PERTH AIRPORT Master Plan 2009

P E R T H A I R P O R T M a s t e r P l a n 2 0 0 9
3. Economic , social and
cultural Significance
About this Chapter
This chapter examines:
• the contribution activities at Perth Airport make to the
economy;
• what contribution the development and ongoing activity
at Perth Airport is expected to make to the economy;
• the economic importance of maintaining Perth Airport’s
curfew free status; and
• the social and cultural benefits that flow from activities
at Perth Airport.
3.1 The Economic Impact of
Perth Airport in 2009
Perth Airport is central to the prosperity of the economy
of Western Australia.
More than any other airport in Australia, Perth Airport is
particularly important to the community and the economy
because of the vast distances from Perth to the other major
cities in Australia and towns within Western Australia.
The relative proximity of Asian nations, where many West
Australians have business and cultural links, also contributes
to the economic importance of Perth Airport.
In preparing this Master Plan 2009, WAC commissioned ACIL
Tasman to undertake a detailed assessment of the economic,
social and strategic impact of Perth Airport. This report,
available on WAC’s website
(www.perthairport.com), provides an up to date assessment
of the economic contribution of activity at the airport and
what that contribution will be if the forecasts contained in
this Master Plan 2009 are achieved in 2029. The report also
looks at the costs to the economy if the road infrastructure
surrounding the airport is not upgraded as discussed in
Chapter 8 of this Master Plan 2009.
Perth Airport provides a major economic contribution to
Western Australia through:
• Facilitating travel for residents, visitors and businesses;
• Facilitating efficient freight handling and transport
including mail and time sensitive goods;
• Its location close to major state and national rail and road
links allowing for an efficient transport network;
• Supporting the economy of regional Western Australia;
and
• Estate operations, with many businesses locating at Perth
Airport because of its strategic location and role as a
strategic transport hub.
Using a standard and accepted methodology to estimate the
contribution to the economy of activities at Perth Airport. The
first are direct impacts on income and employment as a result
of activities conducted at the airport. The indirect impacts
result from additional output, income and employment
generated in those industries supplying goods and services
for airport activity. These purchases will induce further
production, income and employment. In order to estimate
the flow-on effects associated with a given activity, inputoutput
analysis and general equilibrium economic modelling
has been utilised by ACIL Tasman.
The primary information required for the analysis of
economic impacts was the number of people employed
directly in airport activities and the associated wage and
salary expenditure. In order to collect this data a survey was
undertaken in 2008 of organisations which have a direct role
in airport activities as well as those operating on the estate.
Perth Airport is a major employment zone in the Perth
Metropolitan Region. Whilst WAC employs only around
200 people, the total number of people employed at Perth
Airport is estimated at approximately 8,500, including those
employed in aviation and by airport tenants. This is about
30 percent of all employment in the City of Belmont.
Airline activities are estimated to account for 20 percent of
the total direct employment, freight services are estimated to
account for 20 percent, administration and operation of the
airport accounts for approximately 9 percent and operations
of tenants on the airport estate that are not directly involved
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