Regional Airports given share of $41.2M for essential upgrades

Posted on 23/06/2020

The Federal Government has publicised that 60 regional airports across the nation will receive access to a share of $41.2 million to help Australia’s aviation industry get through the COVID-19 outbreak and economic recovery.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Michael McCormack said the Regional Airports Program would aid the operators of regional airports to commence essential works, promoting both aviation safety and access for regional Australia.

“For our regional communities, the local airport is an essential link to the rest of Australia,” he said.

Much of the money will go to runway works at major regional airports such as Ballarat Airport in Victoria, Merimbula Airport in New South Wales and Whyalla Airport in South Australia.

“The government is investing in regional airports because we know this infrastructure is key to securing our regional aviation network now and into the post-COVID future,”.

Mr. McCormack commented that the Federal Government will invest $100 million over four years from 2019-20 to 2022-23 in support of regional airport owners in the distribution of infrastructure such as runways and taxiways.

This funding comes in conjunction to the Federal Government’s commitment of $1.2 billion to the aviation industry.