Burketown Runway Reopens After Year-Long Rebuild; Rex to Resume Flights November 16
Why It MattersRestored all-weather runways in remote Gulf communities protect the thin regional passenger and aeromedical links that depend on air access when wet-season flooding closes the roads.
The Gulf community of Burketown in Queensland celebrated the reopening of its rebuilt runway with a free community concert on the airstrip itself on Saturday, October 10. Rock band King Stingray headlined, with Dream Thieves and DMC Boys also performing.
The event marked one year of work rebuilding the runway, which was damaged in the 2023 floods. Burke Shire mayor Ernie Camp said the new airstrip was built to withstand volatile wet-season weather, describing the airport as a vital asset: the only regular passenger service is by air, and aeromedical services use it for access to doctors. Rex is due to resume flights on November 16.
