Ningaloo Station Airfield

The primary reason for closure was a fundamental change in land use and management. The pastoral lease for Ningaloo Station was not fully renewed, and management of the coastal land was transferred to the state's Department of Parks and Wildlife (now the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions - DBCA). The airfield, which was a private asset supporting the station's pastoral and tourism operations, became redundant under the new conservation-focused management plan for the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area.

The airfield is decommissioned and inactive. The physical remnants of two unpaved, intersecting runways are still clearly visible on satellite imagery. However, they are unmaintained, with vegetation slowly reclaiming the surfaces. The site is now part of the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area and is managed by the DBCA primarily for conservation and regulated public recreation, such as camping in designated areas.

The Ningaloo Station Airfield was a critical piece of infrastructure for the extremely remote pastoral station. Its operations were vital for:
- **Pastoral Activities:** Used for aerial mustering of livestock, transporting essential supplies and equipment, and moving station personnel.
- **Tourism:** Provided fly-in access for tourists and guests staying at the station, which was a popular, rustic holiday destination.
- **Emergency Services:** Served as a crucial landing strip for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), providing a lifeline for medical emergencies for station residents, staff, and visitors in an area far from medical facilities.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airfield. Reopening is considered extremely unlikely for several reasons:
1. **Conservation Status:** Its location within a highly protected World Heritage site makes new or renewed infrastructure development like an airfield incompatible with conservation objectives.
2. **Lack of Need:** The original purpose (supporting a private pastoral station) no longer exists.
3. **Alternative Airports:** The region is adequately served by the much larger, sealed Learmonth Airport (YPLM), which handles commercial flights and serves the nearby towns of Exmouth and Coral Bay.