What is the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program?
The Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program is a grant opportunity that will provide funding to enhance the safety and accessibility of aerodromes in remote and very remote areas of Australia. It will provide year round all weather access, particularly where road access is unavailable or unreliable.
Background
Safe, operational aerodromes are vital in the delivery of essential goods and services in remote and very remote communities, particularly where road access is unavailable, unreliable or disrupted for extended periods due to seasonal weather conditions. An effective airstrip, accessible all year round, improves the delivery of health care services such as those provided by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) or other aeromedical providers, improves access to work and education opportunities and helps connect residents of remote communities.
The intended outcome of this grant opportunity is improved safety and air access for remote airstrips that will:
- improve the safety of aircraft, operators and passengers using remote and very remote airstrips
- facilitate improved delivery of essential goods and services such as food supplies, health care, community mail and passenger air services
- support delivery of health care services by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and similar providers
- complement air services delivery to communities subsidised under the Australian Government’s Remote Aviation Access Program (RAAP) through the Remote Air Services Subsidy (RASS) Scheme
- meet operational requirements of the RFDS or operators providing similar aeromedical services
Funding
The minimum grant amount is $5,000 and the maximum grant amount is $500,000.
The grant amount will be up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs (grant percentage), unless:
- where the applicant (you) and a third party (could include State/Territory or local government, or neighbouring cattle station) are both contributing to eligible project costs, the grant amount will be up to 33.3 per cent of eligible project costs or
- where the applicant meets the Small Project criteria in section 3.2 as an Australian local government agency or body and the total project cost is equal to or less than $150,000, the grant amount will be up to 100 per cent of eligible costs or
- where the applicant (you) meets the definition in these Guidelines as an Indigenous Owned and/or Operated Aerodrome, the grant will be up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs.
You can fund your contribution from any source including State, Territory and local government. If you are seeking State or Territory Government co-funding, you should follow the appropriate State or Territory Government application process where applicable and advise in your application the status of your application, as this will impact your grant percentage. Your contribution can be either cash and/or in-kind.
Eligible Projects
To be eligible your activities must directly relate to the project and can include:
- works to improve all weather capability of the aerodrome and aircraft safety including:
- sealing and/or re-sealing and re-sheeting of aircraft pavements
- repair, restoration and/or reconstruction of the airstrip, taxiway and/or apron
- airstrip drainage works.
- works to enhance aerodrome safety for aircraft operations including:
- installation or restoration of animal fencing
- provision of markers and navigational aids
- works to reduce safety hazards at an aerodrome
- provision of safety related operational and/or training manuals and training for key operational personnel.
- works to better enable night time operations including:
- installation of runway and taxiway lighting
- provision of power for aerodrome lighting
- installation of Pilot Activated Lighting Control systems.
Suitable projects could include:
- sealing and/or re-sealing and re-sheeting of aircraft pavements
- repair, restoration and/or reconstruction of the airstrip, taxiway and/or apron
- airstrip drainage works
- installation or restoration of animal fencing
- provision of markers and navigational aids
- works to reduce safety hazards at an aerodrome
- installation of runway and taxiway lighting
- provision of power for aerodrome lighting
- installation of Pilot Activated Lighting Control systems
- provision of safety related operational and/or training manuals and training for key operational personnel.
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible, you must:
- have an Australian business number (ABN)
- be an owner and/or operator of an existing aerodrome in an area classed as remote or very remote in Australia
You must also be one of the following:
- an entity incorporated in Australia (including incorporated trustees on behalf of a trust)
- an Australian local government agency body (defined in Appendix A of the grant opportunity guidelines)
- an Australian state or territory government agency or body
- a corporate Commonwealth entity
- an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation that is registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006
An eligible organisation may apply on behalf of an aerodrome owner or operator (this excludes Indigenous owned or operated aerodromes seeking 100% of funding). In this case, you’ll be:
- the lead applicant in a joint application
- responsible for the project including administering, reporting and acquitting project expenditure
Timing
Applications close 12 November 2020.
