The Environmental Impact Statement for the Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project has been approved, paving the way for the construction and operation of a new runway, a revised apron and an expanded passenger terminal.
The airport expansion will allow more flights, including international flights, providing national and global connections to more destinations across Australia, Asia and the Western Pacific.
This is turn will deliver major economic and social benefits including opportunities for more jobs, exports and tourism growth. Importantly, the expanded airport will take the Sunshine Coast brand, and our local products, to the world.
Imagine the possibilities for our emerging food industry, if we could air freight directly from the Sunshine Coast to Asia. Products including locally grown tomatoes, strawberries, macadamia nuts, pineapples, avocados and dairy products.
If the newly completed Toowoomba airport is any measure of possibility, then Sunshine Coast exports have a bright future. In Toowoomba, they recently sent a trial cargo flight to Hong Kong exporting beef, nuts, mangoes, chicken and lettuce. Within 20 hours of leaving the Toowoomba airport, Darling Downs produce arrived in Hong Kong restaurants.
Current forecasts have indicated that the new runway will be operational by 2020 – just four years away.