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
Consolidation into the International Precinct critically depends
on timely public investment in off-airport infrastructure,
particularly the regional road network, which is currently
congested during the morning and evening metropolitan
peak periods.
Planning to date anticipates that consolidation will occur in
three stages, with the first stage being completed by 2012.
The precise timing of the redevelopments will be influenced
by a range of factors, the most important of which is future
aviation demand. Lower levels of demand will extend the
time frame for consolidation, while a return to the high levels
of growth of the past five years will likely bring plans forward.
Planning for the phased consolidation is substantially
progressed and a preferred ultimate Consolidated Precinct
Development Plan is expected to be completed later in 2009.
The scale of intrastate air services at Perth Airport, including
closed charters, is unusual for a large capital city airport.
This reflects both the dispersed nature of Western Australia’s
population and the state’s resource sector’s use of the fly-in/
fly-out mode of workforce deployment. It is important to
appreciate that Perth Airport is a vital infrastructure asset
for people in regional Western Australia.
Intrastate general aviation air services predominantly involve
aircraft smaller than B737 and A320 aircraft. Such services
are relatively more intensive users of airfield infrastructure
than domestic intrastate, interstate and international services.
For example, in 2008 the general aviation sector accounted
for approximately 36 percent of airfield movements but only
around 7 percent of passenger movements.
Experience at Perth Airport has been that infrastructure
needs for intrastate/closed charter air services differ from
the requirements of larger interstate and international RPT
services and inefficiencies can arise from co-location of such
services, particularly during periods of rapid growth.
A number of airlines are impressing on WAC the importance
of being able to co-locate their domestic and international
operations to support their business expansion in Western
Australia. The first stage consolidation plans take this need
into account.
The first phase of the airport redevelopment will also
include investments to expand capacity and improve
customer service in the International Terminal and existing
Domestic Terminal Precinct.
Changes to Surface Access
The unprecedented growth in air services and the plan to
commence consolidation has required a fundamental review
of surface access planning and infrastructure provision both
within the airport estate and in relation to how regional road
and public transport networks interface with Perth Airport.
Westralia Airports Corporation is working closely with the
Western Australian Government, including Main Roads
Western Australia, to plan and design major arterial road
upgrades in the vicinity of Perth Airport. These road upgrades
are critical to the provision of air services and suitable levels of
customer service for West Australians and visitors to the state.
Westralia Airports Corporation is also assisting the Public
Transport Authority in its planning for rail services connecting
the airport into the urban rail system. The airport development
plans will make provision for the emerging preferred design of
the rail connection.
The timing of construction of a rail connection to Perth Airport
is ultimately for the Western Australian Government to decide
having regard to its broader rail network strategy. It is to be noted
that while rail will be an important future means of accessing
Perth Airport, road transport will remain the predominant means
of access to/from the airport for the long-term.
Therefore a central element of the first phase of Perth Airport’s
consolidation includes developing facilities that are purposebuilt
for intrastate air services located so that they can operate
and be expanded with minimal impact on larger RPT services.
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