ANOTHER TOUCHDOWN FOR KINGSTON AERODROME
MEDIA RELEASE - 28 October 2022
Photo: Royal Flying Doctor Service taking off at the Kingston Aerodrome.
Kingston District Council will receive $100k through Round Seven of the Support Regional Aviation Program to reseal portions of the 15,000m2 runway at the Kingston Aerodrome. Council was also successful in its application for exemption to provide co-funding which means the project can be completed without impacting the capital budget or utilisation of ratepayer funds.
The funding comes in the wake of recent upgrades to the lighting, reseal of the taxiway and development of a dedicated helicopter landing area.
The grant is a welcome announcement for the Council, who is battling a myriad of coastal infrastructure and climate change environmental issues.
Mayor Kay Rasheed said, “given our small ratepayer base and limited revenue, conflicting priorities mean that upgrades at essential facilities like our Aerodrome are unable to be completed without funding support”.
“Our Aerodrome is the only sealed runway within 100kms of Kingston and provides a facility for emergency services, recreational fliers and some business operations” the Mayor said.
“The Kingston Memorial Hospital is the only hospital facility within 100kms of Kingston and is the closest medical service to the southern section of the notorious Coorong stretch of the Princes Highway along with other ‘black spots’ on the Southern Ports Highway and Princes Highway.”
Kingston is in a high bushfire risk area. In the summer of 2019/20, the district suffered the worst bushfire in the region since Ash Wednesday in 1983. The Kingston Aerodrome was used during the firefighting operation by CFS water bombers and for aerial reconnaissance. Having a reliable and readily accessible landing surface, with access to water, was critical to this operation and will continue to be critical for provision of such services in the future.
Chief Executive Officer Nat Traeger said the Council is always looking for ways to raise its profile and boost visitation rates. “Not only is the Aerodrome used for emergency services, but it is also home to the Kingston SE Flying Club. The sealed runway and proximity to the Coorong and launching point from which to explore the Limestone Coast makes Kingston an attractive location for recreational fliers, in turn boosting tourism and the local economy in the town and local area” she said.
Tenders for the project are currently open and close mid-November. It is anticipated the resealing work will be completed early 2023.
The grant is being provided by Government of South Australia, through the Department for Infrastructure & Transport.
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Contact:
Nat Traeger
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | KINGSTON DISTRICT COUNCIL
Phone: 0408 809 712 | E: ceo@kingstondc.sa.gov.au