Ballina Byron Gateway Airport new body scanners delayed until March 2022

The equipment ‒ which has been used at international airports for years ‒ was due to be installed by December 2020. But there have been ongoing delays with the rollout.

Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is preparing to have body scanners installed at the terminal.

New body scanners to be installed at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport have been delayed until March 2022.

The airport was granted an extension of time for the installation of body scanners by the Department of Home Affairs due to the terminal reconfiguration required to allow this additional passenger security screening process.

Originally, the first implementation date was set for December 31, 2020, but the department granted an extension until June 30, 2021.

This second delay granted the airport’s management — a department of Ballina Shire Council — an allowance to complete installation of the equipment by March 31, 2022.

Body scanners have been operating at Sydney International Airport since 2011.

A council spokeswoman said the body scanner would provide an additional level of security for passengers and airlines.

“They do so by detecting prohibited items, such as metallic and nonmetallic, being worn or carried on the body,” she said.

“The process uses extremely low-power waves over a short duration which exposes the body to less energy than a mobile phone.

“The waves reflect off the skin’s surface and do not penetrate the body, unlike medical X-rays.”

The spokeswoman said body scanning has been operating at international airports for years, and anyone who has travelled overseas will be familiar with the equipment.

“The body scanner is a stand-alone Rohde & Schwarz Quick Personal Security Scanner,” she said.

“It is an uncomplicated screening process were a person is scanned standing squarely between two panels — like facing a mirror — holding their arms slightly away from their sides, no lifted arms or turning required.

“Unlike other scanners. it is an open scanning environment and designed to ease traffic flow, including wheelchairs and trolleys.

“The scan is processed in 32 milliseconds and provides a computer-generated human figure image which is assessed by security screening staff.”

A Sydney security staff member shows to the media how the body scanners at Sydney Airport operate back in 2011.

The scanner does not replicate the actual body image of the person being screened.

These scanners are already installed in major and large regional airports in Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Canberra, Sunshine Coast and Coffs Harbour.

The equipment is funded by the Australian Government, under the Regional Airport Security Infrastructure Program – Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, the spokeswoman said.

“As this is an additional screening process there will be increased staffing requirements,” she said.

“Security screening costs are cost-recovered through fees levied to the airlines. Some initial financial support to initiate this new screening process has been made available by the Australian Government.”

In January 2021, Ballina council accepted the tender from MSS Security Pty Ltd for the Provision for Security and Screening Services at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport.

A spokesman for MSS Security said the company employs nearly 7000 trained and professional staff, with operations spanning every state and territory, including regional and remote locations.

“A key driver in our business is to create local employment opportunities to support the communities in which we operate,” he said.

“With the successful extension of our relationship with Ballina Byron Gateway Airport and the airport expansion project, we anticipate an increase of some 40 per cent in local recruitment, bringing it to around 20 employees.”