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Hunter Valley’s reputation as one of the state’s premier tourist destinations will be further enhanced with an $ 8.8 million upgrade to Cessnock Airport. The upgrade prompted Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley owner Jerry Schwartz to investigate the introduction of flights from Bankstown Airport to Cessnock as part of a plan to attract more visitors to the area. “It will be wonderful for tourism. Sydney’s population center is West Sydney. People will be able to leave their cars in Bankstown and in half an hour they will be in the Hunter Valley,” said Dr Schwartz. The airport upgrade, which will be funded by a grant of $ 6,636,100 from Restart NSW and $ 2,212,097 from Cessnock Council, will include the widening and rehabilitation of taxiways; the creation of aprons and aircraft parking areas, the improvement of access to fuel zones and the rehabilitation of runways. Work is expected to begin in early 2022 and be completed in six months. The project is expected to create around 40 construction jobs and 55 new permanent jobs by 2027. “Our tourism industry has been hit hard lately and this project will turn Cessnock Airport into one of the best airports in the world. ‘State for general aviation and will improve the visitor experience,’ said Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent. “Some people may not be aware that the airport was offered to the residents of Cessnock in the 1990s and that it has a rich history, from its use in WWII until NASA undertake research in this facility. We can now transform this facility and its future. prove it for our community. ” READ MORE: Dr Schwartz, who offers seaplane service from Rose Bay to Cessnock, said upgrading the airport would significantly improve the region’s connectivity to Sydney. “It has always been very difficult to get to the Hunter without a car. There is no train service, no regular bus service and no plane service. That’s why I introduced my own. charter service, ”said Dr Schwartz, who recently resubmitted plans for an airplane hangar at the airport, said. Another feature of the upgrade is the installation of non-precision GPS approaches as well as a terminal upgrade. “This has always been a problem at Cessnock because it is in a valley. There is often a thick cloud cover and without an instrument landing you cannot land the plane. You have to be diverted to Maitland,” Dr Schwartz said. “By upgrading the east side, they will make the airport much more accessible to the public.” Hunter’s vineyards have become one of the most popular destinations among Sydney residents planning a vacation after the shutdown, according to new data provided by travel site Wotif. The region is currently ranked number one on Wotif’s Top 10 Trends list, beating out Ulladulla and Nowra, quaint towns on the south coast of New South Wales. A recent Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association report found that over 90 percent of local employees had one or both vaccines. “I think the immunization statistics really show that employers and employees understand that we need to invest in immunization to reopen the region safely,” said association executive director Amy Cooper. Hunter Valley tourism operators are also hoping to benefit from a new state government tourism campaign that aims to sell the state to domestic and international visitors when it reopens. “Too often we have relied on the buildings, the (Sydney Harbor) bridge, the heart of the opera house and the harbor,” Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres told reporters. “They’re exceptionally beautiful. There’s no question about it. But this campaign is about getting past them a little bit so that you can say they’ll always be there.” Mr Ayres said the campaign was already underway before the pandemic, but it will help the industry get back on its feet as national and international borders reopen. “We think this is a way of telling every tourism operator who has gone the hard way over the past 20 months that we are right behind you,” he said. Although only Australian citizens and their families were initially allowed into NSW when it lifted the quarantine for fully vaccinated international travelers from November, the NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, said the new campaign is targeting foreign tourists as well as those from the country. “This is not a short term game. It is a long term game for our state,” Perrottet said. IN THE NEWS: Our reporters work hard to provide local and up-to-date news to the community. Here’s how you can continue to access our trusted content:

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Hunter Valley’s reputation as one of the state’s premier tourist destinations will be further enhanced with an $ 8.8 million upgrade to Cessnock Airport.

The upgrade prompted Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley owner Jerry Schwartz to investigate the introduction of flights from Bankstown Airport to Cessnock as part of a plan to attract more visitors to the area.

“It will be wonderful for tourism. Sydney’s population center is West Sydney. People will be able to leave their cars in Bankstown and in half an hour they will be in the Hunter Valley,” said Dr Schwartz.

The airport upgrade, which will be funded by a grant of $ 6,636,100 from Restart NSW and $ 2,212,097 from Cessnock Council, will include the widening and rehabilitation of taxiways; the creation of aprons and aircraft parking areas, the improvement of access to fuel zones and the rehabilitation of runways.

Work is expected to begin in early 2022 and be completed in six months.

The project is expected to create around 40 construction jobs and 55 new permanent jobs by 2027.

“Our tourism industry has been hit hard lately and this project will transform Cessnock Airport into one of the state’s best airports for general aviation and improve the visitor experience,” said the mayor from Cessnock, Bob Pynsent.

“Some people may not be aware that the airport was offered to the residents of Cessnock in the 1990s and that it has a rich history, from its use in WWII until NASA undertake research in this facility. We can now transform this facility and its future. prove it for our community. ”

Jerry schwartz

Dr Schwartz, who offers seaplane service from Rose Bay to Cessnock, said upgrading the airport would significantly improve the region’s connectivity to Sydney.

“It has always been very difficult to get to the Hunter without a car. There is no train service, no regular bus service and no plane service. That’s why I introduced my own. charter service, ”said Dr Schwartz, who recently resubmitted plans for an airplane hangar at the airport, said.

Another feature of the upgrade is the installation of non-precision GPS approaches as well as a terminal upgrade.

“This has always been a problem at Cessnock because it’s in a valley. There is often a thick cloud cover and without an instrument landing you can’t land the plane. You have to be diverted to Maitland,” Dr Schwartz said.

“By upgrading the east side, they will make the airport much more accessible to the public.”

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The vineyards of the Hunter have emergedas one of the most popular destinations among Sydneysiders planning a vacation after the day before, according to new data provided by travel site Wotif.

The region is currently ranked number one on Wotif’s Top 10 Trends list, beating out Ulladulla and Nowra, quaint towns on the south coast of New South Wales.

A recent report from the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association found that over 90 percent of local employees had one or both vaccines.

“I think the immunization statistics really show that employers and employees understand that we need to invest in immunization to reopen the region safely,” said association executive director Amy Cooper.

“Too often we have relied on the buildings, the (Sydney Harbor) bridge, the heart of the opera house and the harbor,” Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres told reporters.

“They are exceptionally beautiful. There is no doubt about it. But this campaign is about getting past them a little bit so that you can say that they will always be there.”

Mr Ayres said the campaign was already underway before the pandemic, but it will help the industry get back on its feet as national and international borders reopen.

“We think this is a way of telling every tourism operator who has gone the hard way over the past 20 months that we are right behind you,” he said.

Although only Australian citizens and their families were initially allowed into NSW when it lifted the quarantine for fully vaccinated international travelers from November, the NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, said the new campaign is targeting foreign tourists as well as those from the country.

“This is not a short term game. It is a long term game for our state,” Perrottet said.

Our journalists work hard to provide local and up-to-date news to the community. Here’s how you can continue to access our trusted content: