Horsham Rural City Council is to lobby the Australian Senate over the importance of funding for Horsham Aerodrome.
Councillors at Monday's meeting unanimously endorsed a draft submission to a Parliamentary inquiry which is to look into the aviation sector's ability to deliver reliable and affordable services to rural, regional and remote communities.
A key issue for Horsham is that Council has very limited revenue streams to fund ongoing maintenance to keep the aerodrome serviceable and compliant with regulatory standards.
Horsham Aerodrome is regularly used by emergency service aircraft, notably air ambulances and firefighting aircraft, with two small aerial bombers planned to be based here over the 2025-26 summer period, as they were last summer.
However, the length and strength of runways and aprons required for these emergency services are typically greater than those required by private aircraft.
"Government grants are needed to upgrade the apron strength and replace the existing failing lighting system," said Mayor Cr Brian Klowss.
"Horsham Aerodrome plays a vital role in hosting emergency services aircraft, especially during the fire season.
"We are very pleased to support them, of course. However, these aircraft put a great deal of strain on the runway and apron area, and it is critical we receive Government grants to continue to deliver these vital services.
"Without adequate planning and funding for ongoing maintenance and development, Council may not be able to offer Horsham Aerodrome as a regional base for emergency and passenger services.
"By making this submission to the Senate, Council is keen to highlight that the requirements of regional aerodromes, like Horsham, differ from those that gain a significant revenue stream from passenger services.
"This is an important opportunity for us to help influence Government policy and funding to address our regional needs."
