Shellharbour City Council has revealed the designs of its long-awaited permanent passenger terminal at the Illawarra Regional Airport, with the new facility set to be built large enough to allow for future growth.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The plans, included as part of a development application (DA) lodged with the council by consulting company GHD Pty Ltd, have been on public exhibition – ahead of passenger flights resuming at the airport on Monday.
The new services – run by Fly Corporate – will operate from a temporary structure, which has been in place since October last year.
At that time, JetGo Australia became the first airline to run regular passenger services from the airport since QantasLink flights ended in 2008.
However, in a statement of environmental effects attached to the DA, GHD said the temporary terminal was “not adequate to accommodate future growth of passenger transport” and the proposed permanent facility would allow services to expand.
Under the plans, the new terminal would be constructed over two stages.
The project also includes an upgraded short-term car park, the expansion of the long-term car park area and associated landscaping.
The terminal building – with a proposed floor area of about 1609 square metres and has an estimated price tag of $10 million – would be located to the south of the existing short-term car park, close to the current structure.
Stage one of the terminal build would include four check-in counters, a lounge area with about 176 seats, a cafe with additional seating, a retail shop and a baggage collection area.
The second stage would see a full fit-out of a secure departures lounge, as well as upgraded arrival and departures baggage handling areas, including baggage carousels.
The new terminal building would be a steel structure with external cladding of corrugated metal, brickwork and glazed elements.
Exterior designs show the building’s eastern side would bear the council’s logo and the words “Illawarra Regional Airport”.
The western side, facing the tarmac, would also have the council’s logo and convey the message “Welcome to Shellharbour” in black lettering.
Elsewhere, the existing short-term car park would be resurfaced and offer spaces for 36 vehicles (down from the current 44 spots).
The long-term car park would be expanded to provide 139 spaces (currently 100).
Both would have new fences, boom gates and lighting; a pay station would be installed at the long-term site.
A new road would be created off Airport Road to allow access to a passenger drop-off and pick-up area at the front of the terminal.
The project requires both council and Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel approval, due to its cost.