Millions of dollars in funding will go to rural and remote airstrips in NSW as officials try to attract carriers to under-serviced communities.
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Some $15 million in airstrip funding was announced on Friday as part of a $35 million pool of state regional development funding.
An audit of remote and rural airstrips across 20 local government areas in western NSW has been launched to prioritise those most in need of the money.
Upgrades of airstrips and related infrastructure should start before the end of the year, the state government said.
The announcement comes after budget airline Bonza entered voluntary administration, leaving the future of the carrier - which flies to many lesser-served regional locations - uncertain.
Premier Chris Minns told ABC Radio the investment into rural airports, combined with the opening of Western Sydney Airport, will make regional destinations more attractive for airlines.
"We're hopeful that with the increased capacity of the second airport in metropolitan Sydney, we can lower the costs across the board," he said.
"We want to make sure the investment we're making for regional airstrips is taking place so that we can attract some of these (aviation) firms back into the marketplace."
The Friday announcement represents the first phase of funding from the $350 million NSW regional development fund.
The $35 million share includes funding to encourage economic growth and employment in regional NSW and investment into Indigenous businesses.
It will also include $10 million being spent to establish, expand or upgrade western NSW childcare services.
Mr Minns said his government was determined to meet the needs of regional, rural and remote communities.
"These four projects are the products of listening to regional communities and the agriculture sector on where funding is most needed, and where it will work best," he said.
Australian Associated Press
