CANBERRA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government on Saturday announced an additional 10 million Australian dollars (about 7 million U.S. dollars) in funding to upgrade an airport damaged by severe flooding in Queensland, the northeastern state of Australia.
The funding will support upgrades to Cloncurry Airport in northwest Queensland to maintain regular passenger operations and ensure continued access to nearby mining sites, according to a joint statement by three federal government ministers.
The airport suffered significant flood damage during extreme weather events in late 2025 and early 2026.
The new commitment builds on 11.5 million Australian dollars previously provided jointly by the federal and Queensland governments for emergency repairs and flood resilience measures that allowed the airport to reopen.
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the additional funding would help ensure the airport continues to support essential services, including aeromedical transport and mining operations.
Cloncurry Airport serves as a key transport hub for the region's mining, agriculture and tourism industries, as well as fly-in, fly-out workers employed at nearby mines. ■