NSW Premier Chris Minns has promised to investigate whether state funding can be found to allow for an extra 200m to 400m extension of the runway.
He made the commitment after making a flying visit to Deniliquin on Saturday for the Deniliquin Ute Muster.
The topic of the runway was broached with Mr Minns - the first premier to ever visit the famed festival - by Muster chairman Russell Tait.
An airport operator himself, Mr Tait said the extension would secure Deniliquin Airport’s capacity to accommodate specialist emergency services aircraft in adverse weather conditions.
While it has been confirmed ambulance services can continue to land at Deniliquin based on the capacity of the runway upgrades being undertaken right now, Mr Tait said an additional extension would offer peace of mind in more situations.
“While ambulances can land at Deni in ideal conditions, we need to ensure an ambulance can land in 99 per cent of conditions,” Mr Tait said.
“Emergency services are investing in larger aircraft, and on hot days with no wind - which are common in our summers - they need more length to take off and to land.
“If these aircraft are operating at maximum weight and we have an extremely hot day - 35ºC to 40ºC plus - there is not enough runway for them to take off.
“We need a little extra length to guarantee the air ambulance can land and take off whenever it is needed, because I don’t want to be the bloke who relies on the service when it can’t.
“It would be the same for other emergency services, which are also investing in larger aircraft.
“We are hopeful of getting some resolution, and as the Premier suggested we will continue to work with state Member for Murray Helen Dalton on this.”
Following a briefing with the Victorian and NSW Air Ambulance services and medical services in July this year, Edward River Council Mayor Peta Betts said council was assured that all aeromedical fixed wing aircraft can land at Deniliquin Airport.
NSW Ambulance uses a mixed fleet of King Air B350 and B200 fixed-wing aircraft to deliver clinical care to critically ill or injured patients, or patients requiring medical transport.
The B350 aircraft in use since mid-2012 can land on the main runway at Deniliquin.
In situations where the B350 cannot land, for example on the airport’s shorter secondary runway, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and VICAIR Ambulance B200s are used.
The Deniliquin runway is just over 1200m long.
The former Federal Coalition Government provided Edward River Council with $2.5 million in June 2020 to renew the existing tarmac, extend the runway by up to 200m, improve the current lighting and improve surface drainage.
The upgrades were earmarked to result in a 1400m long by 30m wide runway and to ensure lighting upgrades would meet Civil Aviation Safety Authority standards.
However, the runway extension was shelved before the project got started in May this year.
The Airport Advisory Committee minutes from March this year state that council was unsuccessful in securing an additional $4 million from the state government, with the extension of the runway to be completed when additional funding is secured.
The revised project scope includes the removal and replacement of the existing 1219m sealed runway (runway 06/24) and the replacement of the runway and apron lighting systems.
The strength of the runway and taxiway will be improved, a new Aeronautical Ground Lighting system installed, along with a new lighting cubicle and associated infrastructure.
Mr Minns also met with Cr Betts to discuss the airport on Saturday.
He told the Pastoral Times he could not make any firm commitments about the requested extension, but conceded it was a “real issue, particularly for medical evacuation and transport”.
He has vowed to investigate further, and communicate regularly with Mrs Dalton on the issue.
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