Townsville Airport $80M redesign kicks off as i4architecture and GSA Group appointed

Architects have moved in on the major $80 million redevelopment of a Queensland airport, as they reveal some early hints as to what the new terminal and expansion will look like and when construction work is likely to begin.

Architects have moved in on the major $80 million redevelopment of the Townsville Airport, with hopes to have design plans construction-ready mid-year.

The announcement comes a month after Townsville Airport, run by Queensland Airports Limited, reached financial close on its $50 million Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility loan.

Townsville Airport chief operating officer Kevin Gill said the company would soon draw down from the funds for early works as part of the three-year renovation, slated to create an estimated 207 full-time construction jobs and 50 permanent positions thereafter.

“Works to upgrade the terminal roof are now underway, and we are about to appoint a contractor for other core infrastructure works, which will enable the terminal redevelop­ment to move ahead,” he said.

Townsville Airport will undergo a redevelopment. Airport COO Kevin Gill with i4architecture Director Jon Larrazabal

Townsville-based architecture firm i4architecture and global firm Group GSA, which has worked on airports in Cairns and Sydney, had been selected to come up with the design.

The development will include a substantial refurbishment to the terminal to double the capacity of the departure lounge area, better road access, and an expansion and upgrade of the airport’s apron to provide more aircraft parking.

It will also include new boarding gates, expanded security areas and the installation of self-check-in and bag drop facilities.

Jon Larrazabal, of i4architecture, said the challenge would be designing the airport to be “uniquely North Queensland” and inspiration would be taken from Townsville’s status as a young vibrant city.

He confirmed the airport’s current colour palette, which is saturated with green, would go.

Meanwhile, Mr Gill would not speculate on ongoing commercial in confidence discussions with Qantas over a dispute regarding a $3 levy on airline tickets to help fund the project.

“The reality is we are getting on with this project now and we continue to have good constructive conversations with our partners,” he said.

This will be the first ­significant improvement to the airport’s main infrastructure in more than 15 years, even though passenger movements have increased 84 per cent since then.

Originally published as Townsville Airport $80M redesign kicks off as i4architecture and GSA Group appointed