The airstrip in the remote Aboriginal community of Balgo in Western Australia’s Kimberley region has received a major upgrade to improve its safety and reliability, thanks to funding from the Albanese and Cook Labor Governments.
Located at the edge of the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts, the Balgo community relies on air services to deliver medical and emergency care, including Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) aeromedical evacuations.
The airstrip also supports the Cook Labor Government’s subsidised Kununurra-Halls Creek-Balgo flights, which provide critical transport for the residents of Balgo and neighbouring communities of Mulan and Billiluna (Mindibungu).
Improvement works included reconstruction of the runway, taxiway, and apron to improve drainage and address water pooling during the Kimberley wet season, and new solar powered lighting.
The Albanese Government committed $3 million to the upgrades through a Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program grant to Wirrimanu Aboriginal Corporation.
The Cook Labor Government contributed approximately $3.65 million through the Aboriginal Community Airstrip Renewal Program (ACARP), with an additional $250,000 through a Disaster Resilience Funding Program grant to Wirrimanu Aboriginal Corporation.
Traditional Owners represented by the Tjurabalan Native Title Land Aboriginal Corporation were consulted throughout the project, with works delivered by Aboriginal business Black Cat Civil.
In 2024, the Cook Labor Government allocated $8 million to ACARP projects in the Kimberley as part of the $67.5 million Kimberley Resilience Program to boost the resilience of the region.
The Balgo Hill Airstrip upgrade follows the completion of an ACARP-funded upgrade to the Bidyadanga Airstrip in August 2024, which provided employment opportunities for six local Aboriginal people.
The Albanese and Cook Labor Governments are also partnering to deliver upgrades to the Kalumburu Airstrip with works to reseal the runway, taxiway, and apron expected to begin later this month. More airstrip upgrades are being planned.
As stated by Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development Senator Anthony Chisholm:
“For communities like Balgo, a safe and reliable airstrip is essential infrastructure, ensuring residents can access health care, emergency services, and critical supplies.
“This upgrade will improve the resilience of the airstrip during the Kimberley wet season, supporting year-round connectivity for Balgo and surrounding communities.
“The Albanese Government is proud to partner with the Cook Government to invest in infrastructure that strengthens remote communities, improves access to essential services, and supports Closing the Gap outcomes.”
As stated by WA Transport and Major Infrastructure Minister Rita Saffioti:
“Remote airstrips play a vital role in ensuring communities can access essential services.
“These airstrips are lifelines during emergencies, enabling the movement of people, medical assistance, and critical supplies when they are needed most.
“The Cook Labor Government’s investment through the Aboriginal Community Airstrip Renewal Program is supporting better outcomes for remote communities as part of our commitment to delivering quality infrastructure across Western Australia.”
As stated by WA Regional Development and Kimberley Minister Stephen Dawson:
“The Cook and Albanese Labor Governments are working together to deliver this important infrastructure for the Kimberley.
“Airstrips like this play a vital role in supporting remote communities, from delivering essential supplies to helping residents stay connected with family and friends.
“These upgrades will improve access, connectivity, and essential services for communities across regional and remote Western Australia.”
As stated by Federal Labor Senator for WA and Duty Senator for Durack Glenn Sterle:
“It’s fantastic to see both the Albanese and Cook Labor Governments working together to deliver this important region-building upgrade to the Balgo airstrip. For a remote community, reliable air access is critical for medical and emergency services, as well as keeping people connected to the wider Kimberley and beyond.
“This project will improve the runway, drainage, and lighting, and will ultimately make the airstrip safer and more reliable.”
“Investments like this will lead to good outcomes for Balgo and the broader Kimberley region. It strengthens essential services, improves connectivity, and supports the long-term future of these communities, and it’s great to see Labor governments continuing to back regional Western Australia.”
As stated by Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna:
“The Cook Labor Government is proud to have delivered these critical infrastructure upgrades to keep the Balgo community connected and supported.
“A reliable airstrip is critical to the resilience of our remote communities, with these upgrades designed to withstand the Kimberley wet season.
“We’re also delivering subsidised flights between Kununurra, Halls Creek, and Balgo to ensure people living in remote areas of our State can access reliable air services.”
