Media Release
CK005/2012
28 February 2012
Joint release with:
The Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Federal Minister for Lingiari
Seven Northern Territory communities are the latest to benefit from funding provided through the Australian Government's Regional Aviation Access Program.
The program has enhanced air access to these often isolated communities through the completion of $2.48 million in upgrades to 7 local airstrips across the Northern Territory.
The funding has improved airstrip surfaces, upgraded windsocks, cleared surrounding vegetation and enhanced safety equipment for the districts of Hodgson Downs, Kildurk Station, Nelson Springs, Urpanga, Baikal (Bonya), Yuelamu and Willowra.
Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport, Catherine King said, “connecting these communities to essential food, health and education services through access to safe, operational aerodromes is a high priority.
“Over 180 airstrips have been funded with $43 million dedicated to the program demonstrating our active and ongoing commitment to improving services to rural communities across Australia.”
Federal Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, said “these works assist remote districts and Indigenous communities to ensure the continuation of vital services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Australia Post deliveries and passenger transport”.
Mr Snowdon said “This work connects remote communities with each other and with larger towns and cities; it plays a vital role in ensuring that these communities are not left on their own.”
Gary Cartwright, Arramwelke Aboriginal Corporation CEO said “the Royal Flying Doctor can now land safely at Bonya, which is a relief for our community. For more than a year we didn’t have an airstrip which also had a significant impact on things like access to mail and freight. The support provided by the Commonwealth Government was crucial in restoring our link to services that other people might take for granted”.
See attached map for airstrip locations.
Further information about the Regional Aviation Access Program and completed projects is available on the Department of Infrastructure and Transport website at www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/regional/index.aspx.
Media Contacts
- Peter Dwyer - King's Office - 0409 866 054
- Marcus Butler - Snowdon's Office - 0417 917 796
Remote Aviation Infrastructure Fund
| Community | Works |
|---|---|
| Hodgson Downs | Relocated wind indicator and replaced windsock Removed trees, repaired, remarked and widened runway strip Constructed and defined signal area |
| Kildurk Station | Relocated runway strip, remarked, extended and widened runway strip Cleared bushes, blackened area underneath the wind indicator Realign all runway lights |
| Nelson Springs | Improved and extended runway strip and replaced runway strip Gable Markers Blackened area underneath the wind indicator Removed trees and slashed bushes, ensured 60m clearway at either end of runway |
| Urapanga | Extended, widened, repaired and remarked runway airstrip, replaced windsock and blackened area underneath windsock, cleared trees |
| Baikal (Bonya) | Extended, repaired and re-gravelled runway strip, widened the graded runway strip and relocated a fence and drains, rolled and compacted runway surface, replaced runway cones, constructed a signal area, cleared trees Relocated terminal building and fuel storage areas, relocated windsock and pole |
| Yuelamu | Widened and lengthened runway strip, relocated and extended drainage pipes, slashed runway strip, provided a new signal and wind indicator, cleared trees |
| Willowra | Widened runway strip, removed trees Blackened area underneath the wind indicator Relocated cones |
Click on image for larger version
RSS