Airport 'no' to rail link payment
Perth Airport has rejected suggestions made at the weekend that it should contribute to the State Government's underground airport rail link.
Yesterday, Perth Airport chief executive Brad Geatches said that though it supported the project, "it is not the role of private enterprise to fund public transport".
According to a source at the airport, Perth Airport is not happy with the rail link because it could potentially reduce one of its money-spinners - long-term parking.
"They are concerned that the rail link will impact on their carparking charges," the source said.
In the 2012-13 financial year Perth Airport made $75 million from transport services, with parking the major contributor.
Perth Airport has more than 17,000 carparking bays and charges $20 a day for three days in the long-term parking areas and $11 for successive days.
Potential revenue for a seven-day stay costing $104 is more than $90 million a year.
The fees are among the lowest of all capital city airports.
Mr Geatches was adamant that the airport "strongly supports the State Government's landmark transport project".
"We have been working closely with the Public Transport Authority over the last two years to support successful delivery of the project," he said.
Transport Minister Dean Nalder said yesterday he expected Perth Airport to make a contribution once the direct commercial benefit of the rail link to the airport was understood.
However, the airport pointed out that it had its own major capital works program underway.
