The Federal Government last week announced $7 million in grants for upgrading remote airstrips around the country.
The money was allocated to 31 projects under Round Five of the Remote Airfields Upgrade (RAU) program.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael McCormack said he believed the funding would provide better access for remote community airfields.
“As a regional Member of Parliament, I understand connectivity is important for every community but none more so than remote towns and smaller communities across Australia which rely on good transport links to survive and thrive,” he said.
“These airstrip upgrades ensure continued access to essential, potentially lifesaving, health care as well as fresh food, mail services and access to employment and education opportunities.
“I am looking forward to seeing all 31 projects get underway and continuing to work with remote communities to make sure we deliver the infrastructure needed to boost local economies, support local needs and create more local jobs.”
The most significant grant went to the Cape York community of Mapoon, which will receive $1.5 million completely transform the airport including extending and sealing the runway, installing pilot-activated lighting (PAL), clearing land to create Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) and fencing the runway strip.
Other significant grants include:
- $594K to seal McKinlay, QLD
- $572K to excavate and rehabilitate the failiing surface at Camooweal, QLD
- $501K to re-sheet Inamincka, SA
- $371K to install wildlife fencing at Lockhart River, QLD
- $325K to repair and seal Stonehenge, QLD
For the first time, money from the RAU has been allocated to a Victorian airport: $250K to resurface Hopetoun in the state's far west. Most Victorian communities have been excluded because very little of the state is classified as remote, the minimum criteria to qualify for a grant.
The full set of grants is available on the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport website.