Minister Rejects Airport Masterplan, Requests New Draft

Brisbane’s second airport, Archerfield, will need to stay the course on its current strategic plans after the federal infrastructure minister rejected the latest draft masterplan. 

Federal infrastructure minister Catherine King announced this week that she had rejected the proposed draft masterplan provided by the Archerfield Airport Corporation (AAC). 

She then used her authority under the Airports Act 1996 to ask the AAC to draft a new masterplan within a 180-day period for consideration. 

The Archerfield Airport provides support for corporate and charter flights, flying training and aviation maintenance services. 

It is located 11km from the Brisbane CBD and close to Stradbroke, Moreton and the Fraser islands. 

The AAC prepared the draft Masterplan 2022-2042 and Airport Environment Strategy and opened it for public comment late last year.

It was the fifth such plan since 1998 by the AAC and included the proposed realignment of the secondary grass runway complex, a concept brought up when preparing the previous 2011-2031 Masterplan (in 2011) and 2017-2037 Masterplan (in 2017). 

The Wirraway precinct was also identified as a primary area for future development as was an area between the Eastern Apron and Beatty Road, an area between the Hotel and Juliet taxiways and specific multipurpose industrial and aviation tenancies at the northern end of the Beatty precinct. 

A recently completed Archerfield Airport Heritage Management Plan (2021) and its findings were also included as was updated aircraft movement figures to 2022 and forecasts to 2042, and an endorsed 2042 Australian noise exposure forecast as required under law.

▲ Render of the Watson Young-designed Modscape facility at Essendon Airport’s Essendon Fields precinct in Melbourne.

Minister King’s concerns included needing more detail on plans for the airport’s land use, future developments and its environmental impact management strategy. 

“My main concerns include that the draft masterplan does not clearly establish the strategic direction for economic and efficient development of the airport over a 20-year planning period, or appropriately indicate the intended uses of the various precincts on the airport site to airport users, the community and the aviation industry,” King said in a statement. 

She also stated that she was concerned about how community consultation around potential aircraft noise impacts in the immediate vicinity had been approached.

The AAC has been asked to share its plans with all relevant stakeholders at every possible opportunity while preparing a new draft masterplan.

In the interim, the AAC will continue to operate according to its current masterplan created in 2017. 

Airports are prime sites for development especially for industrial and office precincts with amenities with Victoria’s Essendon Airport currently developing its Essendon Fields precinct.