Regional Airport Development Scheme (RADS)
What is the Regional Airport Development Scheme?
The Queensland Government's Regional Airport Development Scheme has been developed to assist local governments to upgrade airports in regional and remote areas of Queensland.
Regional Airport Development Scheme (RADS)—Projects Map (PDF**, 325KB)Funds in the program are limited and will be allocated to the projects that best meet the criteria outlined in the guidelines. It should also be noted that Queensland Transport provides any capital grants under this program on a joint funding basis, up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the project cost, in conjunction with other parties such as owners, airlines or local governments.
What type of grants are available?
Regional Airport Development Scheme supports two types of airport grants:
- basic access for projects primarily aimed at improving safe access to basic air services, including emergency services. The amount of information required for this type of project can be kept to a minimum
- regional development for projects which have regional development impacts (runway extensions, new aerodromes and/or aerodrome upgrades). This type of project requires a substantial amount of information.
The funding supports a project where the impact extends beyond the local community to a larger region. Applicants need to indicate the type of project for which funds are being sought. Funds will not generally be made available for general maintenance works.
Who can apply?
All local governments located in regional and remote areas. For information contact the aviation team.
What is the application deadline?
Applications must be received by 30 September each year, so that they can be considered for funding in the following financial year. It is advisable for applicants to contact their relevant regional Queensland Transport office to ensure they have met all the application requirements. Applicants will be advised if their application has been successful by 1 April of the following year.
What level of funding is available?
Regional Airport Development Scheme may provide financial assistance to a maximum of 50 per cent of the total cost of the approved project. Applicants need to provide the following details so the level of assistance can be determined.
- proposed program of works for the project
- amount of financial assistance sought
- statement indicating there is no impediment to the project proceeding, such as land acquisitions, approvals and so on
- all other sources of financial assistance
- statement indicating that the work planned will not cause a disruption to the normal operation of the airport.
What are the payment arrangements?
Funds are expected to be expended in the year in which they have been approved. Work should commence in the financial year in which approval has been given.
Applicants will be required to account for expenditure of the approved funds in line with Queensland Transport requirements. Payment of funds is usually made on completion of projects, accompanied by photos and appropriate correspondence from a practising engineer, certifying that the work has been completed to satisfactory engineering standards.
However, payments may be negotiated on the basis of the project reaching agreed milestones, such as on delivery of construction materials and/or start of construction.
On what basis will applications be assessed?
Applications will be assessed according to a number of criteria listed below. The level of information required for each of these aspects will depend on the type of project proposed and the type of grant sought.
Aspects for consideration include:
- general—area population, transport information
- projects details—plans, costings
- financial—impact of project on finances of airport
- economic—impact of project on aviation sector, regional economy, impact on airline operators
- environmental—any impacts
- safety—impacts on current safety levels
- social—the degree of remoteness and impact on the standard of living.
The latest version of the Regional Airport Development Scheme guidelines and application form is now available.
Regional Airport Development Scheme (PDF**, 795KB)2006–07 program
A map of current projects is available below.
2006–07 Regional Airport Development Scheme program (PDF**, 149KB)
**While this department has taken every possible precaution with the creation of these files, they are downloaded and used at your own risk. Adobe Reader is required to open and print Portable Document Format (PDF) files and is free to download from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Various tools to enable access to these files for people using a screen reader can be found at http://access.adobe.com. Further information is available from our "Help with downloading, reading and printing PDF" web page.
Last updated 02 June 2008
Other languages