Hobart Airport masterplan approved

Minister for Infrastructure Warren Truss approved the latest masterplan for Hobart Airport in the days before Christmas.

Central to the plan, under which the airport maps out how it will address forecast passenger growth over the next 20 years, is the planned extension of the airport’s runway (12/30) to 2,751 metres.

“Approval of this plan allows for the construction of the proposed 500 metre runway extension, to which the Australian Government is contributing $38 million,” Minister Truss said in a December 23 statement.

“The runway extension will further build on Hobart and Australia’s ability to support our Antarctic operations. It will also provide new opportunities for direct international flights to South-East Asia, creating opportunities for the growth of both tourism markets and freight exports.”

Construction of the runway extension has a total project cost of $40 million and also involves the relocation of navaids, the construction of jet blast walls, and the extension of the airport’s HIAL (high intensity aviation lighting). Associated road works include the closure of Surf Road and the construction of Grueber Avenue.

Final go-ahead of the runway extension is subject to Minister Truss approving a Major Development Plan for the project, which is currently undergoing community consultation prior to being submitted early this year, Hobart Airport said.

Hobart Airport accommodated 2.18 million passengers in the 2015 financial year, a figure forecast to grow to 2.6 million by 2020. As well as the runway extension the airport recently began work on a $25 million terminal redevelopment project.

The masterplan must now be made available to the public within 50 days.