Australian Government offers $25m for remote airstrip upgrades

By Andrew Curran.

The Australian Government has opened the latest round of its Remote Airstrip Upgrade (RAU) Program, with up to AUD25 million (USD18 million) available to upgrade airstrips in remote Australia. This closely follows the Government of Western Australia offering up to AUD3.8 million (USD2.7 million) in grants for regional airport upgrades in that state.

Both programmes cover up to 50% of project costs, subject to caps. In the case of the Australian Government program, up to 100% of project costs may be covered at Indigenous-owned or operated aerodromes that meet the eligibility guidelines.

Eligible works may include safety improvements such as resealing or resheeting aircraft pavements, lighting, fencing, aviation safety training, or basic airside ambulance and passenger shelters.

This is the 12th round of the Australian Government program, which has, to date, has dispensed more than AUD140 million (USD100.7 million) across 512 projects. Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Senator Anthony Chisholm, called this a “significant achievement”.

“We know there’s plenty more airstrips across our vast nation that could do with support to upgrade their facilities to improve safety and services,” he said.

Australian Airports Association (AAA) research has found 73%of surveyed regional airports operated at a loss in 2024-25, with a median operating loss of AUD519,000 (USD373,600).

“Many of these airports are effectively supported by local councils and ratepayers because the connectivity they provide is too important for communities to lose,” AAA Acting CEO Natalie Heazlewood says.

The latest round of money from established remote airport funding programs

The Government of Western Australia has provided AUD54 million (USD38.9 million) to 336 regional airport projects since the Regional Airports Development Scheme (RADS) was launched.

The Government actively encourages applicants to seek further funding from other government or private agencies, meaning a regional airport located in Western Australia could apply to both the Australian and Western Australian governments for funding to help cover a particular upgrade project.

“We are committed to ensuring our regional and remote communities are supported by quality airport infrastructure,” said Western Australia Minister for Transport and Major Infrastructure Rita Saffioti.

“Ensuring regional air services are accessible and affordable enables communities to stay connected to essential services and job opportunities, while supporting the efficient movement of freight and tourism.”

The Government of Western Australia’s most recent RADS round, covering work across the 2025–27 period, provided AUD3.6 million (USD2.6 million), including AUD1.6 million (USD1.15 million) towards airstrip upgrades in remote Aboriginal communities.

Funding to help upgrades at the most remote airports

The Australian Government program, which covers the entire country, offers between AUD5,000 (USD3,600) and AUD4 million (USD2.9 million) for individual projects at aerodromes or airports identified as being in remote or very remote areas. Eligible projects must be aimed at improving safety and accessibility.

Successful applicants in Round 11 of the Australian Government’s Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program included Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council in Queensland, which received AUD2.05 million (USD1.5 million) to upgrade lighting and reseal the runway, taxiway and apron at Doomadgee Airport (DMD). Brewarrina Shire Council in New South Wales received AUD1.23 million (USD890,000) to help upgrade and refurbish pavements and lighting at Brewarrina (BWQ) and Goodooga (YGDA) airports.

The most recent RADS round in Western Australia saw Derby Airport (DRB) receive AUD650,000 (USD468,000) to help cover the costs of sealing and line-marking the airport’s runway, taxiway and apron. Kondinin Airport (YKDN), in the state’s south-west, received AUD224,340 (USD161,420) to assist with the cost of sealing the airstrip and asphalting the taxiway and helicopter landing pad.

The Australian Airports Association welcomes the latest funding round but calls for long term support

The Australian Airports Association welcomed the latest round of funding opportunities but said there was a need for long-term support for regional and remote aviation infrastructure.

“This funding is incredibly important, but we need to move beyond individual grant rounds towards a permanent and sustainable funding mechanism for regional and remote airports,” Heazlewood said.

The AAA says more than 5.4 million passenger trips were recorded on remote routes in 2025-26, 12.3% higher than pre-COVID levels. Across regional and remote routes, more than 24 million passenger trips were recorded, but the number of actual flights fell 1.4% over the year.

“The latest figures show regional aviation is not in inevitable decline. Passenger demand remains strong, even as services are increasingly being consolidated through fewer frequencies and larger aircraft,” Hazelwood added.

Applications for the Government of Western Australia’s 2027–29 RADS funding round close on September 11, 2026, while applications for the Australian Government’s Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program close on October 6, 2026.

Photo: Aero South Pacific.
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com