REGIONAL Express (Rex) resumed its services to the remote indigenous community of Mornington Island on Friday.
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The airport was closed after a month of inaction during Christmas and New Years Eve due to discovery of two damaged sections on the airstrip, frustrating locals and government workers wanting to leave or visit the island.
The repaired airstrip now has weight restrictions of 5700 kilometres which prevents regular Rex services from landing on Mornington Island.
The airline’s spokesperson said Rex would use a lighter Chieftain aircraft used by the company’s subsidiary Air Link Airlines instead.
The lighter aircraft would be used as a shuttle service between Mornington Island and Normanton.
“The shuttle will initially operate two returns on weekdays and Rex will work with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to closely monitor the adequacy of these services,” the spokesperson said.
Mornington Shire Council’s director of infrastructure Andrew Thompson said on Wednesday that repair works was completed but the runway was not opened until the following day after a final inspection due to heavy rain.
The council waited a further 24 hours to open the airstrip to prevent water seepage following the rain.
State Member Rob Katter said Mornington Island had been “short-changed” and was in a “crisis situation”.
He also said the Department of Transport and Rex’s response had been “farcical” and “inadequate”.
The isolated community had been cut off from the mainland since damage to the airstrip was discovered on December 16.
Mr Katter said half the runway had been opened on December 23 to allow smaller charter planes and the Royal Flying Doctor Service to use it, but it had taken too long to allow commercial flights.
“Mornington Shire Council say they informed Rex Airlines on December 23 last year that they wouldn’t be able to land their SAAB 340 jets until the repairs were complete,” the Mount Isa state meber said.
“So why wasn’t there a contingency plan in place?”