Fed: Sydney Airport probably not ready for Olympics Ferguson

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2000
Fed: Sydney Airport probably not ready for Olympics Ferguson

CANBERRA, Aug 27 AAP - Sydney Airport probably would not cope with the influx of people
arriving for next month's Olympic Games, Opposition transport and regional development
spokesman Martin Ferguson said today.

Mr Ferguson said considering the problems at the airport in recent months things were
not looking good for the Olympic period.

"I am personally not confident (that Sydney Airport will cope with the Olympics) you
only have to look at the problems of the last couple of weeks," he told Channel Ten.

Sydney Airport air traffic control suffered peak-hour power failures on July 6 and
August 1, the first caused by maintenance and the second by a generator not charging up
backup batteries when power fluctuations caused the power to cut out.

Mr Ferguson said the government had to be prepared to increase funding to Airservices
Australia to ensure the airport worked perfectly over the games period.

"I think it is about making sure CASA and Airservices are up to the mark," he said.

"You couldn't put a figure on it but it has clearly been the cuts in staff, too much
change and I think it is about basically saying let's just concentrate over the next couple
of weeks on getting it right."

AAP eg/cdh

KEYWORD: OLY AIRPORT

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