Watpac Construction awarded $40M Darwin International Airport expansion

Watpac Construction today announced it had been selected as the preferred contractor to design and construct the $40 million expansion of Darwin International Airport.

The project is Watpac’s first in the Northern Territory and forms part of the company’s business plan to continue expanding nationally.

Watpac Chief Executive Officer Martin Monro said the company was delighted to be awarded the first stage of the terminal expansion project.

“The Northern Territory has been on our radar for some time so it’s with great pleasure that we have been awarded our first construction project in Darwin,” Mr Monro said.

“The expansion of Darwin International Airport is an excellent project to commence our strategy to expand our construction operations outside of the regions we have traditionally worked in,” he said.

“We are also very fortunate to be able to staff the project with quality people who have the skills and capacity to service new locations such as Darwin.”

The Darwin International Airport Terminal Expansion project* will greatly enhance the airport’s capacity and facilitate improved passenger amenities.

The expansion will provide facilities that will bring the unique character of the Top End to travelers, while providing an efficient, sustainable, safe, secure and cost effective airport terminal.

The development will include expanded check-in, security, emigration, domestic and international departure lounges, immigration, and international baggage hall.

Construction on site is scheduled to commence in April 2013 following the design development phase, which is now underway.

Darwin International Airport Terminal Expansion (TXP)

TXP BACKGROUND

The original Darwin International Airport Terminal Building was constructed and opened in 1991 under the control of the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) and since that time, only minor expansion and capacity increases have been undertaken. Historically, Darwin has been a point-to-point destination. However, with the growth of low cost carriers in the Australian market, the emergence of the Asian market for tourism and an increasing resource industry requiring Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) operations, there has been significant passenger growth at Darwin International Airport.

Since 2007 Darwin International Airport (DIA) has achieved average annual growth of 8.5 per cent for total passenger traffic. In 2011, Darwin International Airport experienced 19.4 percent growth in international passengers and 5.4 percent growth in domestic passenger numbers. Darwin International Airport’s strategy is to diversify and grow its passenger numbers and increased hubbing operations, predominantly driven by the Low Cost Carrier sector.

It is proposed the terminal expansion will be able to accommodate up to six simultaneous narrow body aircraft hubbing international operations, as well as catering for a number of existing domestic and regional services. The expanded terminal will provide flexibility, to cater for both full service and low cost airlines. Recent apron expansions have provided the capability for aircraft parking to support these projections; however processing facilities within the terminal are now required to be expanded to meet this capability.

TXP VISION

DIA’s vision is to redevelop the terminal, including an expansion that brings the unique character of the Top End to the traveling public, while providing an efficient, sustainable, safe and secure airport terminal.

The terminal development will allow DIA to achieve profitable growth through additional flexibility and capacity, enabling DIA’s airline partners to grow their businesses and achieving a step change in its retail business.