By Leon Georgiou
TWO Limestone Coast councils have shared in almost $345,000 of funding through the Federal Government’s Regional Airports Program.
Kingston District Council received a sizable grant of $265,000 to fund a new lighting control system, taxiway upgrade and a designated helicopter landing area at the Kingston Airport.
Grant District Council also received $80,000 for the construction of a new taxiway at the Mount Gambier Regional Airport.
The latest taxiway project builds on the $9m redevelopment of the Mount Gambier Regional Airport, which has included an expansion of the terminal, runway extensions, new lighting and a heavy aircraft apron.
Grant District chief executive Darryl Whicker said the taxiway upgrades represented the end of the council’s airport infrastructure “masterplan”.
Council is now looking to work with stakeholders to focus on the airport’s potential in driving growth within the region.
“The new taxiway enables businesses and aviators to be able to come and use the Mount Gambier airport as their place of business or their place of recreation, and the potential of that is something that we’ll be exploring,” he said.
Grant District Mayor Richard Sage explained the new taxiway would increase the usability of the airport and its future commercial possibilities.
“In the long term, we’d like to see the ability to have freight going out of Mount Gambier so that fresh produce can be flown anywhere,” he said.
“If you look at the crayfish movements and the need now for new markets, that could be domestic markets that we can fly straight into rather than truck. So it’s really about gaining capacity going forward.”
Mr Sage said outside of potential future economic benefits, the new taxiway would also facilitate the recent increase in private aircraft and charter services operating out of the airport.
“We’ve had some new entrepreneurs move into the region that have got the capacity to have their own aircraft and they’re looking for somewhere to keep [them],” Mr Sage said.
Mr Whicker was thankful for the State and Federal governments’ support, which he said had helped make the airport ready for the future.
Kingston District Council chief executive Nat Traeger also welcomed the government support, explaining it was difficult for the council’s small ratepayer base to keep the Kingston airport operational.
“We spend 28pc of our ratepayer money on coastal issues and that doesn’t even address trying to also keep an airstrip up to scratch,” she said.
“We’re obviously very appreciative to the Federal Government for the funding, and the ability to provide improved or enhanced emergency services in a small community which will be appreciated by the community.”
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the Regional Airports Program highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting regional infrastructure and communities.
“These projects will improve the safety of aircraft, operators and passengers, the delivery of goods and services, and better meet the operational requirements of aeromedical and other emergency services, including supporting bushfire preparedness,” he said.
“Every dollar spent on local infrastructure is a dollar well spent and I look forward to working with the community to deliver this vital funding as we continue recovering from the pandemic.”
The Regional Airports Program has committed nearly $30m to 89 regional airports across Australia during its second round of funding.
