Kingscote Airport Business Case - Kangaroo Island Council - SA ...

Kangaroo Island Airport Upgrade Business Case
• Airport civil infrastructure management plan (undertaken by Tonkin Consulting);
• Airport asset management plan (undertaken by Institute of Public Works
Engineering Australia, Jeff Roorda & Associates, and Skilmar Systems); and
• Airport long-term financial plan.
The airport is managed by a small team of staff who have specific training and
experience in managing the airport to the appropriate standards. The airport is fully
compliant in all respects and staff also access specialised Service Providers for
operational advice and guidance throughout the Year. The airport comprises a single
sealed runway strip and two alternate unsealed runways – the main sealed runway is
rated 12C with maximum take-off weight permitted of 20,000kg and tyre pressures of
580kpa. A concession service is utilised to accommodate larger, heavier aircraft
running higher tyre pressures (common with modern aircraft / business jets) and airport
staff, in conjunction with our external Technical Inspector, have built a matrix of
approved plane types / configurations that can operate with concession.
Currently Council is managing a project to install 50KW of tracking solar panels
together with grid / building connection and the installation of an electric vehicle charge
point at the airport. A smaller fixed panel service is being installed at Council Offices in
Kingscote together with another electric vehicle charge point and there will be a fullyelectric
minibus leased to the local transit operator to enhance current services
between the Airport and the principal Townships. This project is funded through
Renewables SA and it is expected that the airport will become 80% self-sufficient in
power generation saving approximately $20,000 in annual power costs. The aim of the
project is to establish a basic network of charge points with a subsequent project
(potentially funded through Regional Development Australia Fund) to expand the
network Island-wide, running a fleet of vehicles to foster adoptions and to reduce
operating costs / environmental impact.
As a key access point for the Island now and for the future, the airport is central to our
strategies to develop tourist visitation and provided social and economic growth whilst
looking at ways of offsetting the environmental impact that growth in visitation, may
create.
9.3 Delivery of this project
The Kangaroo Island Council will be able to deliver this project through the use of a
dedicated construction project manager with strong active involvement by the Chief
Executive, supported by the Airport manager who has extensive experience in
operating the existing airport.
For a project of this size it is likely that Kangaroo Island Council will work in conjunction
with the Local Government Association (South Australia) Procurement (LGAP) service
who would assist with the Procurement process. A fee for service operation the LGAP
is well placed to provide independent guidance, advice and provenance for the
procurement process and allow Council to focus on the implementation aspects of the
project.
It will be important to maintain the availability of the infrastructure for existing services
as much as possible during the upgrade process and the effective coordination of this
level of activity in a relatively small area will be key to continued safe operations of the
facilities.
May 2013
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