Concrete pouring starts at Alliance Airlines $60 million maintenance hangar
Construction of Alliance Airlines new $60 million aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Rockhampton Airport reached a major milestone this week, with concrete pouring to form the footings and walls of the facility’s new hangar.
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Construction of Alliance Airlines new $60 million aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Rockhampton Airport reached a major milestone on Wednesday, with concrete pouring to form the footings and walls of the facility’s new hangar.
The project, which is backed by the Queensland Government’s $175 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund, is a three-bay hangar, about 130 metres wide, 16 metres tall and 65 metres deep.
It will involve Alliance Airlines moving all of its maintenance work from overseas to Rockhampton.
The development was officially approved by Rockhampton Regional Council in May 2021.
The project also received $25 million from the federal government under a Community Development Grant fund in May 2021 and a loan of up to $30 million from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility in September 2021.
The facility will be up and running by January 2023, with Alliance Airlines managing director Scott McMillan stating: “We need to be starting to push aircrafts out of this facility by February”.
“We are looking at structure and practical completion towards the end of November,” Mr McMillan said.
“We are going to be maintaining 74 aircrafts here with more than 100 jobs directly involved.”
Mr McMillan said Rockhampton was an obvious choice for the facility.
“Rocky has been part of our operations over the past 20 years and offers everything we need, from location and weather to incredible stakeholder support,” he said.
“Alliance is a proud Queensland-based and Australasian-owned company, so we’re excited to bring skilled jobs back onshore and into Central Queensland.
“We are actively recruiting apprentices for 2023. We want to take on about 18 apprentices for next year.
“This is something we are very proud of. To see it rising out of the ground gives me great pleasure.”
Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick was on site on Wednesday to inspect the construction progress and said the facility illustrated the Queensland Government’s continued commitment to creating regional jobs.
“We are so pleased to be celebrating the pour of the concrete today for the walls and floors of the facility which is going to be a really big game changer for aviation maintenance,” Mr Dick said.
“This new facility will allow Alliance to reshore their maintenance, repair and overhaul activities from Slovakia and the United Kingdom to right here in Queensland.
“Roughly 100 operational jobs will be supported here by 2024, and there’s around 115 construction workers bringing the project to life.
“Today Alliance Airlines will be advertising for 20 new head office jobs here in Rockhampton.
“There will also be local traineeships and apprenticeships offered, creating new career paths for young central Queenslanders.
“Alliance Airlines has grown rapidly in recent years, and it’s great they’re choosing to house that growth in Queensland.
“This project stands to boost our state economy by $195 million over the next decade, and consolidates our reputation as a destination of choice for the multibillion-dollar global maintenance, repair and overhaul industry.”
Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said it was wonderful to see the first lot of concrete getting poured on site.
Mr O’Rourke said an aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facility of this scale would bring forward the establishment of an aeronautical services precinct at Rockhampton Airport.
“Investment attracts investment, and this facility will encourage more businesses to choose Rockhampton and our local suppliers,” he said.
“This is the start of an aviation jobs boom for Rocky, led by these highly skilled maintenance, repair and overhaul and engineering roles that will arrive through this project.
“This is an absolute win for the people of Rockhampton.”
Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga said the project showed the confidence industry had in Central Queensland.
“In 2022, Alliance will expand its fleet from 65 to 74, and this facility will make that expansion possible and profitable,” Ms Lauga said.
“Our region is ready and eager to play a growing role in aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul, and to welcome the new jobs that come from it.
“I am looking forward to encouraging all the aspiring aviation mechanics of Queensland to apply for jobs at this new facility.”
Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said the project was significant for the Central Queensland region.
“It’s great to be here today to make sure these projects continue on and give us job security for our local regions,” Mr Butcher said.
“These will be high skilled jobs and high skilled training that comes with it and that’s what regional Queensland needs.”
Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the project was a “boom” for the regional economy.
“This is something I have worked extremely hard with Alliance and with council and it is wonderful to see the three levels of government supporting this project, which is really important,” Ms Landry said.
“Rockhampton Airport is one of the best regional airports in the country and I continue to support this, as does the federal government, and I think the more we can put into this airport the more it develops regional growth and the economics of this region.
“Today is very important in the history of Rockhampton Airport and I’m very pleased we could play such an important part.”
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