Tennant Creek Airport

Tennant Creek Airport will benefit from a $1.4 million investment for safety and infrastructure upgrades to improve its service of the Barkly region.

The project will include an upgrade to the runway lighting system, apron expansion and installation of animal proof fencing on the perimeter of the air strip.

NT Airports received $700,000 grant funding from the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities under the Remote Airstrip Upgrade (RAU) Program, and will match the grant funding dollar for dollar.

Tennant Creek Airport currently services around 5,000 passenger movements per annum, making it one of the busiest regional airports in Northern Australia.

Acting CEO NT Airports, Tom Ganley, said the funding was critical to upgrade Tennant Creek Airport’s capabilities to enable economic growth and development for the broader Barkly region.

“As well as improving access to health care service providers, education, essential goods and services for the community, the airport will play a vital role in establishing a mining services hub for the region,” Mr Ganley said.

The infrastructure upgrade to Tennant Creek Airport comprises the following key elements:

  • Improving airstrip lighting system – the project includes supply and installation of a PAPI lighting system, improving the approach visibility for pilots using the airport under the wide range of weather conditions experienced in central outback Australia.
  • Installing animal proof fencing – Tennant Creek Airport has no airport perimeter fencing to prevent stray and native animals from wandering on to the runways which poses a significant safety risk to all pilots and passengers using the airstrip. The installation of animal proof fencing will improve aircraft take-off and landing operations significantly by removing this risk.
  • Increasing apron capacity – the current apron capacity often limits the ability of multiple service providers and the delivery of essential goods and services to the region. Apron expansion works will allow multiple airport users eg Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), fly-in fly-out mining operators (FIFO) and regular passenger transport (RPT) flights by Air North to access to apron facilities at any one time.

The infrastructure upgrade is planned to commence in June 2019 and it is anticipated works will be completed by June 2020.

Project funding details of planned works include:

  • Installation of Precision Path Indicator (PAPI) lighting on both sides of sealed Runway 07/25 at 1959mlong and 30m wide – $340,000
  • Commissioning of the PAPI system, including ground and flight checks and training of ground staff, by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
  • Installation and construction of animal proof fencing around the perimeter of the airstrip which includes the supply and installation of posts, wire barb and mesh at 2100m in height – $760,625
  • Apron expansion and new apron pavement asphalt works on site – $283,090

Funding breakdown:

  • Tennant Creek Airport – $693,715 cash contributions and in-kind contributions of $20,000 in the form of key management and operational personnel over the lifetime of the project.
  • Remote Airstrip Upgrade (RAU) grant funding – $700,000
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