Mackay Airport
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Plastic baggage wrap protection planned for Mackay Airport

The Mackay Port Authority is investigating the use of special plastic baggage wraps in a bid to offer passengers additional security when jetting out of Mackay.

Mackay Port Authority chairman John Taylor is supporting moves to introduce plastic baggage wrap protection at Mackay Airport.

The move comes in the wake of the Schapelle Corby trial in Bali and other serious drug allegations directed at baggage handlers at Sydney Airport.

Mackay Port Authority chairman John Taylor said inquiries would be conducted in the United States and Europe in an attempt to source electric wrapping machines.

Mr Taylor said the MPA was embarking on the project as a community service and would offer the machines to the major airlines operating out of Mackay.

The machines could cost up to $15 000 each.

“We understand that Brisbane, Melbourne and Townsville are the only airports in Australia where the plastic wrapping service is currently available,” he said.

“The free plastic wraps will offer Mackay’s travelling public extra security to prevent baggage tampering and damage. It will offer the people of Mackay peace of mind, but at the end of the day it will be up to the airlines on whether they are prepared to introduce the service,”

A meeting of the Mackay Port Authority Board today directed officers to further investigate the implementation of the new security wrap system and the availability of the stretch, or bubble wrap machines.