Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project ready for take-off
08 March 2018
John Holland:
Sunshine Coast Council's largest construction project will now get
underway, with council today announcing John Holland has been awarded a
contract worth around $225 million.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said council had awarded the
Airport
Expansion Project construction contract to the John Holland Group,
following an extensive assessment period that involved five high-calibre
proponents.
The contract will see John Holland Group construct a new, 2450m x 45m
main
runway as designed by
Beca Consultants during the design phase.
The expansion project will open up the region to the world and the
project remains on track for completion by Christmas 2020.
“This is the biggest construction project delivered by Sunshine Coast
Council and I know it’s one that has been long awaited by our community,
the tourism industry and local businesses,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“The new runway will accommodate larger, more fuel efficient aircraft
and open up direct access for the Sunshine Coast to more Australian
cities, international markets in Asia and the Western Pacific and in
turn, drive significant economic growth.
“The Airport Expansion project will contribute $4.1 billion to the local
economy over the period to 2040, generate around 2230 jobs in our
community, help boost tourism, enable visitors from many locations to
gain direct access to the region and support our local export businesses
- particularly those operating in the food and agribusiness sectors – to
access new markets.
“With this project now entering its major construction phase, the sky’s
the limit on the Sunshine Coast.”
John Holland Group Chief Executive Officer Joe Barr said the company had
extensive experience working on airport projects and was excited to
partner with the Sunshine Coast Council to support the region’s
continued growth.
“The Sunshine Coast is a magnificent part of the world and we are
pleased to be part of the journey on this significant project for the
future of the region,” Mr Barr said.
“We already have an association with the region, having delivered the
Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital a few years ago and with our
involvement in the planned development of the
Maroochydore CBD.”
Mayor Jamieson said while the airport expansion was initially estimated
to cost $347 million, council is now very confident the project would be
delivered for closer to $300 million.
“This is largely due to the terminal expansion being taken over by the
airport operator Sunshine Coast Airport Pty Ltd, and is an early
demonstration that council is taking its promise to ratepayers
seriously,” he said.
“We can build this new runway for our future, without passing any
enduring financial burden on to our community.”
Early works progressed well throughout 2017, including the completion of
the Finland Road upgrade to prepare the road surface for heavy vehicle
traffic, engaging with the Kabi Kabi First Nation People to protect the
cultural heritage of the runway expansion land, clearing the centreline
and the relocation of the water main and power lines.
John Holland Group will take possession of the project site over the
next couple of weeks to start preparing the site for the dredging works
to commence mid-year.
The $225 million construction contract is the largest package of works
in the project.
Current estimates for the whole project sit at $303 million, including
design, environmental offsets and works undertaken to date.
Delivery of the Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project is being
supported by loans from the
Australian Government and the Queensland
Treasury Corporation, which will be repaid from the proceeds that
Council receives from its commercial partner,
Palisade Investment
Partners, in 2022.
--ENDS--
Source: John Holland - www.johnholland.com.au
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