Manison calls for “minimal disruption” in Darwin airport upgrades

The NT government wants ‘minimal disruption’ to travellers when runway works begin at Darwin Airport. Read how upgrades could affect you.

The Territory government wants as little disruption to passengers and businesses as possible in scheduled Darwin International Airport runway upgrades due to start next month.

Tourism Minister Nicole Manison said the government wanted minimal impact to services and passengers when the Defence works program begins.

“This project is between the Federal Government, the Department of Defence and the Airport Development Group,” Ms Manison said.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and advocating strongly for as minimal disruption as possible because we don’t want to see this impact the availability of flights in and out of the Territory.”

Ms Manison’s comments come as the NT News revealed last week hundreds of thousands of passengers could have travel plans thrown into chaos over the next two years as upgrades to the airport runway drag over consecutive dry seasons.

The Airport Development Group (ADG) has started community engagement advising stakeholders of the potential for disruptions as the works program gets underway.

The upgrades are being project managed by the Department of Defence and tensions have emerged with the Airport Development Group over the duration of the works.

A Defence spokesman said they intended to do major maintenance works of the “runways and associated taxiways” at RAAF Base Darwin during 2023 and 2024, once parliamentary approval was granted.

There are fears the ongoing disruptions could have disastrous outcomes for the Northern Territory economy on the back of flight delays, re-routing and unscheduled runway closures.

Darwin Airport runway. Picture: Floss Adams.

Darwin International Airport is a joint-user airport with the civil section separate from the military operation at RAAF Base Darwin.

Defence has management and control for delivering maintenance and repairs to joint user areas, which include runways and several taxiways.

“The works are being staged to minimise disruption to civilian and military aircraft operations,” the Defence spokesman said.

He said airfield asphalt works had to be done in dry weather.

ADG executive general manager Selwyn D’Souza said they had recently been advised by Defence the project would be managed over four stages, with works expected to commence mid-June and completed by October 2024.

Mr D’Souza said “significant uncertainty” remained around the Defence program of works, including “the impact on airlines” and how airlines would adjust or respond to disruptions.

Passenger delays anticipated at Darwin Airport. Picture: Floss Adams.

“Defence has recently advised the project will be managed over four stages, with works expected to commence mid-June 2023, and completed October 2024,” he said.

“Defence’s proposed program of works includes night works and partial runway closures. “There continues to be uncertainty regarding Defence’s project stages, scheduling and timing.

“ADG is sympathetic to the potential impacts these works may have on our airline partners and the travelling public and is disappointed these impacts are now scheduled to occur over two dry seasons.

“As there remains significant uncertainty on the Defence program of works, the impact on airlines and how airlines will adjust or respond, ADG is not able to speculate on the impact to passenger numbers.”

Tourism NT chairman Michael Bridge said it could be up to another month before Defence released its full works schedule for the upgrade.

Tourism NT chairman Michael Bridge

“We have no definitive position at this time but once the final methods-of-works plan comes out we’ll respond and do our best to reduce the impacts of disruptions,” Mr Bridge said.

Top End Toursim chief executive Glen Hingley said ADG had strong lines of communication with stakeholders, although ultimately scheduling decisions would be made by Defence.

“Disruptions will take place but every possible effort will be made to get the upgrades done with a minimum of disruption,” Mr Hingley said.

“We’re now in the process of re-establishing airline networks and aviation links so we can provide certainty and people can plan around the works.”

NT Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland said runway upgrades were a “necessary undertaking” and welcomed the plan to spread the works out over two years.

“We welcome the extension of work over two dry seasons,” Mr Ireland said.

“I think two years is a reasonable thing to do to minimise disruption to the travelling public and to increase volumes to local businesses.”

Mr Ireland acknowledged the drawn-out schedule would work against ADG in terms of project management, overheads and mobilisation costs.

“I can appreciate the disruption it causes because the Army can use Tindal as a backup but Darwin Airport doesn’t have an alternative landing location,” he said.

A Qantas spokeswoman confirmed they had held talks with Defence about its runway plans. “It’s understood airlines received an updated schedule of works from Defence this week and are looking into potential impacts of this,” the spokeswoman said.

The works budget is about $180m and they are expected to generate a peak daily workforce of about 150 people and an average daily workforce of between 60-90 personnel.

The most recent major maintenance of Darwin’s main runway occurred in 2007.

Originally published as Manison calls for “minimal disruption” in Darwin airport upgrades