Premier Will Hodgman tackles Hobart Airport over development
PREMIER Will Hodgman has warned the Hobart Airport to keep up with Tasmania’s rapidly growing tourism industry.
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HOBART Airport must keep up with Tasmania’s rapidly growing tourism industry by pushing ahead with its multi-million-dollar redevelopment, Premier Will Hodgman has warned.
EDITORIAL: AIRPORT MUST HASTEN PLANS
Mr Hodgman piled on the pressure as it emerged that works on the airport’s departure hall may not be completed until 2025.
Mr Hodgman, who met with airport chief executive Sarah Renner this month, has warned the airport visitor experience needed to match the quality Tasmania was renowned for.
“This is an issue I have raised with management and the owners of the airport, and I will do so again at future meetings,” he said. “With our tourism industry booming and our state’s reputation as a first-class destination continuing to grow, the Hobart Airport must keep pace.”
Forecasts in 2015 had shown the airport would need to cater for 3.3 million passengers a year by 2025 and 4.6 million by 2035. But those estimates have changed because of increased tourism and it is forecast that passengers will hit the 3 million mark much earlier.
Ms Renner said this week that by the summer tourism season, the airport would complete works in the departures area, needed because of a rise in passengers.
The works include extending the food and beverage area and providing space for larger aircraft to park as well as working with Qantas on enlarging its lounge.
Ms Renner said in the longer term, between 2020-25, the terminal would be extended from 12,000sq m to 20,000sq m to cater for increased passenger numbers.
An architect is developing departure area plans, which will be revealed within two months.
The price and timeline for the works is not known.
Tourism Tasmania chief executive John Fitzgerald also warned that efficient and competitive airports were essential as more than 90 per cent of all visitors to Tasmania arrived by air.
“Tourism Tasmania is working closely with the Hobart Airport to ensure the infrastructure is able to support the increased visitation generated by our marketing programs, both domestically and internationally,” he said.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said this week short-term fixes were needed by summer but over the next 10-15 years he said a vision of expanding the airport further should be considered.
However, Mr Martin said the situation was not dire yet.
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