New Norcia Airstrip

Economic and operational obsolescence. The airstrip was a temporary facility built for a single purpose: to support the construction of the ESA's New Norcia deep space tracking station. Once the station became operational and reliable road access via the Great Northern Highway was established for personnel and cargo, the need for a dedicated airstrip diminished. The costs and liability associated with maintaining an airfield for very limited or no use made its continued operation impractical.

The site is completely abandoned and has reverted to nature. High-resolution satellite imagery of the coordinates shows the faint, overgrown outline of the former north-south runway, which is now just a scar on the landscape. The land is used as scrub or farmland, consistent with the surrounding area. There are no remaining buildings, hangars, or any aviation infrastructure. The airstrip is entirely unusable and not maintained.

The airstrip's sole historical significance is its direct link to the development of the European Space Agency's New Norcia Station (DSA 1), a key component of the ESTRACK global network for tracking deep-space missions. Constructed in the mid-1980s, the unpaved strip was used by light aircraft to transport specialized personnel, engineers, and small, time-sensitive equipment to the remote site during the station's construction. It was never intended for public use, commercial flights, or significant general aviation, serving only as a logistical tool for this major international space project.

There are no known plans, discussions, or prospects for reopening the New Norcia Airstrip. The original reason for its existence is no longer valid, and the region is well-serviced by road networks connecting it to Perth and other regional centers. Re-establishing an airfield at this location would require significant investment for no clear economic or logistical benefit, making its revival highly improbable.