Boost for Bendigo Airport

Fri 13 May 2011

Minister for the Aviation Industry Gordon Rich-Phillips today confirmed the Government's commitment of $5 million towards the redevelopment of Bendigo Airport.

The commitment to Bendigo Airport draws on last week's State Budget allocation of $20 million over four years to the Regional Aviation Fund (RAF).

Mr Rich-Phillips today visited Bendigo Airport to see first hand the City of Greater Bendigo's development proposals. In addition to the Bendigo visit, Mr Rich-Phillips inspected facilities at Mangalore Airport in central Victoria.

This major investment will support the enhancement and upgrading of infrastructure at public-use airports across regional Victoria including a significant boost to the Bendigo area.

The Government will continue to actively support the growth of the aviation and aerospace industries in both domestic and international markets, including enhancing Victoria's regional airports.  It is an important industry sector of the Victorian economy, both in its own right in the manufacturing, maintenance and training spheres, and in underpinning Victoria's tourism and inbound investment performance.

The Victorian aviation industry contributes more than $600 million annually to the state's economy, with more than $230 million in exports and employing over 22,000 people.

The purpose of the RAF is to enhance the viability of Victoria's public-use airports by providing funding for the development of appropriate aeronautical infrastructure on regional airport sites.

The program will focus on projects that deliver an increase in the financial and social contribution of public-use airports to regional communities in terms of tourism, training, air freight, accessibility and availability of emergency serices, and contribute to the increased viability of regional public-use airports.