Runway blame game in full swing amid ‘safety concerns’ admission
Safety concerns about the Darwin airport runway were first raised early last year. Read why nothing was done beforehand.
Northern Territory
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The Defence Department has admitted it first became aware of “safety concerns” with the Darwin Airport runway that prompted upcoming disruptive tarmac repairs early last year.
The admission comes as debate swirls about serious flight and passenger disruptions expected at Darwin Airport over the next two tourist seasons due to the planned repairs.
The revelation follows attempts by Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite to shift blame onto the NT’s Airport Development Group for delays beginning the runway works.
In the statement, Defence said it jettisoned plans to begin the works program to pre-empt the damage back in 2020 after Covid-19 repatriation flights for Australians stranded overseas landed in Darwin.
The Darwin Airport runway is used jointly by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Airport Development Group but owned by Defence, with runway and associated taxiways requiring maintenance every 10-15 years.
The airport’s runway was last upgraded in 2007.
A Defence Department spokesman said the $180m works program would support safe and efficient operations at the airport for at least the next decade.
“The runway works at Darwin were deferred in 2020 as increased international repatriation flights operated from Darwin, during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said in a statement.
“Sections of the runway began to show signs of deterioration in early 2022 leading to safety concerns and Defence and Airport Development Group agreed to bring forward the commencement of the runway works.
“The runway works are currently scheduled to commence later this year and Defence and Airport Development Group are working closely together to develop a staging plan for these works that ensures the safety of all airport users and minimises the impact to civilian airline schedules and military aircraft operations.”
Earlier in the day, Mr Thistlethwaite returned serve over criticism it was taking Defence too long to finalise a works schedule for the two-year program.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce told this masthead last month flights would be cancelled and delayed and fares would increase due to the works while Jetstar has cancelled its Darwin to Bali flights for most of October and November.
But speaking on ABC Radio Tuesday, Mr Thistlethwaite said the upgrades were needed.
“(The runway’s) starting to show signs of wear-and-tear and if you’re going to cater for the increase in civilian flights that we’d like to see into and out of Darwin and of course, the increasing military flights that are coming, that runway needs to be upgraded,” he said.
“Defence has been ready to go on this work for about six weeks but there’s been a difficulty in negotiating an agreement with the airport corporation that run the airport.
“Obviously, they want to minimise the disruptions and we understand that but there are some constraints — the work has to take place generally during the dry season and of course, as much as possible at night, so those negotiations are still being finalised.
“Look, Defence is ready to start the work, we just need to get an agreement with the Airport Corporation.”
Airport Development Group said it continued to work with Defence to finalise the method of works program.
“ADG is aware the uncertainly regarding these works is impacting our airline partners and the travelling public and as such do hope that an amended MOWP can be submitted to CASA for approval before the end of July, which would enable works to commence in August,” a spokeswoman said.
“ADG continues to keep stakeholders, including the Northern Territory government, informed of the status of the MOWP.”
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