SW airport name the next issue

State Government funding of $59.7 million which was announced at the weekend for expansion and upgrades to the Busselton Regional Airport requires the Margaret River name to be used in the airport's rebranding.

The State Government announced on Saturday morning the funding would include the purchasing of land, the lengthening and widening of the runway, and the expansion of the car park and terminal to cater for the direct interstate aviation services.

Sydney and Melbourne are the early targets of the interstate flights which are expected to start in 2018, with flights to and from neighbouring Asian destinations a possibility for the future.

City of Busselton chief executive Mike Archer said the City was considering Busselton-Margaret River Regional Airport as a viable name, adding the City believed Busselton should be at the forefront of the airport's name because it was the destination passengers will be flying into.

He said he understood no further approvals were required in relation to the airport upgrade because the upgrade works would be undertaken within the existing airport site and on adjacent farmland.

"The noise management plan is approved and already in place," he said. "However, we will be talking to the Environmental Protection Authority in the event that they may have any further requirements."

A spokeswoman for the EPA said the City needed to obtain an amendment to the existing approval to proceed with any upgrades of Busselton Regional Airport and she said the potential noise impacts would need to be assessed by the EPA.

Private landholders under the flight path of Busselton Regional Airport will also not be happy with the expansion, according to Busselton local and former Airport Advisory Committee member Greg Chapman.

Mr Chapman told the _Times _ the biggest impediment the City had for the expansion of the airport is to do with the fact that it did not have any noise buffer around the airport.

"To this point in time, they have relied on the good will of private land holders to provide that buffer," he said. Mr Chapman said given the City's recent "track record" on approvals with the EPA, he also believed they may well have a problem.

During Saturday's announcement, Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said some incentives would be offered to airlines travelling to the region, however when asked this week he would not elaborate.

Tourism Minister Dr Kim Hames said given the expanded airport wouldn't be open for another three years it was too early to discuss what sort of incentives may be negotiated.

Vasse MLA Libby Mettam said "Busselton-Margaret River Regional Airport" was the logical naming option and the State Government, through Tourism WA, was in talks with Australian domestic airlines about potential timelines.