Temora Airport in the Riverina district of NSW is to get $5 million in upgrades funded by the Federal Government.
The airport is home to the Temora Aviation Museum and every two years hosts the Warbirds Downunder air show.
In an announcement made today, Federal Member for Riverina, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, said the grant was to fund improvements to the original runway and taxiways and a drainage network to prevent intermittent flooding.
“The immensely popular Warbirds Downunder Airshow, which is the largest gathering of warbird aircraft in Australia, attracted 22,000 spectators at the 2018 event,” McCormack said.
“This funding injection will enable the operation of large aircraft which will further establish the Temora Aviation Museum as a world-class tourist attraction, which will also give the local economy a significant boost.”
The grant comes from the Federal Government's Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF), which will spend up to $70 million on infrastructure as part of the Coalition's decentralisation policy.
“We are supporting our regions through investing in important local infrastructure, as well as great community-building and planning initiatives under the Building Better Regions Fund and other Government priorities such as the Regional Growth Fund and our decentralisation agenda,” McCormack said.
Temora Shire Mayor Rick Firman said the funding would boost the local community.
“I have to say this news just made our whole year,” he said. “This means a great deal for future-proofing this crucial asset for the Temora Shire community.
“Our airport and our aviation museum has a rich history and an exciting future—and this announcement further secures this."