News Alert |

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh has met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack to discuss details of the Regional Airport Fund dispersal and possible funding for Ballarat Airport upgrades.

The Regional Airports Program will provide $100 million over the next four years to undertake works at regional airports. Further information on the program will be released later in 2019. 

The Ballarat Airport’s main north-south runway needs to be extended to at least 1800 metres to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Dash-8 and SAAB-340, which are the most common regional passenger aircraft used in Australia. 

The City of Ballarat also plans to build an aviation hub to become a regional emergency services base. Cr McIntosh said “If the airport is to reach its full potential to service and connect the broader region the north south runway needs to be extended, reinforced and strengthened.  We also need to plan for future development of an air-based emergency services hub with a focus on aerial fire and flood response capacity”. 

“It is our hope that funding for these critical upgrades can be funded through the Regional Airports funding.”

The City of Ballarat continues to advocate to both state and federal governments for funding for major projects that will benefit all of Ballarat.