Green Light for Airspace Change Proposal for New Runway

Sunshine Coast Council has welcomed the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) approval of the airspace changes to support the operation of the new runway, currently under construction at the Sunshine Coast Airport.

CASA’s approval means Airservices Australia can now move to operationalise the flight paths to support the opening of the new runway in 2020.

Sunshine Coast Council Deputy Mayor and Finance Portfolio Councillor Tim Dwyer said CASA’s approval of the airspace changes represented a significant and essential milestone in the delivery of the Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project. 

“This is a fantastic outcome for this region-shaping project and for the Sunshine Coast community, as it provides certainty that aircraft will be able to operate from the new runway at our Sunshine Coast Airport when it comes into service next year,” Cr Dwyer said.

“The timing of CASA’s approval is great news as it helps to ensure the Airport Expansion Project continues to progress on its current program to deliver this significant piece of infrastructure for our region.

“The approval of the flight paths – which have been in the public domain for more than five years – is a reinforcement of the extensive work undertaken over many years as part of the planning for this project, including the development of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is 2014 and the Additional Information to the EIS in 2015.

“Council has been pleased to work with Airservices Australia throughout the community engagement processes undertaken earlier this year on the Airspace Change proposal and proposed flight paths, on the back of the extensive community consultation which was undertaken as part of the development of the EIS.

“The EIS for this project was one of the most comprehensive assessments for any project in the history of this region and resulted in all necessary approvals being granted for the project. 

“This has been reinforced again by the decision of CASA to approve the airspace changes required for the operation of the new runway.”

Council also noted the advice from Airservices Australia that CASA had received a formal application relating to the proposed Yandina Quarry in 2014 ahead of the public consultation period for the EIS – and had determined that blasting from the proposed quarry would not pose a hazard to aviation.

“Moving forward, our new runway and better facilities means greater accessibility and more opportunities for work, tourism and exporting businesses – which is great news for Sunshine Coast businesses and more importantly, great news for our Sunshine Coast community”

CASA - which is the government organisation responsible for regulating Australian aviation safety - approved the airspace changes associated with the new runway following receipt of an Airspace Change proposal from Airservices Australia, which outlined the airspace design and accompanying safety assessments for review.

FAST FACTS:

The Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project:

• is the single largest Council construction project happening on the coast right now
• is currently supporting more than 200 construction jobs
• will create 2230 new full-time direct and indirect jobs by 2040
• is scheduled for completion by the end of 2020
• involves construction of a new runway, 2450 metres long and 45 metres wide at the existing airport at Marcoola.