Lethbridge Airpark officially opened its new sealed runway and upgraded facilities during a charity event last Sunday.
The upgrade was funded with a $1 million grant from the Victorian government, celebrated during a Brown Ribbon charity day to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer research.
Both runways at the airpark have been realigned to increase the distance of arrivals and departure paths from nearby housing, while one runway has been sealed and extended to accommodate larger aircraft such as the KingAir 200, currently operated by Ambulance Victoria.
The realignment at Lethbridge means the grass runway 36/18 became runway 34/16, and runway 29/11 became 28/10 and was sealed and extended.
Hardstand has been built around the fuel bowser and a pilot-activated lighting (PAL) system put in for one runway.
David Koch, MLC for Western Victoria, opened the new-look Lethbridge.
“Lethbridge Airpark is a great example of how the Regional Aviation Fund is improving public-use regional aerodromes so that they can make an even stronger contribution to local economies and communities,” he said.
“The two flying schools currently operating at the Airpark have increased their fleets by six aircraft in total since the runway upgrade, while the number of businesses based here is expected to double to 20 within the next 12 months.”
The Brown Ribbon Day was organised by Geelong Harley Davidson in conjunction with the EJ Whitten Foundation, and attracted an estimated 700 motorcycles to Lethbridge, where many riders paid $20 for a one-circuit joyflight in aircraft including an Antonov AN-2, Nanchang and Grumman Ag Cat.
All money was donated to the EJ Whitten Foundation.