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 said a suggestion that the site become an industrial and commercial hub for the region was a good idea.

``Something like this could create jobs for the multitude of people who are set to move to our region,'' she 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 for such long periods of time.''

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 if a hub was created at the site a lot of work on the area's road and rail infrastructure would need to be done.

``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 and they need a lot of work.

``If industrial areas were set up there the trucks would destroy what's left of the roads completely.

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

Luddenham resident Peter Carr, who lives across the road from the airport site, said he was very supportive of the hub proposal.

``That's what we need out here, a satellite city to provide business and employment.

``We can't have people living here and travelling to the city for work it's too far.''