Remote Airports Score $24 Million in Latest Australian Gov’t Funding
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By Andrew Curran.
Remote Queensland airports have emerged as the biggest winners in the latest Australian Government Regional Aviation Access Program funding awards. Earlier this week, the government announced funding of over AUD24.6 million (USD16 million) to upgrade 42 remote airports and airstrips around the country. Over AUD11 million (USD7.2 million) of that (more than 41%) went to 15 Queensland airports, with one, Boigu Airport (GIC), receiving over AUD3.9 million (USD2.54 million).
In total, nine airport and airstrip operators received more than AUD1 million (USD650,000) in funding, while nine also received less than AUD100,000 (USD65,000) in funding.
Biogu Airport, in Australia's Torres Strait Islands, is owned and operated by the Torres Strait Island Regional Council. It will use the money to pay for crack repair, airstrip re-seal and line-marking. The same council also received over AUD2 million (USD1.30 million) to fund upgrades at neighbouring Horn Island Airport (HID).
The smallest funding award went to Walgett Shire Council in Western New South Wales. It received AUD13,500 (USD8,795), which will pay for the supply and installation of apron lights at its local airport.
The awards mark round 11 of the Australian Government’s Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program. So far, it has funded 512 airport and airstrip upgrades to the tune of AUD140 million (USD91.2 million).
The funding helps the airports undertake high-priority safety and access works, including runway resurfacing, fencing, lighting and drainage works.
Safe and reliable airstrip access is essential for many of Australia’s remote communities and townships. For some communities, access to an airstrip is necessary to receivin critical supplies or emergency aeromedical services.
The full list of round 11 funding recipients follows:
|
Applicant |
State/Territory |
Airport/Airstrip |
Project |
Amount (AUD)
|
|
Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation |
Western Australia |
Tjuntjuntjara Airstrip (YTJU) |
Runway, apron and grading works, lighting, markings, windsock replacement, fencing and airport reporting officer training |
$1,502,617 |
|
Kalumburu Aboriginal Corporation |
Western Australia |
Kalumburu Airstrip (YCAL) |
Runway, apron and taxiway repair and re-seal and installation of solar powered lighting |
$1,096,750 |
|
Shire of Derby West Kimberley |
Western Australia |
Derby Airport (YDBY) |
All-weather reseal and strengthening of airport surface areas |
$750,000 |
|
Punmu Aboriginal Corporation |
Western Australia |
Punmu Airstrip (YPUN) |
Supply and install camel proof fencing, grading runway strip, lighting, navigational aids and airport reporting officer training |
$445,551 |
|
Yakanarra Aboriginal Corp |
Western Australia |
Yakanarra Airstrip Upgrade |
Runway strip widening, wind direction indicator circle installation, replacement of solar lights and new marker cones |
$403,243 |
|
Shire of Wiluna |
Western Australia |
Wiluna Airport (YWLU) |
Runway and apron surface sealing and repairs |
$277,722 |
|
Wirrimanu Aboriginal Corporation |
Western Australia |
Mulan (Lake Gregory) Aerodrome (YLGE) |
Boundary fence and gate replacement, runway strip remediation works, upgrade of navigational aids, runway lights and windsock pole |
$178,750 |
|
Shire of Carnarvon |
Western Australia |
Coral Bay Airstrip (YCOY) |
Reshaping and stabilisation of airstrip |
$89,910 |
|
The Trustee for Yasme Trust |
Western Australia |
Doongan and Theda Station Airports (YDGN) |
Fencing work, erosion mitigation works and emergency lighting |
$18,590 |
|
William Creek Progress Association |
South Australia |
William Creek airstrip (YWMC) |
Repair and resurface the runway and extend the apron to the RFDS clinic to ensure safe patient transfer and disability access. |
$1,994,081 |
|
District Council of Streaky Bay |
South Australia |
Streaky Bay Aerodrome (YKBY) |
Runway, taxiway and associated apron resealing |
$400,000 |
|
Regional Anangu Services Aboriginal Corporation |
South Australia |
APY Lands remote airstrips |
Essential airstrip safety and navigational aids for APY land airstrips including cones and solar lights |
$71,000 |
|
Tatiara District Council |
South Australia |
Bordertown Aerodrome (YBOR) |
Construction of all-weather patient transfer facility |
$29,820 |
|
Torres Strait Island Regional Council |
Queensland |
Boigu Airstrip (YBOI) |
Crack repair, airstrip reseal and line-marking |
$3,970,850 |
|
Torres Shire Council |
Queensland |
Horn Island Airstrip (YHID) |
Airstrip crack rejuvenation, sealing and aircraft parking area expansion |
$2,185,750 |
|
Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council |
Queensland |
Doomadgee Airport (YDMG) |
Reseal and line-mark airstrip, upgrade runway lighting, enhance airport weather station and undertake airport reporting officer training |
$2,050,037 |
|
Burke Shire Council |
Queensland |
Gregory Aerodrome (YGDS) |
Spray seal of runway 17/35 connecting to taxiway and apron, and line-marking |
$492,500 |
|
Croydon Shire Council |
Queensland |
Croydon Aerodrome (YCRY) |
Runway, taxiway and apron resurfacing and installation of low-intensity runway lighting system |
$380,000 |
|
Etheridge Shire Council |
Queensland |
Forsyth Airstrip (YFSA) |
Installation of animal exclusion fencing, lighting system upgrade to solar LED and tie-down system upgrade |
$350,000 |
|
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NRARC) |
Queensland |
Northern Peninsula Airport (Bamaga) (YNPE) |
Perimeter fence replacement, wildlife hazard management and training for airport reporting officers |
$312,937 |
|
Murweh Shire Council |
Queensland |
Charleville Airport (YBCV) |
Taxiway and apron resealing and line-marking |
$300,000 |
|
Etheridge Shire Council |
Queensland |
Georgetown Airport (YGTN) |
Installation of animal exclusion fencing, sealed surface rolling, and tie-down cable replacement |
$300,000 |
|
Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation |
Queensland |
Chuulangun Airstrip (YCHU) |
Re-sheeting and stabilisation of runway, strip marker and light replacement, surface drainage improvement and animal exclusion fence repair |
$186,950 |
|
Barcoo Shire Council |
Queensland |
Jundah Aerodrome (YJDA) |
Crack remediation and spray sealing of runway, taxiway and apron pavements |
$174,825 |
|
Diamantina Shire Council |
Queensland |
Bedourie Airport (YBIE) |
Reseal runway cracks and re-gravel runway edges |
$163,746 |
|
Quilpie Shire Council |
Queensland |
Toompine Airstrip |
Supply and installation of animal exclusion fencing |
$102,250 |
|
Cook Shire Council |
Queensland |
Cooktown Aerodrome (YCKN) |
Replacement of 1,200m of cyclone damaged boundary fencing |
$37,500 |
|
Winton Shire Council |
Queensland |
Middleton Airstrip |
Supply and installation of animal exclusion fencing |
$26,631 |
|
Northern Territory Government |
Northern Territory |
Ampilatwatja Aerodrome (YAMJ) |
Upgrade of surface seal to meet CASA MOS 139 standards |
$1,750,000 |
|
Northern Territory Government |
Northern Territory |
Ali Curung Aerodrome |
Upgrade of surface seal to meet CASA MOS 139 standards |
$1,500,000 |
|
Northern Territory Government |
Northern Territory |
Maningrida Aerodrome (YMGD) |
Upgrade of perimeter fencing to meet CASA MOS 139 standards |
$500,000 |
|
Marthakal Homelands and Resource Centre Aboriginal Corporation |
Northern Territory |
Mapuru Airstrip (YMAP) |
Repair of airstrip and drainage works |
$412,243 |
|
Northern Territory Government |
Northern Territory |
Bathurst Island Aerodrome (YBTI) |
Upgrade of airport lighting to meet CASA MOS 139 solar lighting standards |
$250,000 |
|
Central Desert Regional Council |
Northern Territory |
Various sites |
Training of airport reporting officers across 42 remote communities |
$106,567 |
|
Victoria Daly Regional Counci |
Northern Territory |
Timber Creek and Yarralin Airstrips (YBTR/YAAL) |
Installation of passenger shelters |
$94,890 |
|
Australian Wildlife Conservancy |
Northern Territory |
Wongalara Wildlife Sanctuary Airstrip |
Installation of animal exclusion fencing and purchase of portable LED lights |
$56,543 |
|
Brewarrina Shire Council |
New South Wales |
Brewarrina and Goodooga Aerodromes (YBRW/YGDA) |
Brewarrina Aerodrome - rectify and re-seal taxiway and apron; Goodooga Aerodrome runway, taxiway and apron re-seal and for both aerodromes - line-marking, replacement Pilot Activated Lighting, and LED illuminated wind direction indicator |
$1,228,000 |
|
Lachlan Council |
New South Wales |
Lake Cargelligo Airport (YLGC) |
Upgrade lighting to LED, upgrade electrical, and install backup generator |
$150,197 |
|
Central Darling Shire Council |
New South Wales |
Wilcannia Aerodrome (YWCA) |
Installation of disability accessible toilet facility, water tank, and back-up generator |
$118,901 |
|
Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure |
New South Wales |
Tibooburra Aerodrome (YTIB) |
Widening of existing taxiway to accommodate RFDS |
$113,572 |
|
Warren Shire Council |
|
Warren Airport (YWRN) |
Upgrade of animal exclusion fence, development of circling required navigation performance (RNP) procedure and improvement to drainage |
$50,589 |
|
Walgett Shire Council |
New South Wales |
Lightning Ridge Airport (YLRD) |
Supply and installation of apron light to improve visibility and operational safety |
$13,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
$24,637,012 |
Broken down by state, nine airports and airstrips in Western Australia received AUD4,764,133 (USD 3,104,074) in round 11 funding; four South Australian airports and airstrips received AUD2,494,901 (USD 1,625,554); fifteen airports and airstrips in Queensland received AUD11,033976 (USD 7,189,194); eight airports and airstrips in the Northern Territory received AUD4,670,243 (USD3,042,900), and six remote airports and airstrips in New South Wales received AUD1,674,759 (USD1,091,190).
“Safe and accessible airstrips are critical to safeguarding the quality of life in many remote and very remote communities across Australia, and that includes much of the Far North,” said Queensland Federal Labor politician Matt Smith.
You can find further information on the Australian Government's Remote Airstrip Upgrade program here.
Photo: Aero South Pacific.