Djarindjin Airport celebrates 1000th helicopter milestone since landmark move to take over airport operations

A remote community airport on the Kimberley’s Dampier Peninsula is celebrating a significant milestone, with the 1000th oil and gas helicopter refuelling at the site since full operational and management responsibilities were handed to the community.

Located around 170km north of Broome, Djarindjin Airport serves as a “hot refuelling” hub for oil and gas operations in the Browse Basin, 425km north of Broome, including the Shell Prelude and Inpex Inchthys projects.

Hot refuelling means the rotor blades continue to turn and the engine is running while the aircraft is refuelled.

It is fully managed and staffed by local Indigenous workers and has created more than 25 jobs for people from Djarindjin — which has a population of just 320 people — and surrounding Aboriginal communities, including Beagle Bay and Ardyaloon.

The venture began in 2010 when the Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation entered into a partnership with Broome International Airport to build a facility which could provide refuelling services.

The airport has a 1200m sealed runway with pilot-activated lighting, and includes an RFDS transfer station.

To establish the facility, the corporation borrowed $6m from BIA, which was repaid in just six years.

On February 10, then chief executive of Broome International Airport Paul McSweeney announced full management and operational responsibility for the airport had been handed to the corporation.

“Since 2010, BIA has worked closely with the Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation and we are very proud of what has been achieved,” he said.

Now, around six months since the handover, the community has celebrated the 1000th helicopter refuelling since.

It’s a milestone Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Nathan McIvor said the entire community should be extremely proud of.

“I think the last decade has shown what can be achieved by small Aboriginal organisations and communities, and is something we should all celebrate,” he said.

“The help we received from BIA was tremendous in ensuring this venture was successful, so I would really like to thank them.

“It is a great example of Aboriginal people working together with resource companies to benefit the entire community. Many of our employees have gained valuable training and have set themselves up for careers in aviation as a result.”

The Airport won the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Economic Development award at the WA Regional Achievement and Community Awards in 2019, and have been named finalists in this year’s Community Achievement Awards in the Development of Northern Regional WA category.