Statewide push for airport funding welcomed in Ballina
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Business NSW has called for a major overhaul of regional aviation policy, arguing airports such as Ballina are critical economic infrastructure and need long-term government support to keep pace with growing demand.
The organisation’s new report, Keeping Regional NSW Connected: The Future of Our Airports, calls for a dedicated Regional Aviation Infrastructure Fund, a 10-year NSW Regional Aviation Strategy and greater investment in regional airports across the state.
Ballina Byron Gateway Airport features prominently in the report, which identifies it as the second-busiest regional airport in NSW, handling 578,803 passengers during the 2024-25 financial year. Only Newcastle Airport recorded more passenger movements.
The state’s peak business lobby argues regional airports are far more than transport hubs, describing them as vital infrastructure that supports tourism, business growth, healthcare access, emergency services and workforce mobility.
Ballina Shire Mayor Sharon Cadwallader welcomed the report and its recommendations.
“Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is one of the most important pieces of economic and community infrastructure in our region,” Cr Cadwallader said.
“As a council-owned airport, we see firsthand the vital role regional aviation plays in connecting our communities, supporting local businesses, attracting visitors, enabling access to health services, and creating employment opportunities.”
She said Business NSW’s call for a coordinated approach to strengthening regional aviation was timely.
Mayor Sharon Cadwallader
“A dedicated 10-year NSW Regional Aviation Strategy would provide the long-term vision and certainty needed to align investment, planning and growth across regional airports and aviation networks,” she said.
“Regional airports are critical economic gateways and deserve a strategic framework that recognises their importance to the state’s prosperity.”
Plans ready, funding needed
While the report focuses on airports across NSW, many of the challenges identified by Business NSW are already familiar in Ballina.
Council has previously identified the need for additional aircraft apron space near the terminal, a larger terminal building and further parking as passenger numbers continue to grow.
Ballina News Daily reported earlier this year that parking shortages and congestion during peak travel periods remain ongoing concerns, despite council investing in additional parking facilities in recent years.
The airport also has plans for a second stage terminal expansion, which would significantly increase terminal capacity and improve passenger facilities.
However, major projects of that scale require funding well beyond the resources of council’s day-to-day airport operations.
The airport’s last major federal funding boost came in 2017, when the then Coalition Government announced a $3 million contribution towards the first stage of terminal upgrades.
Since then, council has continued funding smaller improvements, including parking expansions, but larger projects identified in the airport’s long-term development plans remain dependent on external funding support.
Business NSW argues this is a statewide issue.
The report says many regional airports are struggling with ageing infrastructure, rising operating costs and increasing passenger demand, while more than half of smaller regional airports are operating at a loss.
It recommends a permanent regional aviation infrastructure fund, greater support for regional air services and stronger government coordination to ensure airports can continue supporting economic growth across regional NSW.
Cr Cadwallader said Ballina Byron Gateway Airport was already a major contributor to the Northern Rivers economy.
“Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is already a significant contributor to the Northern Rivers economy, supporting thousands of jobs and generating substantial economic activity throughout the region,” she said.
“With the right policy settings and investment, regional airports like ours can play an even greater role in driving economic development, tourism growth and community connectivity.”
The report comes as governments consider the future of regional aviation, with Business NSW arguing 2026 presents a critical opportunity to secure long-term investment in airports that connect regional communities to the rest of the state and nation.
