Sunshine Coast Airport ExpansionOverseeing the design and construction of a new runway

Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Airport Pty Ltd, the Asset Trustee and the Security Trustee, engaged Aurecon in 2018 to oversee the design and construction of a new runway and supporting infrastructure for the airport.

Sunshine Coast Airport is 60 years old and previously operated with a 1,800 m long x 30 m wide runway. This means that many larger aircrafts, such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, were unable to operate from the site in Marcoola, which limited international travel to and from the region.

By building a runway and supporting infrastructure that meet the requirements for larger international aircraft, there is the potential to attract up to 2 million passengers annually to the area. The Sunshine Coast Council estimates that the airport upgrade will inject $4.1B into gross regional product during the next 20 years, creating jobs and boosting local communities.

Aurecon’s Aviation and Delivery Management team ensured the project’s smooth delivery by providing:

• Contract administration services
• Independent certification services for design and construction

The two Aurecon teams involved verified that the project was designed and constructed in accordance with the scope of work and industry standards. They also monitored quality and advised on challenges, such as environmental complications, throughout the construction process.

This video was filmed at Sunshine Coast Airport by pilot Thomas Prell, Senior Project Engineer at Aurecon.

The runway is now operational and the expansion project was completed in late 2020 and delivered:

• A new runway (2,450 m long x 45 m wide)
• A half-length parallel taxiway
• An expanded apron
• A perimeter road
• Drainage channels
• Biodiversity offset areas

The project enables direct flights to more destinations across Australia, Asia and the Western Pacific, attracting a greater number of domestic and international tourists to the Sunshine Coast region.