The objective of the program is to enhance the safety and accessibility of aerodromes in remote and very remote areas of Australia.

The Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program provides grants to enhance the safety and accessibility of aerodromes in remote and very remote areas of Australia. This will:

• improve the safety of aircraft, operators and passengers using remote and very remote airstrips
• facilitate improved delivery of essential goods and services such as food supplies, health care, community mail and passenger air services
• complement air services delivery to communities subsidised under the Australian Government’s Remote Air Services Subsidy (RASS) Scheme
• meet operational requirements of aeromedical (including the RFDS) and emergency services
• support improved access to air services for people with disability.

Grants will be from $5,000 to $4 million.

The grant will be up to 50% of eligible project costs, unless:

• the applicant (you) and a third party (could include state, territory or local government or other non-government funding) are both contributing to eligible project costs, the grant amount for this opportunity may be reduced to a third of eligible project costs
• the applicant (you) meets the definition as an Indigenous Owned and/or Operated Aerodrome, the grant will be up to 100% of eligible project costs.

To be eligible, you must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be an owner and/or operator of an existing aerodrome in an area classed as remote or very remote in Australia

And be one of the following entities:

• an entity, incorporated in Australia
• an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
• an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
• an incorporated association
• an incorporated not for profit organisation
• an Australian local government agency or body as defined in section 14 of the grant opportunity guidelines
• an Australian state/territory government agency or body including statutory corporations that are deemed by statute to be a body that represent the government of a state/territory
• a corporate Commonwealth entity.

State agencies or other eligible entities may apply on behalf of aerodrome owners/operators (excluding Indigenous Owned and/or Operated aerodromes where you are seeking 100 per cent funding). In such cases, the state agency or other eligible entity will be the lead applicant in a joint application and will be wholly responsible for the project, including administering, reporting and acquitting all project expenditure. Only the lead organisation can submit the application form and enter into a grant agreement with the Commonwealth.

• Phone: 13 28 46
• Email: enquiries@industry.gov.au
• Website: https://www.business.gov.au/contact-us