Mallacoota has secured its position as a significant air transport hub for the south eastern district of Australia, following the completion of a $1 million upgrade of the Mallacoota Airport.

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, who officially opened the new facility today, said “air travel services are a major contributor to the economic development of remote areas such as Mallacoota and the upgrade will allow for more reliable and swift access to markets for a range of high-value and time-critical regional products.”

“It also improves the reliable access for health and medical services and access to the world-class South East Coastal Wilderness Region.”

Mr Bull said the airport, which was originally a defence and training facility for the RAAF during WWII, had been under-utilised, but a new era was beginning.

Improvements included:

• Installation of pilot activated runway lighting to enable 24-hour operation; • Sealing of the runways, taxiways and aircraft parking apron, which enables all-weather operations; • Installation of a permanent refuelling facility to improve aircraft services and safety; • Expansion of the terminal and facilities to provide a basic level of services to patrons.

“Mallacoota is a strategically located hub, providing access to planes flying west to Melbourne, north into NSW and to Tasmania and the Bass Strait Islands to the south,” Mr Bull said.

The Victorian Government provided $791,000 towards the upgrade project with the remainder of the funds provided by the East Gippsland Shire Council.

Mr Bull said, “the Victorian Coalition Government was committed to providing better infrastructure, facilities and services to regional and rural communities.”

“The Coalition Government is supporting the regions through our flagship $1 billion Regional Growth Fund, which is all about driving regional development across the State, creating new opportunities for economic and social growth in regional towns.”