A planned upgrade to the Port Macquarie Airport terminal will double the building’s floor space.
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Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has developed a detailed concept plan for the $7.5 million upgrade which is available to view on the council’s website.
Mayor Peta Pinson said the airport terminal was 23 years old and passenger numbers had more than doubled in the last decade.
“That just shows how desperately we need a facility like this,” she said.
The project includes upgrades to the flight check-in and departure areas, new amenities, baggage reclaim facilities, retail facilities and changes to enable back of house operations to function more efficiently.
Wi-Fi is included as part of the upgrade.
The project brings together $5 million from the state government, $1.25 million from the federal government and $1.25 million from the council through the airport reserve.
Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams said she thought the community was going to be very impressed with the upgraded airport terminal building.
“Tourism is one of our real economic drivers in the local community and I think anything we can do to welcome new visitors is money well spent,” she said.
Cowper MP Luke Hartsuyker said the upgrade would be a great improvement.
“What it will mean is the capacity to deal with the rapidly growing passenger numbers, but also importantly, it improves the passenger experience,” he said.
Lyne MP Dr David Gillespie said the concept plan looked great.
“It [the upgrade] will allow expanded passenger numbers in better comfort and better service areas,” he said.
A development application will be submitted for the terminal upgrade works with the Joint Regional Planning Panel to make a determination on the proposal.
Final completion of the detailed design and related approvals are expected in early 2018. A construction tender will be advertised soon after.
Construction is expected to start in 2018.