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Business Case for the SunShine CoaSt airport Master Plan

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<strong>Business</strong> <strong>Case</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sunshine Coast Airport n <strong>Master</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> (November 2009)<br />

04 Problems facing<br />

Sunshine Coast Airport<br />

04.1 Background of<br />

constraints<br />

Operational constraints on <strong>the</strong><br />

Sunshine Coast Airport have long<br />

been identified through a series of<br />

successive <strong>Master</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>s. These<br />

constraints include, but are not<br />

limited to, runway capacity (length<br />

and width), terminal capacity, safety<br />

and noise. These constraints in turn<br />

combine to fur<strong>the</strong>r limit operational<br />

capacity, including <strong>the</strong> <strong>airport</strong>’s ability<br />

to handle increased freight loads and<br />

to share interconnectivity traffic with<br />

nearby <strong>airport</strong>s, including Brisbane<br />

and <strong>the</strong> Gold Coast.<br />

When combined, <strong>the</strong>se constraints<br />

mean <strong>the</strong> SCRC cannot provide<br />

certainty <strong>for</strong> continued jet operations<br />

to service <strong>the</strong> Sunshine Coast<br />

catchment area.<br />

04.2 Timeline of <strong>Master</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>s and major events:<br />

1982 and <br />

1985 <strong>Plan</strong>s >> Restrictions <strong>for</strong> future expansion to <strong>the</strong> existing runway<br />

18/36 were first identified in 1982 and again in <strong>the</strong> 1985<br />

<strong>Master</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>, which found:<br />

“The maximum length available <strong>for</strong> an extended runway<br />

is 2,080 metres. This is determined by <strong>the</strong> availability<br />

of land and obstruction clearances to <strong>the</strong> south. This<br />

compares to 2,500 metres <strong>for</strong> a new runway… <strong>the</strong>n it is not<br />

recommended that fur<strong>the</strong>r funding be expended in an 18/36<br />

alignment.”<br />

1983 Upgrade >> The runway was subject to an interim upgrade in 1983<br />

to accommodate <strong>the</strong> urgent need to move from Fokker<br />

Friendship (F27) services that were not adequately servicing<br />

<strong>the</strong> region. The capacity of <strong>the</strong> runway was increased to<br />

enable jet operations on <strong>the</strong> current runway. A decision was<br />

delayed on an east/west runway pending <strong>the</strong> outcome of a<br />

flood study <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> area at <strong>the</strong> time.<br />

However, it was noted at <strong>the</strong> time that: “The opportunity<br />

exists with an east/west 13/31 runway to plan <strong>for</strong> a regional<br />

<strong>airport</strong> with minimal effect on residential areas and with<br />

excellent approach and take- off flight paths which are far<br />

superior to those <strong>for</strong> a north/south 36/18 alignment.”<br />

1985 <br />

Flood Study<br />

>> The flood study was concluded in 1985 and found “<strong>the</strong><br />

east/ west runway has a negligible effect on flood levels on<br />

<strong>the</strong> Maroochy River Flood Plain”.<br />

1987 <strong>Plan</strong> >> The 1987 <strong>Master</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> recommended <strong>the</strong> current interim<br />

runway upgrade be retained until passengers reached <strong>the</strong><br />

200,000 per annum mark.<br />

1993 >> Significantly, in 1993 <strong>the</strong> main runway was streng<strong>the</strong>ned to<br />

accommodate Boeing 737s under dispensation from <strong>the</strong><br />

Department of Aviation.<br />

1994 <strong>Plan</strong> >> This <strong>Master</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> delayed fur<strong>the</strong>r consideration of <strong>the</strong> new<br />

east/west runway due to revised passenger <strong>for</strong>ecasts that<br />

proved to be extremely pessimistic.<br />

1998 <strong>Plan</strong> >> This <strong>Master</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> stated <strong>the</strong> current configuration could<br />

accommodate current passengers <strong>for</strong>ecasts until 2013.<br />

2007 <strong>Plan</strong> >> This latest <strong>Master</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> identified several options <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

development of <strong>the</strong> <strong>airport</strong>, including <strong>the</strong> extension of<br />

runway 18/36 and <strong>the</strong> development of <strong>the</strong> new east-west<br />

runway. There was significant community objection to <strong>the</strong><br />

extension of runway 18/36 with overwhelming support <strong>for</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> development of <strong>the</strong> new east-west runway, from a longterm<br />

perspective.<br />

15

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