The airport at Pormpuraaw is known to flood during monsoonal events. The council has been awarded $14 million to improve the drainage and tarmac.A CAPE York airstrip that is prone to flooding in major weather events will be given an overhaul next year after a $14 million funding announcement.
Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council CEO Edward Natera welcomed the decision by the state and federal governments.
“It will make our airport all-weather proof,” he said.
“During the wet season we struggle if there is a weather event and we can’t get the airport open. That has an impact on the services in town, including health and education.”
Mr Natera said the work would be completed next year after the wet season.
“It will be a complete refurbishment of the airstrip as we need to put in better drainage and reinforce the foundations,” he told Cape York Weekly.
“I would expect the airport to be closed for some time during those works.”
With Pormpuraaw’s airport to be shut for several months, Mr Natera admitted there was no immediate alternative plan.
“That’s something we’ll have to figure out,” he said.
“We might have to transport passengers to Kowanyama for flights. It will be hard because we rely on our airport for all of our government services and the locals rely on it to get to health appointments in Cairns.”
The airport at Pormpuraaw is prone to flooding in major weather events.
Cairns-based Senator Nita Green said the funding was part of a $150 million package to help protect communities from natural disasters.
“Our government knows that natural disasters are occurring more regularly and more intensely due to the effects of climate change.
“That’s why our new Disaster Ready Fund aims to build resilience and reduce the risks and impacts of disaster events before they occur.
“It is important that remote communities have access to disaster funding.
“These programs are being funded from the first round of this fund.
“We saw how much these kinds of projects are needed from the most recent flooding events that occurred.”
