On the edge of the Nullarbor and 800km from the nearest major city, Ceduna's cracked and cratered airstrip threatens to cut off the remote South Australia community from vital services.
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Residents who rely on the airport for life-saving medical flights and urgent supplies were thrown a lifeline on Thursday, with the federal government pledging $500,000 to resurface the pot-holed tarmac.
"It's amazing news," Ceduna District Council manager of administration and finance Ben Taylor told AAP.
"We were in desperate need for the work to be done. It's been the highlight of my year so far."
Ceduna airport is one of 21 remote airstrips to receive upgrade grants as part of a $13.4 million funding tranche.
The latest funding round, announced before the federal budget on Tuesday, is part of a larger $115 million program including 470 projects Australia-wide.
Assistant minister for regional development Anthony Chisholm said safe and accessible airstrips were critical to safeguarding the quality of life of remote communities across Australia.
"Following the recent floods across remote Australia, improving the durability of these airstrips has never been more crucial," he said.
Mr Taylor said the economic and social benefits of securing the future of Ceduna airstrip were enormous.
"Being 800km from Adelaide, the Regional Express service allows visiting medical specialists to come not only to Ceduna but to remote Aboriginal communities west of Ceduna as well," he said.
Ensuring the Royal Flying Doctor Service can continue to access Ceduna is key, with the aeromedical retrieval service sending over 250 flights into the airport each year, Mr Taylor said.
The cash-strapped council is still seeking an extra half a million dollars from the state government to fully fund the upgrade, without which a 90-minute flight to Adelaide would turn into a one day drive.
Also on Thursday, the Western Australian government set aside $29.3 million to upgrade another five airstrips in its budget, including over $3 million to flood-proof the remote Eucla airport. A further $8 million was allocated to renew airstrips in Aboriginal communities.
Australian Associated Press
