Runway projects up for grabs

Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport, Catherine King, said the funding is vital to give remote outback communities access to essential air services, from the flying doctor to delivery of food and mail.

“Many remote communities in outback Australia are completely cut off from other means of transport, often for long periods during the wet season. Without air services these communities are unable to connect to regional centres or receive vital supplies such as fresh food, mail and medicine.

The Regional Aviation Access Program provides funding to improve the safety of remote airstrips, which could include anything from lighting upgrades to re-sealing the runway or building an animal proof fence.

This funding round will provide an additional $22 million over two years to improve air access to remote communities, taking the total commitment to $43 million over three years to 2013.

To ensure safer and more reliable air access to their communities, applications can be made by airstrip owners, such as community groups, Indigenous organisations and local governments in remote areas that require upgrades.