Australia is currently experiencing significant population growth, which is driving the need for new and refurbished infrastructure projects and associated urban regeneration in the capital cities. There is a tsunami of infrastructure projects across road, rail, ports and airports.
The $10 billion Western Sydney Airport (WSA) will be developed in stages by the Federal Government‐owned Western Sydney Airport Corporation (WSA Co.) in response to increasing passenger demand. The first stage, due to open in 2026, will see a single runway airport constructed with capacity for up to 10 million passengers a year. WSA Co. announced in December 2017 that works will be tendered through a series of separate procurements. Package 1 (bulk earthworks and airside civil); Package 2 (terminal building and precinct) and Package 3 (landside buildings, car parking, ground transport and utilities). Expressions of Interest for the Bulk Earthworks Package A were called for in August 2018. In November 2018, the Federal Government announced it had shortlisted three consortia including: CPB Contractors and Lendlease joint venture; Ferrovial Agroman and QH & M Birt joint venture, and Salini Impreglio. Bulk Earthworks Package B comprises the bulk earthworks, utilities relocation and decontamination on the southern sector of the site and is expected to be awarded in mid‐2020. WSA Co intends to commence procurement of Package 2 and 3 in 2020 after Package 1 is awarded. WSA have recently announced that Bechtel will be the delivery partner to provide project management, planning, design development and construction management services for the overall project.
A third runway is planned for Melbourne Airport that will bring thousands more planes into Tullamarine each year. The $500 million runway, which will be 3 kilometre long and able to handle larger passenger jets. Melbourne Airport expects to develop the MDP over 2018/19 and, subject to Government approval, begin construction on the project in 2019. The runway is planned to be operational between 2022 and 2024. A McConnell Dowell/Lendlease Joint Venture has been appointed as advisor by Melbourne Airport to progress the approvals process and finalise design work for the runway development.
Brisbane Airport’s new runway is on track to open in 2020 with the award of the $1.3 billion Airfield Works contract to Skyway, a joint venture between BMD Construction Pty Ltd and CPB Contractors Pty Limited, a member of the CIMIC Group.
Perth Airport will deliver a third runway before the end of the decade (subject to demand). The third runway is proposed to be 3,000 long and 45 metres wide and run parallel to the existing main runway. In June 2018 Perth Airport Corporation released a preliminary draft major development plan for the new runway for public comment. Comments were due by the end of August 2018. Perth Airport anticipates approval and the decision to build to happen in 2019, with construction to take four years. An opening date between 2023 and 2028 is forecast subject to demand and airline commercial agreements.
