Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Pond Inlet (Oct 21/02) - The hamlet is anxiously awaiting the results of an airport feasibility study conducted late last month.

The Ottawa-based consultant firm Policy.com visited the community recently to examine possible sites for a new and improved airport. The study is expected to cost in the neighbourhood of $85,000.

"They had meetings with the council and just basically toured the town, spoke to a number of people ... Basically anyone who would talk they welcomed any input," said assistant senior administrative officer Ruby Watson.

The consultants looked at two large potential sites on the outskirts of the hamlet, approximately seven and 20 kilometres away. They also examined the feasibility of expanding the current airport site.

"If we do an expansion we could have a branch road where we could have parking facilities and make it more of an airport," said Watson.

The hamlet wants to become a transportation hub.

A new airport has been a major goal for the community for at least 10 years.

The common belief is that the current location is restricting town planning, and hampering the tourism industry.

Last month, SAO Rhoda Katsak said the existing locale is too central and the hamlet has been forced to build around the airport facilities.

Katsak said Pond Inlet wishes to provide jet service and hopes to reduce the cost of bringing goods into the community.

Watson said the consultants will return to Pond Inlet on Nov. 18 to reveal their findings.