Gold Coast Airport vision set to take off

GOLD Coast Airport is earmarked to become the centrepiece of a precinct that will put Tugun on the map as a commercial and educational hub.

Concept image of the 200-suite hotel that is to be developed within Gold Coast Airport’s planned commercial and education hub.

GOLD Coast Airport is earmarked to become the centrepiece of a multimillion-dollar precinct that will put Tugun on the map as a major commercial and educational hub.

The precinct is planned by its owner, Queensland Airports, which in recent years has outlaid more than $32 million to acquire 24.6ha of land around the airport to make the vision a reality.

Purchases include major properties in Tweed Heads.

The 11.28ha Border Park Raceway on Binya Ave, a former greyhound and trots venue, was acquired last June for $16.5 million; and a 5.15ha parcel in Wollemi Place, previously home to a drive-in movie theatre, was secured last May for $11.4575 million.

GOLD COAST AIRPORT COULD BE FIRST WITHOUT MANNED CHECK-IN

Other properties include a 7.29ha property in Parks Drive, Tweed Heads, bought from the Queensland Government; a 1.5ha holding in Boyd St and a 1.4ha site on Irene St, both in Tugun.

Queensland Airports, whose assets include airports at Townsville, Mt Isa and Longreach, said the acquisitions align with the vision in its 2017 Gold Coast Airport masterplan: To develop a business and education destination to take advantage of Gold Coast Airport’s location at the heart of a growing tourist city.

Gold Coast Airport - concept image of a commercial and industrial hub planned for land around the facility.

Chief executive Chris Mills said the aim of the purchases is to facilitate the airport’s growth in the next 20 years by integrating new acquisitions with its main landholding.

“In the immediate area we have two major hospitals, one each side of the border, a growing university campus, a major national motorway and an international airport,” he said.

“We have engaged specialist consultancy MacroPlan Dimasi to identify a preferred mix of innovative and commercial businesses and activities on all the airport holdings.

“Through the property acquisition strategy we aim to enhance and complement the airport’s primary aviation function with business, education and lifestyle offerings.”

The airport precinct for some years has been home to the Gold Coast’s Southern Cross University campus.

Chris Mills, CEO Queensland Airports Ltd. Photo: Steve Holland

Construction of a third campus building, with an area of 10,500sq m, is nearly complete and planning will then focus on further growth.

Mr Mills said Queensland Airports is moving quickly on its plan for the Tugun airport precinct to host a hotel with up to 200 rooms.

He said global hotel brands have shown interest in operating the facility.

“We are undertaking due diligence with short-listed parties and expect to reach an agreement with a preferred hotel operator soon,” Mr Mills said.

“The hotel will be located at the heart of the Gold Coast Airport precinct and provide a welcoming entrance for visitors to the city.”

An artist’s impression of the Gold Coast Airport.

Gold Coast Airport is also rolling out a major civil works program for its Project LIFT development, which will increase the airport’s capacity through expansion of the terminal building, additional aircraft parking, and a consolidated ground-transport facility.

In addition, new technology is being installed to speed up check-in and reduce queue time for the airport’s growing number of passengers.

Mr Mills said the airport welcomed a record 6.4 million passengers in the 2016 calendar year, up 7.1 per cent on the previous year, and in January set a new record for its busiest month of 624,266 passengers.

“We want the airport to be more than just the gateway to the city. We want the airport precinct to become a destination in its own right,” he said.

Mr Mills said the airport team is working with Commonwealth Games organisers to ensure athletes and other visitors have a special first and last experience of the Gold Coast in April 2018.