Darwin airport construction strong in Covid times

NTBR: Just because there hasn’t been much travel throughout Covid, doesn’t mean nothing has been happening at Darwin Airport.

Darwin Airport construction projects have gone gangbusters during Covid. Picture: Julianne Osborne

THE limited resumption of international flights into Darwin with the arrival of the 787 Dreamliner on the London route is another milestone passed on the way out of the coronavirus pandemic.

But in the 20 months since the airport was forced to spectacularly roll back services, there’s been a mountain of activity to prepare for normality and to contribute to the wider goal of growing the Territory into a $40bn economy by 2030.

Airport Development Group, an Australian investment managed company that owns Darwin, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek airports, has invested millions into its assets.

With much of the investment focused on Darwin, the NT Property Council recently hired a coach and driver and guided dozens of business and industry figures on a tour of the airport’s many operations at the 311ha site.

The tour left from the hotels precinct, which was bought by the airport in February and is a key part of the works.

Roadworks currently under way will re-link Sir Norman Brearley Dr with Henry Wrigley Dr and mean that instead of being divided by a road, the Novotel and Mercure hotels will be part of a precinct linked at its heart by a giant pool.

The roundabout currently under construction will be the largest in the Territory and about $7m of roadworks are currently underway.

The tour included visits to cold stores, the medical quarter where RFDS and Care Flight are based, the fun parlours including Darwin Ice Skating and King Pin, logistics and the solar farm.

It also heard plans to extend Sabine Rd from Millner into the airport’s precinct as an alternative access route.

The newly built air-traffic control tower, which will have a five-year phase-in process, will be decorated with Aboriginal images.

A recent source of satisfaction is the development and growth of the Territory Aviation Skills Centre where students are learning industry skills including mechanics, drone piloting and cabin crew.

While the airport has been growing for years, Airport Property and Operations director Ross Baynes said Covid reinforced the need for diversity.

“One thing every airport learnt worldwide through Covid is diversified revenue. If you look at Sydney at it’s peak to was at 2 per cent of passenger volumes when the pandemic first broke out.

“Seventy-five thousand Territorians are investors in the super funds (that operate Airport Development Group) so it’s about making sure their super continues to flow through these challenging times.”

Securing the London-Darwin route is a priority.

“Prior to the recent lockdowns we were back to about 75 per cent domestically and international was still a challenge. At the moment we’ve got the Dreamliners landing, which is basically just a refuelling stop, but it’s about putting Darwin on the map. We’re working with Qantas to make sure the Dreamliner still lands post Covid.”