The Federal Government is delivering $25 million in in funding for critical upgrades at airports and airstrips across remote Australia.
The Remote Airstrip Upgrade (RAU) Program provides funding to organisations and community groups to improve the safety and accessibility of aerodromes in remote and very remote areas of Australia.
Remote airstrips provide critical access for Australians living in the far reaches of our country by connecting them with services in major regional centres, but they’re also vital to the delivery of urgent supplies and facilitation of life-saving emergency flights.
Upgrade works under the Program may include improving all-weather capabilities such as sealing or resealing runways to ensure air operators can land safely and without damaging their aircraft, or lighting to allow aircraft to land at night.
This latest grant funding will also encourage successful applicants to use the allocated funding to conduct safety training for key operational personnel.
The Federal Government has committed $50 million in the 2024-25 Budget to deliver an additional two rounds of the RAU Program.
Applications for Round 11 are set to open from 4 November for grants of between $5,000 and $4 million covering 50 per cent of eligible costs, or up to 100 per cent for Indigenous-owned and/or operated aerodromes that meet certain requirements.
Following feedback from previous rounds of the RAU Program, Round 11 has been expanded to support improved access to air services for people with disability. This may include items such as ramps, signage or aircraft boarding facilities.
These works can be undertaken as a standalone project or in conjunction with other safety and access works at the airport.
Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm, said, “Safe and accessible airstrips are critical to safeguarding the quality of life in many remote and very remote communities across Australia, as they keep essential services running and allow businesses to grow and thrive.
“Improving the resilience of these aerodromes will also mean people who are based in remote areas can continue to live, do business and retire there, knowing they will have access to the emergency and other services needed in any stage of life.
“As remote communities across Northern Australia head into another wet season and bushfire warnings become more frequent across the country, I urge aerodrome owners and operators to take a look at the guidelines and consider applying to make their priority upgrades a reality.
“The Aviation White Paper backed this Program due to its support for some of our most vulnerable who reside in these remote communities, so I’m pleased to hear that measures allowing people with a disability to access air services have been prioritised under the RAU.”
More information on the RAU Program, including Round 11 Guidelines, is available at business.gov.au.
