Geelong
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Friday, 27 June, 2014
MUSCLE MAN IN UNIVERSE WIN SPORT P28
BUCKETS & BOUQUETS PAGE 10
Phone: 5249 6700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
WHAT TO DO FOR HOLIDAY FUN P24-25 Sign of the times
Who’s a pretty boy, then?
Airport’s business ‘giddyup’
OCEAN Grove’s Danielle Bamforth is ruffling features in the photography world with her images of birds such as this yellow-tailed black cockatoo. Danielle’s exquisite work features in the latest edition of Geelong Coast magazine (GC), available at all good local newsagents.
By NOEL MURPHY
COLD CUTS 10 PAGES OF LOCAL WINTER FASHIONS
LOCAL LOVE AARON AND MECHELLE TIE THE KNOT
GUIDING FUTURES CREATING CAREERS IN THE NORTHERN SUBURBS
SPACED OUT NEWTOWN COUPLE’S STUNNING NEW HOME
ESTHER ANDERSON BACK ON THE BEAT FOR HER FIRST MOVIE
FROM LIFE IN LONDON TO LIVING WITH LYONS
WINTER 2014 AUS $5.50 (inc GST)
OUT NOW: The winter edition of GC.
DARRYN Lyons’ controversial Giddyup billboard has been replaced with another just as loud – a giant pitch to keep Jetstar at Avalon, complete with the Geelong mayor in lurid red sunglasses. ‘Avalon. Don’t let this one depart’, the sign exhorts motorists passing the Hovells Creek billboard near Lara. The new push to boost Jetstar business at Avalon follows an $11 million package to keep the beleaguered Qantas discount carrier using the airport until April. “It’s as simple as use it or lose it. Geelong businesses, families, anyone who travels to and from Sydney, give Avalon some love!” he said. The airport, considered vital to Geelong’s economic future, has been under siege in recent months. The Independent revealed last month that Jetstar’s local patronage had fallen from 60 to 20 per cent since inception. The airline has reduced services since its inception, with Sydney now the only destination available from Avalon. The airport has also shed 800 Qantas maintenance jobs, plans for a $50 million rail spur line remain in limbo and an international carrier is yet to materialise. Jetstar Australia and New Zealand chief David Hall last week told Gee-
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USE IT OR LOSE IT: The new council billboard promoting Avalon Airport. long business leaders Avalon flights would remain “fundamentally unsustainable”. His use-it-or-lose-it warning echoed Committee for Geelong chair Dan Simmonds’ call in the Independent for greater local patronage of the airline. Cr Lyons said he would email local businesses, urging them to switch from Tullamarine to Avalon for Sydney flights. “If we want to keep Jetstar at Avalon we need to fill flights. At the moment Jetstar has five flights to Sydney a day,” he said. “I urge anyone planning a trip to Sydney or who has a stopover in Sydney to support our local airport – it’s a short drive and parking’s a breeze. “Ideally, we’d like to see more flights to more locations but in order to attract more services we need to show the demand is there.” “We’re all in this together, so we need to support our local industry to create and retain jobs, attract new businesses and prosper overall.”