Indigenous Group Saves Remote Airport From Demolition

An airport that serves thousands of people across Australia's remote Kakadu region was scheduled for bulldozers this October, but local Indigenous leaders just stepped in to save it.

The Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, representing the Mirarr people, announced it will take over operations of Jabiru Airport on the edge of Kakadu National Park. The decision ends months of uncertainty and means the facility will continue serving tourists, businesses, and remote Aboriginal communities who depend on it for medical care, family visits, and essential supplies.

The airport sits on land that was part of the defunct Ranger uranium mine, which closed in 2021 after four decades of operation. Rio Tinto had planned to demolish the airport as part of rehabilitating the old mining lease, but local communities rallied to keep it open.

More than 2,000 people across Jabiru and surrounding communities rely on the airport as their connection to the outside world. During the Top End's wet season, it becomes the primary freight route for multiple remote Aboriginal communities. Tourism operators use it regularly to bring visitors to world heritage listed Kakadu National Park.

"The Jabiru Airport is an essential service for the Kakadu region and beyond," said Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Jessie Schaecken. The nearby community of Gunbalanya, home to 1,177 residents, is particularly reliant on the airport for critical services.

The Ripple Effect

This decision represents far more than saving an airport. It's another step toward the Mirarr people regaining full control over their traditional country after decades of mining operations.

The corporation promised a seamless transition with minimal disruption to current users. As the region works to build a post-mining future centered on tourism rather than uranium extraction, the airport becomes even more critical for economic development.

The Commonwealth government has pledged support to make Jabiru a tourism hub that drives visitation to Kakadu. A new power station has already been established, and keeping the airport open strengthens the region's transformation from mining town to conservation gateway.

Communities that worried about losing their vital connection can now plan confidently for the future.