The Queensland Government has committed $4 million to upgrade the Whitsunday Coast Airport (previously known as the Proserpine Airport) located south of Proserpine in Central Queensland.

The Department of Infrastructure and Planning is facilitating the delivery of the airport upgrade following an agreement in May 2009 between the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning and the Mayor of the Whitsunday Regional Council.

In September 2009, following a site investigation and consultation with council, a scoping study was completed by the department which determined the priority works to be implemented in 2010. 

The department has engaged a design agency for preliminary design. This will involve developing a concept plan for the upgrade to the existing passenger terminal building. The concept plan is being developed in consultation with the Whitsunday Regional Council and AAL Aviation Limited (Qantas).  The concept plan will:

• show a preferred floor plan for a reconfigured and extended terminal building
• be the basis for detailed design.

Detailed design for the project is scheduled to be underway by the department in early 2010.  The upgrade project  is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010.

Background

The airport is on 430.43 hectares of state reserve land, permanently set apart as aircraft landing ground. The Whitsunday Regional Council has control of the land as trustee, while the reserve is administered by the Department of Environment and Resource Management.

The council is licensed to operate and maintain the aerodrome. The airport terminal is located on a trustee lease on the airport land. The land is currently leased to Qantas and the council who jointly own the terminal building. Other operations on the airport land include:

• a car park and various other structures owned and operated by council
• leases for ancillary aviation purposes
• car park rental agreements with hire car companies.

For further information contact Infrastructure Services Group.