2/9/01
The State Government expects the town of Northam to play an increasingly important role in the State's aviation industry after the completion of work to upgrade the town's airport.
The Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Michelle Roberts, today officially opened improvements to Northam Airport partly funded by the Government's Regional Airports Development Scheme (RADS).
The Northam Aero Club, on behalf of the airport owners - the Shire of Northam and the Town of Northam - successfully applied to RADS last year and received funding to stabilise the existing gravel and bitumen seal the runway at Northam Airport.
RADS provided 50 per cent of the funding for the $160,000 project with the Northam Town Council, the Shire of Northam, Airport users and Aerodrome Management Services sharing the balance of the cost.
Mrs Roberts said Northam Airport was strategically well placed to relieve growing pressure on Jandakot Airport.
"Private aircraft owners looking for more cost-effective locations to hangar their planes could look to Northam as an alternative, especially because it is an airport where pilots face minimal delays when taking off and landing," she said.
"Northam is also in close proximity to Perth and in nearly all situations it is an airport where the weather is clear enough to land.
"This point was recently highlighted on the international stage when Steve Fossett chose Northam as the site to launch his attempt to circumnavigate the globe solo in a balloon."
Mrs Roberts said the aviation industry already contributed to Northam's local economy.
"The improvements will provide a fillip for that local industry and provide better facilities for charter operators and emergency services such as the RFDS," she said.
Since the Regional Airports Development Scheme was introduced in 1994, it has provided more than $16 million in financial assistance to airports in more than 90 Western Australian regional centres.
Media contact: Mark Thompson on 9213 6600
