The airport proposal was ruled out once and for all in the Federal Government's Aviation Policy White Paper, released late last year.

Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller described a suggestion to turn the site into an industrial and commercial hub for the region as a good idea.

``Something like this could create jobs for the multitude of people that are set to move to our region,'' Ms Waller said. ``Housing is going to be booming in this area and those people are going to need to work somewhere.

``It would be good for people to have their workplaces close by so they wouldn't need to travel so far to get to work and sit in traffic.''

The Federal Government has commissioned a committee to suggest possible uses for the site and the idea of a hub has already been circulated by developer lobby group the Urban Taskforce.

Liverpool Councillor Peter Harle said before a hub went ahead, a lot of work would need to be done on the area's infrastructure, including its road and rail infrastructure.

``Othe rwise it [the plan] will fail,'' Cr Harle cautioned.

``How are the people going to get to their jobs in this new hub if the roads remain in the state they are now? Those roads out there are just shocking. If industrial areas were set up there, the trucks would destroy what's left of the roads completely.

``We would need a fast train network to take people out there, too.''