Alex Heroys from DST shares how projected cost for Hobart International Airport runway upgrade

Destination Southern Tasmania CEO Alex Heroys hopes all three levels of government will help bring ambitious Hobart Airport upgrades to life. SEE COSTING + PROJECTED FIGURES >>

Destination Southern Tasmania CEO Alex Heroys has shared the dollar figure for how much it would cost to bring desired Hobart Airport upgrades to life.

Joining the recent campaign from Hobart International Airport and key agricultural industry representatives, Mr Heroys is pushing to expand the runway to accommodate international agribusiness freight and long-haul passenger flights from Asia – known as Code E widebody aircraft.

“That’s going to be a huge boost to the tourism industry in a time that we would certainly need it most,” he said.

Destinations Southern Tasmania CEO Alex Heroys is pictured speaking to the media. Picture: Matt Thompson.

“There is also real opportunity for our agritourism operators and producers to utilise the long haul freight export opportunities to showcase the high value, small batch artisan products we are famous for to the world.”

Phase one of the airport’s Code E runway upgrade in 2017 was helped along by $38m in federal government funding.

Mr Heroys said the proposed next phases of the upgrade would cost $80m, and he hoped all three levels of government would be able to contribute to the funding.

Tasmanian Rock Lobster Processors Association President Michael Blake and Reid Fruits marketing manager Tony Coad are among advocates for runway upgrades at Hobart International Airport. Picture: Chris Kidd.

“The upgrade of the runway is going to create a huge amount of jobs, around about 1200 jobs,” he said.

“The airport are driving this and have been in talks with the federal government and the state government for a while now and we’re backing them in.”

The project is also expected to generate some $122m in annual economic activity, according to KPMG modelling.

Jetstar plane on the tarmac. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones.

Mr Heroys said Tasmania has gone from strength to strength, with domestic and international appetites for the state’s tourism experiences and farmed products spurring projected growth in visitation in the months and years ahead.

He said key international flight markets were Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, and said the long-term goal of direct flights to Europe was something to aspire to.

‘Game-changer’: Exporters want airport runway upgrade

Some of Tasmania’s biggest fresh produce exporters are calling for upgrades to be made at Hobart Airport, to enable them to reach new, further away, markets.

The airport underwent the first phase of its planned upgrades in 2017, lengthening the runway with the help of $38m in federal funding.

It’s phase two of the upgrades Tasmanian Rock Lobster Processors Association managing director Michael Blake wants to see put into action.

“The current flights carrying other products can’t take off out of here fully loaded because of weight restrictions,” Mr Blake said.

Reid Fruits marketing manager Tony Coad and Tasmanian Rock Lobster Processors Association President Michael Blake on the runway at the Hobart International Airport. Picture: Chris Kidd.

“So it has to take off out of there, land in Victoria, take on more fuel and then keep going and that all comes at a cost.”

To get the next stage underway, more federal funding would need to be on the table.

A Hobart Airport spokesperson said the next phase would allow larger, heavier aircraft to take off from and fly into Hobart.

“Currently, the older part of the runway is only strong enough for Code C narrowbody aircraft,” they said.

“This limits larger aircraft like the Cathay Pacific freighter to flying from Hobart to the mainland, rather than to Asia.

“Phases 2 and 3 will strengthen the older part of the runway and taxiways, while also providing parking positions for Code E aircraft.”

Mr Blake said it would mean they’d be able to access new markets.

“We currently exporting into parts of Asia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, reaching parts of the USA,” Mr Blake said.

Hobart Airport Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“There are countries further afield in Europe that we could get to, but because we’ve got a live, perishable product we need something that’s more direct.”

Mr Blake said currently there needed to be two refuelling stops to get to Asia.

“That takes a lot of time, and there’s a lot of chances for freight to go missing and problems, so the closer we can get on that first leg, the better it would be,” he said.

Reid Fruits marketing manager Tony Coad the company exported 1000 tonnes or more each season.

He said upgrading the weight capacity would allow them to reach new markets.

“It’s a game changer, it would cut two days off travel times to some markets,” Mr Coad said.

“When you’re talking about perishable crops like cherries, every second counts.”

He said the biggest buyers of Tasmanian cherries were Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Malaysia

“We can access one way or another, most of the markets we want to get into, it’s just about being able to access them in a more timely manner,” he said.

“Those one or two days are critical.”

Mr Coad said it wouldn’t just be exporters benefiting from an upgrade.

“Upgrading the runways also going to make it viable for international passengers flights to fly into here,” he said.

“It’s not just benefiting us, it can benefit tourism and make the whole thing more viable. “