General News
16 May, 2024
NSW misses out on remote airstrip funding
Earlier this month, the federal Member for Parkes electorate, Mark Coulton, lamented the delay in announcing the recipients of funding support from round 10 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program.
Earlier this month, the federal Member for Parkes electorate, Mark Coulton, lamented the delay in announcing the recipients of funding support from round 10 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program. The critical funding program closed off applications for round 10 last December.
Mr Coulton, who represents a federal electorate that covers geographically almost half the state of NSW, was very disappointed when the federal government finally announced last week that just one of the 21 projects to receive funding from round 10 is located in NSW. Nyngan, in the Parkes electorate, was the only NSW location to receive remote airstrip funding in round 10. The Bogan Shire Council will receive $116,550 towards a lighting upgrade at Nyngan Airport.
Nine of the 21 projects funded in round 10 involved lighting upgrades or installations supporting taxiways at remote airstrips across the country. Queensland received the lion’s share of the grants (seven), followed by South Australia (five), the Northern Territory (five), Western Australia (three) and NSW (one).
The smallest grant issued was just $30,705 for a passenger shelter and helipad lighting at Nipapanha (Nepabunna) Angepena Airstrip in north-east South Australia. The largest grant was $2.956 million for an aeronautical lighting upgrade at the Lockhart River Aerodrome in far north Queensland.
“I’m glad the Labor government has heeded our calls and finally released this funding, months after applications closed,” Mr Coulton said. “At least now, the successful recipients can get on with the job of improving their airstrips. It’s so important for our rural aerodromes to remain operational for the delivery of essential supplies, particularly for access to life-saving medical services like the Royal Flying Doctors,” he added.
“However, I am disappointed that Bogan Shire Council was the only recipient in NSW. I know for a fact that numerous other councils in my electorate applied for this funding and have unfortunately missed out. I’m hoping that further funding for the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program will be made available in this week’s federal budget.
“Councils in my electorate have had great success in the past under this program, with the previous round alone delivering more than $700,000 for vital upgrades for remote airstrips in Bourke, Condobolin, Tottenham, Emmdale, Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Collarenebri, Burren Junction, and Carinda,” Mr Coulton concluded.
The upgrade program is essential to enhance the safety and accessibility of aerodromes in remote and very remote areas of Australia.
