Nationals candidate for Murray Peta Betts said Deniliquin Airport was a critical piece of infrastructure for the district, and the upgrade would help support local emergency services and hospital by keeping the region connected.
“Our airport is essential to our region and I’ve fought hard to secure this commitment,” she said.
“Only the Nationals in government can and will deliver this critical upgrade.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said Deniliquin Airport had proved critical to managing the emergency response during major flooding on the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers.
“We know how important it is to be able to bring in support and supplies by air to communities like Deniliquin and its surrounds during times of disaster,” Mr Toole said.
“An investment in this airport is an investment in the resilience of the community that will help with disaster response and emergency access not just for Deniliquin but across the region.”
The funding of up to $4 million, subject to an assessment, will allow Edward River Council to leverage Commonwealth funds already committed to the airport.
It builds on an $8 million commitment from a re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government to help councils across 20 Local Government Areas, including Balranald, Carrathool, Edward River, Hay, Murray River and Wentworth to upgrade their airstrips and airports.
Eligible works would include grading of unsealed airstrips, upgrades to airstrip length and width, animal exclusion and safety fencing, lighting improvements, fuel service and terminal upgrades and the addition of new windsocks and markers.
The funding commitment for the airport would bring funding allocated to the airport to $8 million.
The Commonwealth provided $2.5 million originally, under the proviso it be matched by other funding avenues.
Last year council was given permission to allocate $1.5 million of its NSW Locals Roads and Community Infrastructure program to the project.
The plan at the airport is to stabilise the runway and provide a new surface, finishing with a 200mm-thick base pavement and bitumen seal to improve its pavement classification number.
The project was to be completed in stages due to funding constraints, with stage one conservatively budgeted at $4.5 million before material cost increases.
