Future NT: Multi-storey carpark, net zero in Darwin airport’s 20-year draft master plan

A new organisational master plan has mapped out a 20-year future for key Darwin infrastructure. Read what it is.

Staged expansion of the air transport apron to provide additional aircraft parking, a multi-level carpark and continued development of the resorts precinct are key potential plays in Airport Development Group’s 20-year Darwin Airport draft master plan.

Delayed by Covid-19 and then uncertainty around a federal election, the 2023 Darwin Airport Master Plan will replace the previous 2017 document.

ADG chief executive Tony Edmondstone has long made the point the broader vision is for the airport to be a destination, not just a distribution point for visitors and new arrivals.

Reflecting on the 2017 master plan, Darwin International Airport general manager Rob Porter said a lot was achieved during that period including the purchase and renovation of two hotels to create Darwin Airport Resort - including Darwin’s largest swimming pool - an extensive roads program, phased adjustments inside the terminal such as automatic check-in and the installation of covered carparking.

Tony Edmondstone.

ADG requested, and had approved, two extensions to the 2017 plan totalling 18-months while they navigated issues around Covid-19 and Defence, but Mr Porter said the extension enabled optimum delivery of the previous plan and a clear-eyed vision on what lay ahead.

“The master plan is a great enabler for the airport and certainly signals to the community where our mindset is with respect to investment in this property and gives insights into our future over the next 20 years,” he said.

“We got a large portion of the previous master plan through. It was a Covid interrupted plan, so we have to take a big chunk of those years out. Like many, we deferred projects until a post-Covid era, so it was disrupted and interrupted, but the business had the foresight to continue on with the master planning process.

“We focused on locals during Covid and how they contribute into the business and a lot of work here was done by local businessmen. We pushed on with key projects that businesses could deliver for us, like roads, and we continued to go to market for projects.”

Airport Development Group has a 50-year lease, with a 49-year option, from the Australian Government under the 1996 federal Airports Act.

Under the act, it must prepare a 20-year master plan, including an airport environment strategy, to guide development of existing and proposed land uses and facilities.

From Darwin Airport’s draft 2023 master plan

Built on 311 hectares, Darwin Airport is currently served by seven airlines flying to 12 domestic cities, three international destinations, five regional ports and three major fly-in, fly-out operations.

Airport sustainability is a key feature of the latest master plan with the facility on track to zero scope one and scope two emissions by 2030, boosted with a total solar capacity of 7.75MW.

Currently, about 70 businesses directly employ about 1500 people at Darwin International Airport, with a further 1200 people indirectly employed, delivering an economic contribution of $544 million.

The updated master plan forecasts by 2043 direct and indirect employment of 7000 people and an economic contribution of $1.8 billion.

Airport Development Group’s Rob Porter. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Pre Covid, the airport shifted two million passengers, including 1.75 million domestic passengers and 250,000 international passengers, in 73,500 civil aircraft movements in 2019.

Mr Porter said domestic travel was back to pre-Covid levels but international visitation remains lower.

The master plan estimates by 2043, 3.7 million to 5.5 million passengers could pass through the airport according to master plan projections.

One of only two joint user airports in the country, the master plan proposes a number of staged taxiway enhancements over the 20-year planning period to support the forecast increase in aircraft traffic.

Staged expansion of the air transport apron is anticipated to address parking capacity and general aviation facilities will be developed over the 20-year master planning window.

Passenger terminal capacity was doubled during the 2015 terminal expansion, with some minor infills and internal reconfiguration expected to better use capacity.

“Any future growth of the terminal building will be accommodated by expanding the existing terminal … in line with peak-hour demand,” the master plan said.

“The experience of customers visiting the airport is paramount to Darwin International Airport. We are committed to improving the customer experience both in the terminal and across the broader airport precinct.”

“It’s a sensible master plan,” Mr Porter said.

“For us it’s backing ourselves. We know passenger growth will be slow and steady and its been drafted with that in mind. It’s making sure all the building blocks are in place.”

Originally published as Future NT: Multi-storey carpark, net zero in Darwin airport’s 20-year draft master plan