The remote airstrip of Tjuntjuntjara east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder near the South Australian border, has been awarded funding under the State Government’s Regional Airports Development Scheme (RADS).
Wendy Duncan MLA, Member for Kalgoorlie said that the funding would be utilised to install airstrip fencing to stop animals from crossing the airstrip and to provide a surface grading of the airstrip.
“The Airstrip plays a vital role in the community, connecting it with access to services, such as mail delivery and medical transport and provides a link to outside service providers who regularly visit Tjuntjuntjara. It is also a very important safe landing place for the many light aircraft traversing this isolated area on their way to the Eastern States,” Ms Duncan said.
“The safety of the Tjuntjuntjara airstrip has been raised with me in my recent visits and I am pleased to see that the needs of this remote community have been recognised through the Regional Airport Development Scheme.”
Past Federal President of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Nationals candidate for Kalgoorlie, Tony Crook emphasised that a high standard of safety in remote airstrips was essential for the effective operation of the RFDS.
“The Regional Airports Development Scheme, which has been greatly augmented by Royalties for Regions over the last eight years, is vitally important in extending the mantle of safety of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. It is good news that Tjuntjuntjara will be able to undertake this upgrade,” Mr Crook said.
Ms Duncan said that a total of 31 applications were received requesting over $3.3 million in grants with 13 regional airports being successful in sharing almost $1.25 million in funding.
The remaining $2.6 million of 2017-19 RADS funding has been set aside for projects that require further consideration or are pending funding approval from other sources. A further announcement to the awarding of the remaining RADS funds will be made in 2017.
For media enquiries contact Wendy Duncan on 0438782034