The joint Federal and New South Wales Government study into the Sydney region's aviation capacity will report its findings in December, the study's Steering Committee Co-Chair Mr. Mike Mrdak revealed last week at the Tourism Future Directions Conference in Canberra.

Mr. Mrdak, the Secretary of the Federal Department of Infrastructure, in response to audience questions about aviation access and issues surrounding a second Sydney Airport advised that the study was examining and assessing all aviation assets (including military sites) in the greater Sydney basin between Newcastle and Canberra.

"The announcement from the joint study's Co-Chair that the committee's findings are due in December are very welcome", Tourism Industry Council Executive Officer, Andrew Jefferies said.

"With Sydney Airport restricted by a Federal Government legislated cap of just 80 movements an hour and a curfew of 11pm-6am, the capacity of Sydney and New South Wales to double visitation numbers will be severely restricted and the targets set by the New South Wales Government's Visitor Economy Taskforce will be impossible to achieve without a decision in the near future" Mr. Jefferies said.

"In addition, we are pleased to hear that military assets are also be investigated as part of the study as these sites could be viable short term options for low cost carrier access, in order to grow inbound visitor numbers"

"The issue of a second Sydney Airport has been on the political agenda for more than 40 years and sadly, too many politicians at all levels of Government have profiteered from opposing solutions that are critical to growing tourism and the economy in New South Wales"

Mr. Jefferies said he remained "hopeful" that the findings will provide Sydney and New South Wales options for growth over the next two to three decades.