Invercargill Airport will get $500,000 towards an upgrade from the Provincial Growth Fund, one of four investments announced for Southland.
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
The upgrade will be to the airport's air cargo and terminal facilities to cope with a direct service to and from Auckland starting next month.
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones said it would prepare the city for the growth generated from the first direct jet link between the cities since 1995.
The upgrade will require a range of jobs, including electrical, fibre, geotechnical engineering, design and fabrication work. The airport company is forecast to increase its full-time equivalent jobs from nine to 16 during the 12-month trial services from Auckland.
The Provincial Growth Fund is also investing $500,000 in Invest South to establish a business start-up investment network.
The Oreti Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) testing project will receive $593,481 to explore options to improve the management of groundwater storage.
The Provincial Growth Fund is is also putting $100,000 towards Southland District Council's Stewart Island / Rakiura economic development plan.