Flinders Ranges and Outback Integrated Strategic Tourism Plan

Final Plan
Getting to the Region
8.0 GETTING TO THE REGION – Air, Road and Rail Transport
Just as South Australia has as one its key goals “ Getting More Planes to Land”, the Flinders
Ranges and Outback SA needs to increase access to the region by improving infrastructure,
attracting larger planes, developing new tour routes and increasing time spent in the region
by those travelling through it on long distance rail and bus services.
8.1 Air Services
The primary points of air access for tourism are identified in this strategy as Port Augusta and
Coober Pedy. While the upgrade at Roxby Downs will increase the capacity for that airport,
the lack of tourism accommodation and focus on tourism attractions means this will be of
little benefit to holiday and leisure travellers in the next 5 years. Although business travellers
will benefit, the main motivation for the upgrade is the expansion of mining at Olympic Dam.
The creation of a direct air service between Coober Pedy and Alice Springs that can be
included in packages for inbound tourists will greatly increase their access to Coober Pedy
and their ability to participate in activities such as the Mail Run, scenic flights over Lake Eyre
and the Painted Hills and new product that could be developed on pastoral properties in
the area.
Accommodation providers and tour operators would then be able to liaise directly with
airline services to develop packages that work for agents and their clients.
The upgrade of the Port Augusta airport provides opportunities for tour operators in the
Flinders Ranges to package their product with flights and accommodation to support
increased access to the region. The City of Port Augusta has been liaising with tourism
operators in the Flinders Ranges to identify their requirements with respect to improved air
services.
Across the region there are opportunities to improve the infrastructure to support air charter
services and self fly tourists as well as to support access for emergency rescue and medical
services. Communities that specifically raised this issue were Innamincka and William Creek.
Action Twenty Eight: Upgrade airport infrastructure.
Action Twenty Nine: Increase the frequency of air services to assist in the development of
fly/drive and fly/tour packages out of Port Augusta and Coober Pedy.
Action Thirty: Improve airstrips in regional communities to support air charters and self-fly
tourists and better address emergency rescue services for tourists and residents.
Urban & Regional Planning Solutions
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