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Brisbane Airport welcomes Master Plan approval

Direct News Source

17-Sep-2009 Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has welcomed the approval of the 2009 Brisbane Airport Master Plan by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese this afternoon.

The Master Plan outlines the planning vision for Queensland's gateway international airport that is expected to serve around 40 million passengers and host around 40,000 full-time workers within the next 20 years.

BAC CEO and Managing Director, Julieanne Alroe, said the Master Plan would build on more than $1.21 billion of airport investment that had taken place in the past decade, with an unprecedented plan for a further $4.2 billion to be delivered by BAC and its partners over the next two decades, including much needed capacity on the runway, roads and terminal systems.

Ms Alroe said the Minister had specifically highlighted the importance of BAC's community engagement program to ensure the impacts and benefits of these investments were clearly articulated, and that the community and local and state Governments were actively involved in the airport's future development.

"We are very mindful of the need to balance the delivery of critical aviation infrastructure to service the growing Queensland economy with the preservation of what is Australia's most liveable city," Ms Alroe said.

"This means bringing the community along with us over the coming period as we begin construction of the new Parallel Runway through activities such as our Brisbane Airport Community Forum, our Brisbane Airport and Surrounds Roundtable with State and Local Government, a unique Brisbane Airport Experience Centre and a range of other planning and noise management initiatives.

"We are investing significantly in these activities and we are fully supportive of the Federal Government's desire so see the major airports undertaking meaningful, sustained and effective engagement with their community stakeholders.

"We strongly believe Brisbane Airport is ideally located to offer comprehensive international connectivity for Queensland without compromising our enviable lifestyle, and we will work closely with the community to ensure this vision is realised, and that we can be a benchmark for community engagement for Australian airports."

Brisbane Airport's Master Plan is underpinned by four pillars of sustainability: economic, operational, environmental, and social sustainability. BAC's vision is to develop and manage a sustainable airport by:

- achieving strong financial returns for shareholders and generating regional wealth and employment;

- ensuring the correct balance of built and biodiversity values and the minimisation of adverse environmental impacts;

- ensuring safety and security, capacity for growth, business continuity and service excellence; and

- creating a business environment that values partnerships, people, quality of life and community engagement.