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GOLD Coast Airport’s anticipated $100 million terminal redevelopment is open for business.
The terminal was officially opened by Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese (pictured) and Queensland Deputy Premier Paul Lucas. It has more than doubled in size to 30,000 square metres and boasts new luggage screening and lounge facilities.
Gold Coast Airport is Australia’s sixth largest airport and now handles around 5 million passengers annually, contributing more than $1 billion to the region’s economy.
Albanese says the redevelopment will significantly boost the local economy.
“Last year, we saw a doubling of the number of international visitors who came though this airport. The redevelopment of this airport is great news for the Gold Coast and Northern NSW,” he says.
“This is a great tourism destination and with this $100 million redevelopment 1850 jobs have been created in the short term, but this great piece of infrastructure will lead to substantial increases in economic activity over the long term.”
Albanese says the aviation industry is ‘critical’ to the future of Australia’s future economic growth, employment and activity.
“This airport will be a vital piece of infrastructure for this region; it has the potential to grow in terms of international activity substantially,” he says.
Deputy Premier Paul Lucas, says Gold Coast Airport and Queensland Airports Limited’s ability to complete the upgrade project ahead of schedule and within budget shows a continued vote of confidence in Gold Coast tourism.
“This is a wonderful day for Queensland aviation and Gold Coast aviation, this is the sixth biggest airport in Australia and its going from strength to strength,” says Lucas.
“One of the really good things about the Gold Coast as a destination is that is has a strong domestic market, it has a strong international market and it has a strong business market.
“This airport is a great investment for Queensland Airports Limited. It has business travel, it has tourism travel, both domestic and international, and it takes people into the heart of the tourist Mecca.”
Queensland Airports Limited chairman Paul Donovan, says the redevelopment was designed to be as environmentally sustainable as possible.
“In design the new terminal minimises energy usage while maximising natural light,” says Donovan.
“We were careful to ensure that low environmental damage doesn’t account for low levels of service. This is a significant milestone for the economies in the Gold Coast and northern NSW region.”
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