$5M to fund runway study

Sunshine Coast Daily, 1st September 2011

ALMOST $5 million will be spent on planning for the new runway at Sunshine Coast Airport before the end of 2013.
The $4.8 million will fund the environmental impact statement for the east-west runway.

Expected to be built in 2020, the $250 million runway will pump $1.6 billion into the economy and create 5000 jobs.

These calculations were put together by economists PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

It will also mean more tourists from the United States, the Pacific, India, China and other parts of Australia.

The runway will also reduce aircraft noise above urban areas.

Sunshine Coast council has committed $350,000 for the design of terminal modifications to enable the airport to process trans-Tasman flights in the longer term. Airport general manager Peter Pallot said the project was already largely ahead of schedule.

“The EIS will take us at least the next two to three years and includes public consultation,” Mr Pallot said.

Major Projects councillor Debbie Blumel said the project was an example of infrastructure investment which enhances the competitive advantage of the Sunshine Coast as a tourist destination.