Six regional airports in South Australia and Burnie in Tasmania have been earmarked for federal funding from Round 4 of the Regional Airports Program (RAP).
An $842,000 grant to resurface Port Augusta headlined today's announcement from the minister, with five other SA airports to be handed a total of $889,000 for upgrades.
Burnie Airport in Tasmania's north-west has been granted $330,000 for surface treatment.
“We’re backing regional communities in South Australia by backing regional airports, which provide critical connectivity to other towns, to economic opportunities, and to services like emergency healthcare," said Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King.
“Importantly, this funding will support safer, better runways that RFDS and fire-fighting aviation services rely on to help communities when they need it most.”
Other works to be funded under Round 4 in SA are:
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$550,000 for the District Council of Grant to upgrade the taxiway and apron at Mt Gambier
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$106,767 to reseal and line-mark the Naracoorte runway
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$121,400 for runway lighting at Copper Triangle Aerodrome
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$61,701 to upgrade the lighting system at Sir Hubert Wilkins Aerodrome (Jamestown)
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$49,422 to support construction of a dedicated area for helicopter operations at Clare Valley Aerodrome.
The grant for Burnie is to apply a surface enrichment treatment to the entire length of the main runway, which is expected to improve the runway’s surface condition, provide waterproofing and lengthen the life of the surface.
So far, the department has drip-fed Round 4 RAP announcements with NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and TAS grants released over a three week period rather than all together.