Mackay Airport
News

$50 million Runway expansion plans

Record passenger growth and moves to entice international services are accelerating multi-million dollar expansion plans at Mackay Airport.

The Mackay Port Authority is currently preparing a further report for the Federal Government seeking environmental approvals for a staged expansion of the main runway. The total runway extension project could cost up to $50 million and would enable Mackay to handle direct international services from Japan.

Mackay Port Authority CEO Greg Mann and Chairman Graham Davies inspect plans for the expansion of the runway and security departure lounge.

MPA Chairman Graham Davies said the airport was enjoying an exciting period of growth and expansion.

Design work was currently underway to extend the security departure lounge and further improve and expand parking facilities.

Work to double the capacity of the lower-level security departure lounge was expected to start before Christmas, including a kiosk and additional toilet facilities.

Mr Davies said the MPA was also negotiating with Qantas Security to install another baggage X-ray machine to improve passenger processing into the departure lounge.

"Over the past four months we have been surveying passengers and airport visitors, seeking feedback to improve our services and facilities," he said.

"Almost 70 per cent of comments have been directed at our car park – despite the MPA recently spending more than $2 million lifting parking to 600 bays. Another 173 parking bays will come on line by mid next year.

"People have been extremely vocal. They say they’re fed up with not being able to park close to the terminal and are demanding that we segregate parking."

Mr Davies said the MPA Board had examined a number of options and approved the concept to move to introduce paid car parking to help fund the airport's massive expansion program and to meet the community's car parking needs.

He said car parking at the airport would be divided to provide separate short and long term parking and undercover security parking. A fee scale had yet to be determined but would be benchmarked against other airports.

"The airport is experiencing unprecedented growth. More than 620 000 people are expected to pass through the airport this financial year. We must keep pace with the on-going demands on our facilities and infrastructure," he said.

Mr Davies said concept plans for the security departure lounge expansion and plans to redevelop the car park would soon go on display in the main terminal building.

“We will be seeking community feedback and people will be encouraged to have their say,” he said.

Meantime, Mr Davies said the MPA was progressing plans to expand the airport’s main runway.

Preliminary information has been reviewed by the Federal Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and any development would be a “controlled action”. DEH will soon advise its requirements for public consultation on the issue.

 “The process from here is that it’s being assessed by the Commonwealth. If it’s approved, the project will be subject to a range of conditions. The project will still require extensive State approvals,” he said.

“At this stage we expect the project to go to public consultation by Christmas and we will be encouraging stakeholders and the community to make comment on the proposal. The MPA will have to consider all these comments and then provide DEH with a supplementary report before the Department makes an assessment.”

Mr Davies said the project was discussed by the MPA’s Community Reference Group last week.

He said it was pleasing to see that the Mackay Conservation Group had sought re-election to the group after withdrawing from the CRG in 2003.

The CRG supported in principle the runway expansion project, subject to the community and State and Federal agencies having input to the final approval.

 “Our long term goal is to be in a position to cater for direct Asian services, including flights from Japan, using 767 and A330 aircraft,” Mr Davies said.