A $2.3 million upgrade has resurfaced the airstrip at Kalumburu, the remote Kimberley community that relies on air access when wet season floods cut its only road.
An upgrade to the Kalumburu airstrip has been completed, improving air access for Western Australia’s northernmost permanent community.
More than 87,000 m² of runway, taxiway and apron were repaired and resealed, and drainage improvements were made to maintain safety and operational standards.
Kalumburu depends on its airstrip for regular government-subsidised flights to Kununurra and for access by emergency services, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service. During the wet season, flooding can cut the community’s only road for months.
The airstrip played a critical role in emergency response and recovery during the record 2023 Kimberley floods caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie.
The WA Government contributed $1.18 million through its Aboriginal Community Airstrip Renewal Program (ACARP), and the federal government contributed nearly $1.1 million through the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program.
WA Transport and Major Infrastructure Minister Rita Saffioti said the program was designed to keep isolated communities connected to vital services.
“By taking a proactive approach to identifying maintenance and upgrade needs, we are providing communities with the confidence and security of ongoing, reliable air access,” she said.
Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development Senator Anthony Chisholm said the project built on other jointly funded aviation projects in the region.
“This builds on other jointly funded aviation projects across the Kimberley, including more than $15 million to the Kununurra Airport Runway Extension and $3 million towards major upgrades to the Balgo airstrip,” he said.
The works were delivered after consultation with the Balanggarra Aboriginal Corporation and in close collaboration with the Kalumburu Aboriginal Corporation and the local community, and created employment and training opportunities for local residents.
Kalumburu is the third airstrip upgraded through ACARP, following Bidyadanga in 2024 and Balgo earlier this year. The program received $8 million from the WA Government’s $67.5 million Kimberley Resilience Program, established after the 2023 floods.