A $10 million expansion of Townsville Airport has kicked off with early demolition works carried out by local business Core Developments.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Jackie Trad said the upgrade, providing 18,000sq m of extra parking space for large aircraft, would drive significant regional growth and create about 60 jobs.
Ms Trad said the State Government was supporting project by co-investing $9 million from the Catalyst Infrastructure Program, on top of $1 million from Townsville Airport.
Townsville Airport chief operating officer Kevin Gill said the project would increase the airport’s ability to facilitate jet aircraft by 33 per cent at peak times, and provide for overflow parking for the airport services precinct.
“It will also support expected uplift in FIFO operations, the recently announced Air Niugini and Tigerair services, and benefit commercial airline operations and aircraft awaiting maintenance works,” he said.
Townsville Airport has awarded the contract for building demolition to Core Developments while project management company RCP will use its local staff to undertake the superintendent role.
The early works will pave the way for the major civil construction works which are planned to commence in June. The works will be staged to accommodate all scheduled aircraft movements and are expected to conclude in late 2017.
