iscover
Wagga Wagga City Council has secured a new 50-year lease from Defence for the city’s airport.
The airport, which is located on Defence-owned land and operates as a shared facility with RAAF Base Wagga, is run by the council as part of a long-standing partnership with Defence.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
“Under the new agreement, Council will continue to manage the airport, supported by established regional partnerships and a clear long-term vision for growth,” said Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil and NSW Senator Deborah O’Neill in a joint statement.
“Through ongoing investment and improvements, the airport will remain a valuable community asset and an important Defence capability hub for decades to come.
“Securing the future of Wagga Wagga Airport supports the Albanese Government’s commitment to strengthening Defence capability, growing regional economies and ensuring communities that host Defence facilities share in the economic benefits they generate.”
According to Senator O’Neill, the renewed lease secures the airport’s role as a “critical gateway for the Riverina and southern NSW” that “connects communities, supports local businesses and industry, and contributes to economic growth across the region”.
“For local businesses, this means better connectivity and greater certainty to invest, grow and create jobs across the Riverina,” she said.
“The airport also plays an important role in connecting Riverina communities with the rest of NSW and Australia, making it easier for people to travel for work, education, health care and family.
“A strong regional airport supports the broader local economy. From tourism and hospitality to freight, aviation and other businesses that rely on reliable connections.”
Assistant Minister Khalil said the renewal is “a great example of the Albanese Government working with local communities to deliver long-term outcomes that support both Defence capability and regional growth”.
“The new agreement locks in the future of the Airport and gives Council the certainty it needs to continue investing in this critical piece of regional infrastructure,” he said.
“RAAF Base Wagga is a critical part of Defence’s base network, but it’s also an important economic asset for the region, helping connect people, businesses, and communities across the Riverina.
“The Albanese Government is committed to investing in the infrastructure and partnerships that help keep Australians safe while creating opportunities for regional communities to prosper.
“Council has successfully managed the airport for many years and is well placed to lead this next chapter of growth and development.”
There had been speculation in 2024 that the airport could be leased out to a commercial operator when the previous 30-year lease expired in 2025, but the council later that year secured a lease extension to continue negotiations into 2026.
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
