As reported by brisbanedevelopment.com this week, the new runway at Brisbane Airport is on target to open in 2020, with the Airfield Works contract awarded to a joint venture between CPB Contractors Pty Limited and BMD Construction Pty Ltd, known as Skyway.

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) CEO and Managing Director, Julieanne Alroe, explained the project has been in the pipeline since the 1970’s, and is the “final and most expensive package of works to bring Brisbane’s new runway to life.”

The new runway is the biggest infrastructure investment by the BAC since the privatisation of the airport in 1997 with a total cost of $1.2 to $1.3 billion. Ms Alroe put this cost into perspective, with the entire airport purchased for $1.38 billion nearly 20 years ago.

This project is the largest aviation infrastructure development currently in operation in Australia. It includes over 12km of taxiway, a runway of 60m wide x 3,300m long and associated infrastructure. 

As the airport is privately owned, none of the $3.4 billion that has been contributed over the past 20 years to infrastructure upgrades aimed at increasing capacity and improving the passenger travel experience, has come from the government.

A direct benefit of the project is the job creation, with up to 90 per cent of peak labour and plant resources to be sourced locally from South East Queensland which will include; 60 managerial, engineering and supervisory staff, 60 trade level wages employees/ subcontractors, 150 plant operators, and 130 skilled labourers.

The BAC predicts the flights will grow from 227,000 in 2014/2015 to over 360,000 by 2035, and the estimated the national tourism contribution will grow from $3.1 billion to the 2013 financial year to $7.6 billion by 2033-34.

The full article is available at the link below.

 https://brisbanedevelopment.com/brisbanes-new-runway-enters-final-construction-phase-award-airfield-contract/