MORNINGTON Island’s faulty airstrip will cost $8.8 million to replace, the council’s chief executive Frank Mills said.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He said the state government could help fund the runway which needs the repairs before the wet season sets in, through pooling of department resources.
A replacement airstrip was significant to the community because it provided the only safe access to the island. “The community’s lifeblood is airplanes,” Mr Mills said.
“The council is one of the more impoverished and more remote, while we are working to be more sustainable we do not have access to that type of money in that shape or form.”
The repairs will focus on making an airstrip that will last beyond 20 years rather than being a short term fix.
“We have got a rising water table here and the airstrip has developed cracks...the sub-structure is starting to break down and not hold together as it used to.”
The Federal Government announced $837,000 last December for the airstrip’s fencing.
Mr Mills said upgrades to airstrip and fencing renovation could be done at the same time to reduce costs.