APY LANDS, AIRSTRIPS

305 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (20 November 2007). When will urgent maintenance and upgrade works to airstrips on the APY Lands be undertaken and when will the upgrading of the Oodnadatta airstrip to improve its all weather access capability occur, and what will be the cost of these respective projects?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy): I provide the following information:

I am advised that the urgent maintenance to airstrips in the APY Lands that was identified in mid November 2007 was completed by the end of November 2007. Urgent minor maintenance to airstrips in the APY Lands is normally undertaken and completed by AP Services soon after it is reported.

The State and Australian Governments have approved $220,000 for airstrip major works projects in the APY Lands this financial year. This funding is provided through the Australian Government’s Remote Aerodrome Safety Program to which the State provides matching funds.

The upgrading of the Oodnadatta aerodrome along with a number of other aerodrome upgrade projects in the unincorporated areas of the State and on Aboriginal Lands have been identified as potential projects for funding from the Remote Aerodrome Safety Program in the period from 2008-09 to 2010-11. The cost of upgrading Oodnadatta airstrip has been indicatively estimated at $1.2 million.