The Oudtshoorn municipality is planning an upgrade of the town's airport that will enable it to carry more cargo on a daily basis and make it an alternative passenger airport.

The upgrade is only in its planning phase and the municipality this week made a call for proposals for the upgrading and management of the Oudtshoorn airport.

Municipal local economic development manager Greg Baartman said an environmental impact assessment and a feasibility study would also have to be done before someone was appointed to begin the upgrade.

The municipality would then go into a public-private partnership with the successful bidders and run the airport jointly.

All proposals must include proposals for future management of the facility, including a clear-cut strategy for future development.

The municipality also requires the involvement of broad-based black economic empowerment in the project.

Baartman said the upgrade was also being done with an eye on the Fifa 2010 World Cup.

"The World Cup is being held in winter and often in winter there are diversions to Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. If we want to have base camps in the Eden district we need an alternative airport where people can touch down and can be transferred to where they need to be within 10 minutes."

He said the municipality had approached the Airports Company of SA about the possible upgrade.

"ACSA told us it would not be financially viable for them to manage a second airport so close to the George Airport. That's why we have called for developers to come forward."

The Oudtshoorn airport's landing strip is 1,7km long compared with the one in George, which is 2km long.

Baartman said only a few improvements were necessary for the Oudtshoorn airport to become a viable passenger airport.

"If there is a need for the runway to be lengthened we have the land to do that. Also the lighting system needs to be upgraded."

The closing date for tenders is November 17.