The Albanese Government is investing nearly $25 million in funding for upgrades at 42 remote airports through round 11 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program.

The funding will allow these airports to deliver safety and access works specific to their priority needs, including runway resurfacing, fencing, lighting and drainage works.

Safe and reliable airstrip access is crucial in many of Australia’s remote communities and townships, some of which experience regular isolation due to unpredictable or extreme weather. 

For some communities, access to an airstrip means receiving critical supplies or emergency aeromedical services in their hour of need.

Round 11 of the program funds upgrades in some of Australia’s most far-flung regions, from Boigu Island just off the shores of Papua New Guinea, to Streaky Bay on the western side of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, over to the remote township of Tjuntjunjara in the Great Victoria Desert. 

This brings the total investment in regional airports through all eleven rounds of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program so far to more than $140 million across 512 projects.

The full list of successful applications from round 11 is available here.

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm:

“To a remote region, town or community, an airstrip is more than a straight, paved runway. 

“It’s a lifeline to a community in need, it’s the connection to the major centres, it’s a source of food, household essentials and health.

“Following recent flooding in many parts of remote Queensland and other parts of our country, delivering more resilient transport infrastructure like this is essential.

“The Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program, now in its eleventh round, has funded so many crucial upgrades to airports across the great expanse of Australia – with this latest round ensuring even more of these connections remain and communities can thrive.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Leichardt Matt Smith: 

“Safe and accessible airstrips are critical to safeguarding the quality of life in many remote and very remote communities across Australia, and that includes much of the Far North.

“This round of funding will keep essential services running and allow remote businesses to grow and thrive.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour: 

“As remote communities across Northern Australia head into another wet season and bushfire warnings become more regular across Central Australia, this funding ensures we’re equipping remote aerodrome owners and operators with the upgrades they need to keep services running.

“It’s crucial we improve the resilience of our airstrips in remote areas, to give communities the confidence they have access to emergency and other services when they need them.”