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East Gippsland Shire Council has confirmed its support for the upgrade of Bairnsdale Airport, voting on Tuesday 16 September 2025 to back the project that will boost emergency response and healthcare services for the whole region.

The runway will be extended from 1,098 to 1,600 metres and widened from 18 to 30 metres, addressing current limitations for aircraft operating on pavement concessions.

Bairnsdale Airport has the second-highest number of fixed-wing patient retrievals in regional Victoria, with Air Ambulance Victoria performing up to three flights daily. During the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, it became a vital hub with more than 100 aircraft movements a day.

The upgrade as proposed would bring the Bairnsdale runway up to a similar standard to what is offered at West Sale, Latrobe, Mt Hotham, Warrnambool and Mildura.

The project has strong backing from health and emergency services. Toll Aviation, which runs Air Ambulance Victoria flights, said dependable infrastructure was critical to patient care.

The works will require the removal of 11 hectares of native vegetation, including protected Gippsland Red Gum Grassy Woodland. An offset strategy is being drawn up which would see an area of threatened vegetation protected elsewhere.

Together with the new patient transfer facility for Ambulance Victoria, the upgrade will strengthen emergency response, improve health outcomes, and set up the airport for future opportunities.

Read the full media release here.

Project background

The upgrade of the Bairnsdale Aerodrome was the most significant application for Black Summer Bushfire funding submitted by Council. As East Gippsland’s primary airport and key hub for Air Ambulance Victoria patient transfers, aerial firefighting and emergency response, this infrastructure upgrade is integral to continued operations as a key hub for emergency response and will increase the resilience of our disaster-impacted communities.

In addition to strengthening the airport’s role in emergency response, this upgrade will allow for potential commercial air service opportunities to provide regular scheduled flights to and from the area. This would be vitally important for the economic recovery of individuals and communities, many of which rely heavily on tourism and have faced massive economic losses following the bushfires and the resultant decrease in visitation.

Objective and scope

Upgrading the airport’s runway and lighting will improve emergency response capabilities, increase safety and reliability for all operators, strengthen regional connectivity and future aviation opportunities, and boost East Gippsland’s economic resilience by supporting local jobs, businesses and faster recovery after emergencies.

The project works include -

• earthworks and pavement work to lengthen, strengthen, and widen the runway from 1,101m x 18m to 1,600m x 30m
• associated drainage works
• lighting upgrade
• fencing
• asphalt overlay

Consultation and community engagement

community updates of the project will be published in the tab below.

Funding

Funding is provided by the Australian Government through the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources - Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program.

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