FAR Northern councils and community groups are encouraged to apply for funding under Round Four of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Programme to improve access to airstrips in remote communities.
Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said Round Four of the programme will be open for six weeks to give communities the chance to develop strong proposals.
“We recognise the difficulties remote communities face accessing services in regional centres and how much they rely on air links for supplies, especially during the wet season,” Mr Entsch said.
“People living in remote areas appreciate the importance of good transport links and how they underpin their communities – that’s why it is essential that anyone seeking funding to upgrade their local airstrip starts preparing their application now.
“This programme is a real boost for remote areas, by improving access to the rest of Australia and the delivery of essential services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service and other emergency medical services.
“The last round saw 52 projects funded across Australia and it would be great to see more projects from our region succeed, so I encourage applicants to work up their submissions and put them forward for consideration.”
Applications can be lodged by community groups, Indigenous organisations and local governments in remote areas and will be assessed on their ability to improve access and safety at remote airstrips to benefit communities.
Further information on the assessment criteria can be found in the guidelines.
Applications will close on 21 October 2016. Information, including the application form, can be found at: http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/regional/index.aspx
