Victoria's state government has continued to spend on regional airport infrastructure with a $200,000 grant to seal the runway at Cobden.
The airport, 30 nm east of Warrnambool, will also get a runway lighting system to improve access for emergency services including air ambulances, and will upgrade the airport to CASA Code 2 standard.
“The enhanced runway facilities are also expected to attract more commercial operators and create stronger demand for charter flights servicing local tourism attractions, such as the nearby Twelve Apostles National Park,” added Victorian Minister for the Aviation Industry Gordon Rich-Phillips.
"The Victorian Coalition Government understands that maintaining and improving airfield infrastructure can be a challenge for local communities.
"That is why we created the Regional Aviation Fund, which is helping cover the cost of infrastructure upgrades at public-access country airports."
Other airports that have benefited from the fund include Lethbridge, Latrobe Regional, Edenhope, Cohuna, Stawell and Benalla.
Cobden has a population of around 2000 and is in the heart of dairy country. The aero club celebrated its 25th anniversary earlier this year.