Business Case for the SunShine CoaSt airport Master Plan

Stage 5: Option Generation
REFORM (ESSENTIALLY NON-CAPITAL INVESTMENT) OPTIONS
The objective of investment in the SCA is to ensure the continued provision of
safe, efficient and convenient air transport to the Sunshine Coast for residents and
visitors .To advance this objective five options have been considered:
a) Do nothing other than planned capital expenditure;
b) Non airport solution;
c) Relocation;
d) Extension of current north/ south runway; and
e) New east-west runway.
Option 1
Do nothing
The do nothing option would see the current 18/36 runway retained and the
existing apron area enhanced to improve efficiency. This option is of limited utility
in meeting SCAs objectives because, as mentioned in section 4, existing
operational constraints would remain. These include the limitations due the
runways dimensions and the special dispensation issued by CASA that could be
revoked at any time, the impacts due to cross winds, the limitations imposed by the
sites boundaries, public safety considerations, noise and community amenity, and
scope to meet future demands for services. Specifically:
Option 2
i. The current runway operates under a CASA dispensation to operate code
C aircraft on a 30m wide runway. SCA is one of four airports nationally
with this dispensation. The dispensation is entirely at CASAs discretion.
The revocation of the dispensation would have major impacts upon SCAs
ability to provide regular public transport (RPT) services.
ii. The width and alignment of the current runway results in about one per
cent of scheduled RPT arrivals being diverted to Brisbane due to adverse
weather conditions.
iii. Due to the existing boundaries of the airport site and adjoining residential
development, it is impossible to expand the current runway beyond a
length of 2,080 metres. In addition, it could only be widened to 45 metres
with the acquisition of about 100 residential properties.
iv. The alignment of the existing runway results in the Northern Public Safety
Area (PSA) coinciding with 115 existing dwellings.
v. Currently there are about 2,400 dwellings within the ANEF20 Noise
Contour of the existing runway.
vi. The current runway provides little scope for growth in passenger numbers
in the longer term as, if expected, the trend towards larger more efficient
aircraft continues.
Non airport solution
The adoption of a non-airport solution leads to the consideration of three possible
means of providing RPT services for the Sunshine Coast:
i. Bussing passengers to Brisbane Airport;
ii. Passengers using private motor vehicles to access Brisbane Airport by
road; and
iii. Providing a rail connection between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane
Airport.
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