Upgrades to the runway, taxiway and medical infrastructure at Albany Regional Airport are complete.
The Western Australian Government provided the City of Albany a grant through the Regional Airports Development Scheme (RADS) to help reseal and overlay the main runway, construct a new taxiway, and upgrade the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) infrastructure at the airport.
A total of $575,000 was provided from a recent RADS grants round to go towards the $1.15 million project, with the City of Albany providing the remaining funds.
The RADS program provides financial assistance for airport infrastructure at regional airports, helping improve regional air services and airport facilities in regional communities.
The last major resurfacing of the main runway at Albany Regional Airport was in 1997. The latest reseal and overlay of the main runway was needed and is expected to significantly extend the life of the current runway.
Upgrades to RFDS infrastructure will improve safety and increase capabilities and efficiencies at the airport for medical evacuations.
The City of Albany has received about $1.8 million in RADS funding since 2008-09.
Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti, said the airport provides an important transport link to those in the region, with more than 56,000 passengers coming in and out in 2016.
“The airport also plays an integral role in medical evacuations for the region with a total of 2,085 RFDS emergency landings occurring at the Albany Regional Airport over the past five years, making the upgrade to facilities important for medical care in the region,” Ms Saffioti said.
Albany MLA, Peter Watson, said the upgrade was a boost for the regional airport.
“The new RFDS building will improve safety and comfort for medical patients, allowing them to wait in a secure and sheltered building out of the weather, while the improved proximity of the RFDS building to the runway and new aircraft parking will make patient transfers quicker and easier.
“The new reseal and overlay of the runway is expected to maintain the runway asset and the new taxiway will increase the capability and efficiency for the airport.
“RADS grants help improve aviation infrastructure and capabilities at our regional airports which are key to growing economic, tourism and social links throughout WA.”
