Download PDFMEDIA RELEASE The Hon Mark Vaile MP Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Transport and Regional Services Leader of the Nationals
18 September 2007 148MV/2007
PARALLEL RUNWAY FOR BRISBANE TO BOOST JOBS, ECONOMY
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Mark Vaile, today announced approval for the construction of a new parallel runway at Brisbane International airport.
"A 3,600 metre runway will be built 2km west and parallel to the existing main runway and extending into Moreton Bay at a cost of approximately $1 billion and creating 2700 jobs in construction alone," Mr Vaile said.
"The Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) proposal to build the runway is a direct response to the need for vital aviation infrastructure to support economic growth, jobs and Queenslanders' standard of living and is estimated to contribute $17.2 billion towards South East Queensland's gross regional product in 2023," The Deputy Prime Minister said.
"BAC will be required to continue to engage with the community over the eight years or so of the construction period to ensure that the community is kept fully informed of noise issues and flight paths, and then on an ongoing basis into the future" Mr Vaile
said. "The government has taken very seriously all 196 public submissions received on this project proposal."
During the runway's peak construction period, overall employment in the Brisbane-Moreton region is forecast to increase by around 2,700 jobs. Over the longer term, the runway project is expected to provide permanent employment gains in the order of 7,800 jobs for the region by 2035.
"It is a credit to the airport's owners that they are willing and able to invest heavily to attract cheap international flights for Queenslanders and to cement Brisbane's status as a business and trade hub," Mr Vaile said. "I congratulate BAC on its commitment to provide for the continued growth of South East Queensland in a way that is sensitive to the community and the environment."
The Australian Government has also undertaken an assessment of the proposal under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and has placed strict conditions to ensure no unacceptable environmental impacts occur. In an Australian first, BAC has agreed to set aside and manage 285 hectares as "biodiversity zones".
BAC will also be required to construct a new White-bellied Sea Eagle nesting site and fund ecological monitoring programmes for seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh and the expansion of educational facilities at the Nudgee Beach Environmental Education Centre.
20/09/2007 http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/mv/releases/2007/september/148mv_2007.htm
URL: http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/mv/releases/2007/September/148MV_2007.htm
The government is confident that the conditions attached to the runway development will ensure acceptable environmental outcomes and that once again we have successfully practiced sustainable development through balancing environmental and economic considerations.
Lists of conditions placed on the Ministerial approvals of the Major Development Plan and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 are attached.
Media Contacts
Tim Langmead ( Mr Vaile's Office ) 0421 584 990
20/09/2007 http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/mv/releases/2007/september/148mv_2007.htm