Its a political grandstanding joke. Jobs for regional areas is the tune they're pedalling - of course there are heaps of simtechs and B350 instructors all hanging around Bundaberg unemployed aren't there. After the centre is built and the construction workers move on, there will be very few if any "jobs for regional areas". The personnel such as simtechs and instructors will all have to be imported - probably a few jobs
for admin staff
And when the B350 at Maroochy is sold off (that's what I'm putting my money on) everyone will be forced to Bundy - extra 2 paxing sectors for every pilot going there for OPCs and IPCs - that comes at great
expense to reasonable sized King Air companys such as Pelair and RFDS. And probably more accommodation nights as well due to lack of frequency and therefore less flexibility into and out of Bundy.
All up, a win win for nobody but the pollies.
Morno - were you pissed when you said fly to Brissy, drive to Maroochy? Not your finest PPRUNE moment.