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
Foreword
Perth is the world’s most isolated capital city. Western
Australia is a vast state. Perth Airport plays a critical role in
the provision of air services upon which we all depend and
is arguably one of the most important elements of public
infrastructure in the state.
A large proportion of our state’s population lives in Perth and the
south west corner of the state with the balance of communities
dispersed over a very wide geographic region. We are many
thousands of kilometres away from other major centres in
Australia and elsewhere in the world. The transport options for
West Australian’s are framed by these vast distances.
Safe, reliable, convenient and affordable air services are vital
to the economic, cultural and social development of our state.
The location of Perth Airport within the city of Perth, just a
30 minute drive from most of the city’s population, offers
convenience to the travelling public and for those who work
within the airport precinct. However it also presents challenges
to ensure that the airport is able to continue to grow to
meet the community’s needs and, at the same time, does
not inappropriately impact the natural environment or the
standard of living of those people who live near the airport.
Integrating the complex processes of airport and urban
planning is critical. Westralia Airports Corporation (WAC)
devotes significant resources to both airport planning and
liaison with Local and State Government authorities with
broader urban/town planning responsibilities.
One of the objectives of the Airports Act 1996 is to ensure
there is an appropriate level of vigilance, transparency and
scrutiny of airport long-term planning to ensure that the
public interest is met as major airport development proceeds.
The Act includes a number of specific processes to control the
planning and development of major airports.
One such process is the requirement to have in place an
airport Master Plan which has been developed with the
benefit of public comment and which is approved by the
Federal Minister. The Act requires that a new Master Plan is
developed every five years.
The need to review and update airport Master Plans is
exemplified by the developments that have occurred in
Western Australia during the past five years. The unexpected
strength of global, national and the Western Australian
economies translated into unprecedented demand for Perth
Airport’s aviation and property services. Much of the existing
capacity in airfield, terminal and surface transport facilities
was quickly absorbed as activity in some markets doubled
within five years.
While WAC did not in anyway impede the growth of air
services during this period of high demand, the customer
experience during peak periods has suffered. If the
infrastructure at and around Perth Airport does not expand
in the way contemplated by this Master Plan 2009, the
opportunities for future growth in aviation services in
Western Australia will be profoundly impacted.
This Master Plan 2009 incorporates WAC’s plans to provide
expanded airport capacity and reflects material changes to
our airport development plans. It identifies the investments
and other actions that governments need to undertake to
ensure that aviation growth can occur and that the impact
of the airport upon the environment and other community
infrastructure is managed in a sustainable, efficient and
equitable way.
The most notable change is bringing forward by more than a
decade the process of consolidating all large regular passenger
air services into the one precinct. This Master Plan 2009
foreshadows the phased consolidation of passenger services
into the current International Precinct.
The Preliminary Draft Master Plan 2009 was advertised in
accordance with the Airports Act 1996. Submissions were
received from a wide range of stakeholders, all responses
received were considered and amendments included in the
Master Plan 2009.
Brad Geatches
Chief Executive Officer
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