A $55 MILLION upgrade to Newcastle Airport's passenger terminal is crucial to capitalising on the federal government's recent runway budget commitment, its chief executive says.
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Dr Peter Cock told a Hunter Business breakfast on Wednesday that while the planned $66 million Code E runway upgrade was "terrific", it needed to accompany works to the passenger terminal ahead of the anticipated arrival of international airline services. Work is due to commence on the runway in August and is expected to take about two years to complete. Dr Cock hoped an upgrade of the passenger terminal could be completed at a similar time to ensure the region can "unlock its potential".
Destination NSW data shows that in 2019, just over one million passengers in the airport's catchment area travelled overseas but only 3 per cent of them started their flight journey at Newcastle, with the bulk of the remaining 97 per cent driving to Sydney and flying from there.
Dr Cock told the audience at Marina Views Function Centre that Newcastle Airport hoped to co-fund the $55 million terminal upgrade with the NSW government.
"We have to crack on and build it, because we don't want the runway sitting idle not being able to process passengers," he said.
"The business case is there, it stacks up, so hopefully it just gets there by maths.
"The runway upgrade is terrific, but we want it to be an enabler to bigger and better things for this region."
A spokesperson for the Department of Regional NSW said it was "actively engaging with Newcastle Airport and considering the merits of the terminal upgrade as part of the Williamtown Special Activation Precinct".
"A business case will consider enabling infrastructure options that will best stimulate economic growth and provide more jobs for the region," the spokesperson said.
"The business case will be developed over the coming months with an investment decision on which projects to fund within the precinct expected by early 2022."
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Wednesday's breakfast attendees heard that on top of Hunter residents being able to fly direct to Singapore, the Middle East and the US within two years, the runway works will also unlock potentially billions of dollars of export opportunities for businesses in the northern part of NSW.
The project, which will see the existing runway deepened and widened by about 7 metres on each side, will allow wide-bodied aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A330 to access the airport. It is expected to create 4500 jobs and generate an estimated $12.7 billion in economic benefits through international airfreight, industrial expansion and stimulation of the visitor economy over 20 years.
"Moving people is important but it's not enough to create a vibrant airport, freight is really important and this airport leadership have embraced that," Leigh Bryant from Mayfield-based Scorpion International Freight Services, said.
"We have to think not just about outbound freight, but imports are going to be really important too. An aircraft could unload goods here and then they're moved all around NSW, and further.
"Look at our property market at the moment, people want to be here, and having an airport that's ready to move is crucial to that.
"Newcastle is on the precipice of change and the airport is a major part of that. It will bring people, money and business.
"We have an amazing opportunity to be a solution to the over-crowding in Sydney."
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