LABOR COMMITS FUNDING TO HARS EXPANSION

18 April 2019

A Shorten Labor Government will commit $750,000 towards the expansion of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Societys museum at Illawarra Regional Airport.

With almost 50 historic aircraft on site, the new funding would help to build a hangar to protect, restore and display more historical aircraft and ensure this important museum can expand and attract more visitors.

The construction of the hangar will create up to 60 jobs, with 10 jobs supported post construction.

The HARS museum currently displays a replica of Charles Kingsford Smiths Southern Cross, Beaufighter and P38 Lightning, as well as the QANTAS 747 400 City of Canberra which held the record for the longest continuous flight in 1989.

All aircraft at HARS have major international significance in aviation history, and this new hangar will allow more people to visit the museum.

It is anticipated the completed expansion will bring thousands of extra visitors annually, building on the 100,000 visitors to the museum already each year and providing benefits to the Illawarras tourism economy.

HARS is an internationally renowned museum, run by hundreds of volunteers who have dedicated themselves to restoring and maintaining Australias aviation history, documenting the processes, and training a new generation of skilled workers.

This funding announcement comes in the lead up to one of Australias most popular air shows, Wings Over the Illawarra, which will attract over 50,000 visitors to the Illawarra in the first weekend of May.

Labor is backing our regional centres by investing in cultural tourism.

This election is a choice between Labors plan for better hospitals and better schools versus bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals.

After six years of Liberal cuts and chaos, our united Labor team is ready.