Due to a significant increase in demand for freight to Norfolk Island, I am pleased to announce the Australian Government is supporting an additional freight flight to Norfolk Island on 24 December 2020.

TOLL air freighters are currently arriving on Norfolk Island, on average, every 14 days. 

Air freighters are also scheduled to arrive on 18 and 19 December, so this will see three air freighters arriving on Norfolk Island in the week before Christmas.

I am pleased to announce the Australian Government is supporting an additional flight between Norfolk Island and Sydney, with the new schedule commencing 9 November.

Air New Zealand currently provides three passenger flights arriving on Norfolk Island each week, one from Sydney and two from Brisbane, with an additional flight from Brisbane having commenced on 13 October.

The additional flight from Sydney will arrive on Norfolk Island on Mondays, supplementing the existing Friday flight.

Community consultations on the initial design concepts for the Norfolk Island Multipurpose Health Services Facility (MPHS) project are set to commence from 11 September.

GHD Pty Ltd, the design services contractor engaged by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications (the department), initiated the design process by engaging with stakeholders in two stages.

Due to significant public safety risk, Bounty Street Bridge will need to be closed to traffic immediately. The Australian Government and Norfolk Island Regional Council agree this action is necessary while remedial works are undertaken.

On 18 January, I informed the community that technical investigations of the bridge would occur in the coming weeks and it was planned to change access arrangements to reduce the bridge to one lane only.

The community consultation process to inform the development of a community-led strategic plan for Norfolk Island has been postponed due to the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) response and travel ban.

The community survey release and on-Island consultations will be rescheduled in coming months. I will keep you informed when we are ready to recommence this very important piece of work.

The Australian Government is commencing the next phase of the Norfolk Island Multipurpose Health Services Facility (MPHS) project with stakeholder consultations to inform the initial design of the proposed MPHS.

GHD Pty Ltd, the design services contractor recently engaged by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications (the department), will initiate the design process by engaging with stakeholders in two stages.

Due to ongoing weather conditions, the Army water purification and desalination system at Cascade Pier will remain on Norfolk Island until 13 March.

The system arrived on island on 7 February, was set up the following day at Cascade Pier, and began producing desalinated water for community members in need.