ERIN WILLIAMS and GIORGINA MCKAY
AIRFIELDS at Waikerie and Loxton will undergo $260,000 of repair and upgrade works to provide safe and all-weather access for recreational users and Royal Flying Doctor Services.
The District Council of Loxton Waikerie (DCLW) received $132,266 of Federal Government funding to improve its airfields at Waikerie and Loxton, with the council also contributing $130,000.
DCLW CEO David Beaton said the Waikerie airfield runway is currently looking “a bit rough”, and the funding will allow for repair work to be undertaken as well as resealing.
“The runway at the Waikerie airfield has some potholes in it currently, which is making taking off and landing a bit uncomfortable,” he said.
“With those repairs done, the runway will also be extended and sealed to allow for easier and smoother take-offs and landings.
“The Royal Flying Doctor Service averages two landings per week at Waikerie, and the airfield needs a reasonably high-quality landing strip to provide safe access for all users.”
Waikerie Gliding Club chair Bill Mudge said while the runway is not used by all gliding members and visitors, those who do use it have remarked on its current condition.
“Last time the runway was sealed, the gravel used was too big and parts have come loose; there’s potholes here and there,” he said.
“(The club) pushed for this grant and wrote a letter in support of it, so we’re looking forward to the upgrades.
“We’re hopefully going to start up gliding competitions again towards the end of this year, and having an improved, sealed runway for those who can use it will look good for the club, airfield and region.”
The Loxton dirt airstrip will be sealed with the funding, and Loxton Aero Club president Baz Elliott said the upgrades would improve the runway for club members and others who use the airstrip recreationally.
“It’ll probably bring in a bit more traffic, and being bitumen, it’s probably going to be easier to maintain than the dirt airstrip,” he said.
“It’s very important for the Flying Doctors – they come here on a regular basis – so with their larger aircraft, it’ll be a lot better for them.
“We also have a fair bit of traffic coming in and doing training around Loxton as well from Mildura and Parafield, so it’s (going to be) a big improvement.”
Mr Elliott said the club had been going through a quiet period during the pandemic, but when the country reopened its borders, they would “hopefully” be able to fly more.
“I think there’s quite a few smaller airports around the country which are closing or probably flying in members to maintain these air strips so it’s good that we’ve got a local airstrip that’s getting good support from our local council and getting improvements done,” he said.
“We’re having to change quite a few things like we’re certainly having problems doing committee meetings and stuff like that, and we’re in the process of doing a safety plan for the club now so we can come up to all the legal requirements and the changes to what’s happening with our society now.
“But it’s a good, healthy industry and I don’t think the world will ever be able to survive without aircraft.”
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the Federal Government funding is part of $41.2 million Regional Airports program, created to assist the owners of regional airports across the country to undertake essential works, promote aviation safety and access for regional Australians.
The upgrade and repair works will be undertaken towards the end of August this year.