Sunshine Coast Airport has delivered its Draft Master Plan document charting the planned evolution of the airport over the next two decades and beyond.
Queensland, Australia – The release of the draft Sunshine Coast Airport Master Plan 2040 will now be followed by a 50-business day community engagement period, from Thursday 30 May to Friday 9 August 2019.
The Sunshine Coast Airport Master Plan 2040 incorporates the infrastructure being delivered by Sunshine Coast Council under the Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project (SCAEP) including a new 2,450m runway, with an associated 1,300m taxiway and other facility upgrades.
The SCAEP will deliver one of the Sunshine Coast’s most significant transport, tourism and economic infrastructure assets, adding $4.1 billion to Gross Regional Product between 2020–2040, and opening-up new direct destinations in Australia, the Pacific and Asia to benefit Sunshine Coast residents and visitors.
The development of the Draft Master Plan by Sunshine Coast Airport involved extensive discussions with key stakeholders, including statutory authorities, aviation interests, airport tenants and community organisations. In addition, expert technical studies and reviews were undertaken by leading independent consultants and advisers.
The ‘game changing’ plan will drive economic development on the Sunshine Coast; open-up the Sunshine Coast to the world through new and additional routes and services; generate new employment opportunities for the community; provide an environment that enables all our aviation and non-aviation partners to grow; enhance the airport to meet the needs of a growing region; establish Sunshine Coast Airport as an integrated transport hub for the region with provisions for a light-rail station and potential for autonomous vehicles; create specific new airport-related precincts to service the growth of the airport; plan for terminal enhancements to upgrade passenger comfort; and establish Sunshine Coast Airport as a leader in environmental best practice.
The Draft Master Plan outlines that Sunshine Coast Airport will operate with the one runway – runway 13/31 – following its inauguration at the end of 2020.
The new runway will be able to accommodate all current aircraft operators as well as wide-body passenger aircraft, which cannot use the existing runway. It will also enable aircraft to carry full passenger and freight loads, which the restricted nature of the existing runway prevents.
With the new runway in operation, the existing runway will be fully de-commissioned.
TravelDailyNews Asia-Pacific editorial team has an experience of over 35 years in B2B travel journalism as well as in tourism & hospitality marketing and communications.
