THE City of Wanneroo is reiterating calls for an airport in Perth’s north, saying it could benefit agricultural and tourism industries as well as a growing population.

Councillors unanimously approved a submission to the Department of Transport on the draft WA Aviation Strategy 2020 as part of public consultation that has been extended to the end of April.

In the submission, chief executive Daniel Simms said the northern suburbs had experienced rapid urban growth for many years and that was expected to continue.

Mr Simms said the City’s population was expected to exceed half a million people by 2070, and the combined population with neighbouring City of Joondalup was forecast to be more than 740,000 by 2050.

“An airport in or near the northern part of the Perth metropolitan region would be well-placed to service this large population base,” he said.

“An airport would stimulate ‘strategic’ job growth and the development of major proposed industrial areas in the Neerabup, Wangara, Nowergup and Pinjar areas.

“An airport would boost tourism and tourism-related employment in the northern part of Perth.”

Mr Simms said the City was part of a $1 billion per annum regional food zone growing more than 60 agricultural products.

He said agriculture in the City contributed $327.71 million to total sales in 2017-18 and created 1040 jobs.

“It alone contributes 34 per cent of the total gross value of agricultural commodities produced in the Perth region,” he said.

“An airport could facilitate further growth in this sector by servicing domestic and international export markets.

“Its location within close proximity to Perth’s ‘northern food bowl’ would allow for the faster and more direct transportation of fresh produce overseas as well as to other regions, including the State’s north-west and interstate markets.”

Mr Simms said large land parcels that could be considered for the airport location included about 100,000ha of State-controlled land such as State Forest or the Gingin Royal Australian Air Force base.

He said existing and planned transport infrastructure could support an airport, including the NorthLink WA major road project, freight terminal at Muchea, the Perth-Darwin and Perth-Adelaide highways and rail systems, and the proposed Whiteman-Yanchep Highway.

A council report said the City had previously made submissions asking the State Government to investigate sites for an airport within Wanneroo or adjoining local government areas in 2015 and 2016.

The draft strategy said there were long-term plans for future airports servicing Perth and regional WA, and the State Government was investigating suitable sites for a second civil aviation airport to Perth Airport and second general aviation airport to Jandakot Airport.

Transport Department aviation director Peter Ryan said one of the priorities was to investigate suitable sites for a second civil and general aviation airport to service the metropolitan region when required.

“Perth Airport is likely to meet Perth’s aviation requirements for more than 50 years into the future,” he said.

“Identifying and protecting a suitable site for a second metropolitan civil aviation airport represents good forward planning.

“Jandakot Airport is heavily utilised and remains one of the busiest general aviation airports in Australia.”

Mr Ryan said the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage was doing preliminary investigations to identify potential suitable locations.

The department did not confirm whether sites in Wanneroo or surrounding areas were being considered.

Mr Simms asked that the department give the City opportunities to work closely with it on investigations for a future airport site.

Visit www.mysaytransport.wa.gov.au/WAAviationStrategy for more information.