The runway at Wagga Airport is set for a multimillon-dollar upgrade to increase its capacity and improve safety for aircraft.
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The state government will contribute $4 million to the upgrade under its Restart NSW regional airports program.
Once the upgrade is complete, the airport will be able to cater for heavier aircraft and transit planes on and off the main runway quicker.
Wagga mayor Rod Kendall, himself an aircraft pilot, said the upgrade would also improve safety for planes making use of the airport.
“Having an aircraft taxiing on active runways is certainly not what we as pilots want to see,” Cr Kendall said.
“Once you get that taxiing off the runway, it increases the capacity of the airport. It’s certainly an improvement to safety and an improvement to capacity, which will serve this airport very well going into the future.”
Member for Wagga Daryl Maguire, announcing the funding on Wednesday, said the efficiency upgrade was necessary to ensure the airport could continue to deal with growing passenger traffic.
“This airport is growing, the travel by air by passengers is increasing and is forecast to increase dramatically,” he said.
The airport may be set to receive funding for further upgrades early in the new year, with Wagga City Council applying for funding to upgrade the terminal building.
Should council be successful in its funding application, the terminal building would feature a larger lounge and a baggage carousel would be built, eliminating the need for passengers to retrieve their bags from a truck outside.
“The terminal upgrade that’s proposed will be a larger and enhanced public space, but also will bring the baggage collection inside and undercover in controlled conditions,” Cr Kendall said.
“I think that’s what most people who travel these days sort of expect.”
Cr Kendall said the terminal upgrade could potentially increase passenger traffic.
The outcome of council’s funding application is slated to be revealed early in the new year.
Meanwhile, Griffith Airport has received $710,000 in state government funding for resurfacing work on its runway and taxiway. The resurfacing work at Griffith will see the airport close for a week in mid-January.
