iscover
The next round of a long-running grant program to upgrade remote airstrip opens for submission on Monday.
Round 11 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade (RAU) Program will offer investments of between $5,000 and $4 million from a total pool of $25 million.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
The scheme first opened in October 2019 and the federal government committed $50 million in the 2024–25 budget to deliver an additional two rounds of the RAU Program.
The money can cover up to 50 per cent of eligible costs or up to 100 per cent for Indigenous-owned or operated aerodromes.
“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,” said the Department of Transport in a statement.
“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.”
Unlike previous iterations, the new round has been expanded to support improved access to air services for people with disability.
This includes items such as ramps, signage or aircraft boarding facilities. More information will be available at business.gov.au on Monday.
Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Regional Development, said: “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.”
Australian Aviation reported in May how the last round of the program saw $13.4 million granted to 21 regional airstrips around Australia.
The upgrades enabled by the funding included priority works such as runway resurfacing, fencing, lighting and drainage, with the largest single grant of $2,956,799 going to Lockhart River Aerodrome in Far North Queensland for aeronautical ground lighting.
