle, has an interest in the success of the airport. With the new terminal opening within months, now is the time to back-in one of the region's most important economic engines. Efforts should be focused on how to increase the feasibility of this generational opportunity and maximise benefits for Hunter residents, businesses and the economy.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Police 'lock down' Selayang buildings, screen 1,435 foreigners
KUALA LUMPUR: A multi-agency raid led by federal police in Selayang saw two buildings "locked down" and 1,435 foreigners screened. The vast majority of those screened were from Myanmar, while others were from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Nepal. Some 160 were children. The raid, dubbed "Op Kachi", began at 10.45pm with 560 personnel, including those from the General Operations Force, Immigration Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and Civil Defence Force, closing off all entry and exit points in Selayang Utara. Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department deputy director (General Operations Force) Datuk Mohamad Suzrin Mohamad Rodhi said 225 residential and business units in the two shoplot buildings were raided. "The operation was conducted following two weeks of surveillance based on complaints over the high number of undocumented foreigners in the area. "When we sprang into action last night, some of them even tried to evade our checks by climbing onto rooftops to hide," he told reporters at the scene today. Of those screened, 1,222 were from Myanmar, followed by Bangladesh (142), India (9), Indonesia (4), and Nepal (1). Suzrin said the Myanmar nationals comprised 702 men, 360 women, and 160 children. Many of them were Rohingya holding United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards. He added that the Immigration Department would verify the authenticity of the UNHCR cards. "I've been told that a number of them have been flagged, as scans of their cards yielded negative results. "They will be brought to the Immigration Department office in Putrajaya for further checks," he said. A number of foreigners were subsequently detained, though details were not immediately available. Suzrin said they would also be taking further action against those found employing foreigners without proper permits, as well as individuals providing shelter to undocumented migrants. He added that personnel from the Energy Commission, National Water Services Commission (SPAN), and Tenaga Nasional Berhad who joined the raid also uncovered illegal renovations and unauthorised water and electricity connections in the buildings. "Various offences have been detected under the Electricity Supply Act, Street, Drainage and Building Act, and Local Government Act. Further investigations and enforcement action will be taken by the relevant authorities," he said. This is the second time Bukit Aman has launched a crackdown by locking down an entire area known to be populated by foreigners. In December 2023, over 1,000 officers and members of the GOF surrounded the "Mini Dhaka" area in Jalan Silang.
Scoop
7 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Local Authority Financial Statistics: Year Ended June 2024
Press Release – Stats NZ For the two units with unavailable data for the 2024 year, imputed values were derived using information from the respective published annual plans for the 2023/2024 authority financial statistics provide information on the annual performance of core non-trading activities of all New Zealand's territorial and regional councils. Data quality The Local Authority Census for the June 2024 year did not achieve full coverage. Historically, the legal requirements to provide financial data to Stats NZ, and the Local Government Act, have meant that Local Authority Census returns and annual reports have been available for all units. For the two units with unavailable data for the 2024 year, imputed values were derived using information from the respective published annual plans for the 2023/2024 period. Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files:
Scoop
7 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Local Authority Financial Statistics: Year Ended June 2024
Local authority financial statistics provide information on the annual performance of core non-trading activities of all New Zealand's territorial and regional councils. Data quality The Local Authority Census for the June 2024 year did not achieve full coverage. Historically, the legal requirements to provide financial data to Stats NZ, and the Local Government Act, have meant that Local Authority Census returns and annual reports have been available for all units. For the two units with unavailable data for the 2024 year, imputed values were derived using information from the respective published annual plans for the 2023/2024 period. Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files: Local authority financial statistics: Year ended June 2024:
Express Tribune
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Court restores powers to local representatives
The Peshawar High Court has nullified amendments made by the provincial government to the Local Government Ordinance that reduced the powers and funding of elected local representatives. The court accepted petitions challenging the changes and declared the provincial government's amendments unconstitutional. A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Farah Jamshed presided over the case. The petitions were filed by Humayun Mayar, Zubair Ali, and others, and were argued by Advocate Babar Khan Yousafzai. During the hearing, Yousafzai informed the court that local government elections were held in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in February 2022, after which the newly elected representatives took oath and began performing their duties. However, the provincial government soon initiated efforts to curtail their authority and, later that year, amended the Local Government Act. Yousafzai argued that these amendments significantly rolled back the powers of elected local bodies and stripped them of their authority to allocate and utilize development funds. These powers were instead transferred to the district administration and other government departments. He pointed out that the majority of seats in the first phase of elections were won by opposition parties, prompting the government to tighten its control by changing the law. The lawyer further contended that by shifting most powers from the Act to the Rules, the government bypassed legal safeguards. Specifically, amendments were made to Sections 23A and 25 of the Local Government Act, altering the composition of the Tehsil Local Government structure originally defined in the 2019 version of the law. He emphasized that the 2022 amendments not only took away powers from local representatives such as Tehsil Mayors and Village Council members, but also deprived them of any developmental funds for the past three years. This, he noted, had created a situation of uncertainty and pressure, as representatives face public expectations without any resources to meet them. Yousafzai argued that if such amendments were deemed necessary, they should have been applied prospectively, during future elections, rather than retroactively undermining the authority of currently elected officials under the 2019 Act. In response, the Additional Advocate General contended that the amendments were lawful and within the authority of the provincial government. He claimed the changes were presented before the provincial assembly and that the elected representatives had been granted their due rights. After reviewing the arguments, the bench declared the provincial government's amendments invalid, restoring the original powers and funding mechanisms for local government representatives as per the 2019 Local Government Act.
