Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King this week announced upgrade funding for several airports in New South Wales.
The grants, totaling nearly $12 million, are part Round 4 of the Regional Airports Program (RAP).
Among the highlights of the announcement are $5 million to strengthen Albury to cater for larger aircraft, $3.8 million to extend the runway at Merimbula, $1 million to upgrade the aeromedical apron at Moree, $500,000 for runway lighting at Griffith and $220,000 for stormwater drains at Mudgee.
"We’re backing regional communities by backing regional aviation, because we know our regions deserve access to critical services that only aviation can deliver," minister King said.
“Upgrades like these aren’t just improvements, they’re the difference between regional residents getting medical help, firefighters getting access during an emergency and economies growing through tourism.
“We want our regions to remain connected to loved ones, healthcare and opportunity.”
Other projects included in the announcement are:
- $460,000 for animal fencing and GA apron resealing at Port Macquarie
- $210,000 to reconstruct Taxiway A at Tamworth
- $103,000 for runway edges and PAL upgrades at Clarence Valley
- $88,000 to replace gables and windsock light wiring at Narromine
- $56,000 for drainage at Mittagong.
Since its inception under the Coalition government in 2020, the RAP has delivered nearly $100 million in airport upgrades across 194 projects.
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts has not committed to a timeline for RAP announcements relating to other states.