Work is underway at Bairnsdale Airport to replace the site’s ageing water mains.
East Gippsland Shire Council, which owns the airport, identified the water main project as a priority in its Bairnsdale Airport Masterplan. The infrastructure was installed in the time of World War II and has now reached its end of life.
The $340,000 water main replacement is funded by a $220,000 Grant from the Department of Infrastructure’s Regional Airports Program (Round 2), with Council contributing the remainder.
There will be minimal disruption to airside aviation traffic. The project is expected to be completed before this April’s East Gippsland Field Days, which are held at the aerodrome.
The water main upgrade will complement a range of projects that will enable the facility to attract a wider range of aircraft. Council was recently advised it had secured a $9.9 million grant from the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program to extend and strengthen the airport’s primary runway.
The runway project is also a key priority of the masterplan. The upgraded runway will accommodate larger and heavier aircraft, including Air Ambulance Victoria patient transfers and commercial passenger services, creating new tourism, freight and professional service opportunities that rely on air travel.
Mayor Cr Mark Reeves said it was an exciting time for aviation in East Gippsland.
“Bairnsdale Airport is critical infrastructure for our region. I look forward to seeing its ongoing growth and the changes and opportunities it provides,” Cr Reeves said.
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