Kempsey Airport will undergo vital upgrades to better equip the airport for aviation users, including emergency services flights.
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Kempsey Shire Council has been successful in an application for funds under the Regional Airports Program that will fund the maintenance of the airport's conditions by resurfacing taxiways and the general aviation apron.
Council has received $327,928 from the Australian Government's Regional Airport Program for the upgrades.
Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said the project would repair extensive pavement sections at the airport and widen and repair the taxiway.
"Kempsey Airport is a really important piece of infrastructure to the Macleay Valley, a fact laid bare during the recent bushfires when it was used extensively by the Rural Fire Service," he said.
"It's great to be investing $327,928 in its maintenance and assisting Kempsey Shire Council and the community."
The grant will be used to partly fund council's $730,000 project to upgrade existing pavement conditions as well as allowing simultaneous use by multiple aircraft and additionally accommodate larger aircraft, including medivac and Rural Fire Service (RFS) fixed wing and non-fixed wing aircraft.
The funding was secured by council's application to the federal government and was supported by the RFS, the Royal Flying Doctors Service, CareFlight and MicroFlite.
Council's Director Corporate and Commercial, Stephen Mitchell said that the proposed project would improve safety and increase the ability for the airport to be used by essential services.
"The changes that are outlined in this project for better and expanded paving have been proposed specifically with the Royal Flying Doctor Service airfield requirements in mind," he said.
"The increased usability of the apron area allows for the maneuvering of larger aircraft such as those used by the Royal Flying Doctor Service and CareFlight, as well as increased safety for aero-medical ground crews and patients undertaking patient transfers.
"Additionally, there will be improved safety to all aircraft and passengers, increased safety in using the fuel facility and reduced congestion on the apron and main taxiway."
The proposed project to improve Kempsey Airport infrastructure includes:
- Re-surface and widen areas of the general aviation apron to airport finished level tolerances and surface finish acceptability, including re-grading the outside edge of the apron and implementing new compliant line marking on new surfaces
- Re-surface taxiways E, C and C1 to airport finished level tolerances and surface finish acceptability, including tie-ins to intersections of main taxiway and hanger accesses, and implementing new compliant line marking on new surfaces
Council intends to carry out the works in the 2020/21 financial year. For more information on the plan please contact council's Customer Service team on 6566 3200.
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