Public information report

Extract from Toowoomba Aerodrome Upgrade Project - Public information report - May 2010

History of the Toowoomba aerodrome

The first recorded flight into Toowoomba was on the 15th of December, 1911. All early flights at this time originated from the Clifford Park Racecourse. In 1927, the Commonwealth Government purchased 87.5 acres of land at the corner of Greenwattle and Bridge streets for use as an aerodrome. The existing park, at that time, to the south was purchased by William Rankin in 1938, and was offered for use to the Defence Department during WWII. From 1949, the Chamber of Commerce began pressing for an extension to the existing aerodrome to enable an increase in the size of aircraft able to operate from Toowoomba. The land was offered for sale by William Rankin and the Commonwealth purchased this parcel for the existing aerodrome.

In 1963, the Councils of Toowoomba, Jondaryan and Rosalie purchased land adjacent to the Oakey airfield for public use. In 1969, that airfield was transferred back to military control with the formation of the Oakey Aviation Base. In 1963, the Toowoomba Aerodrome was transferred to Toowoomba City Council. Council closed Greenwattle Street in 1964 in order to expand the length of the runway eastward. Expansion work occurred in 1968/69 to provide a sealed runway length of 1100m and a passenger terminal. In 2000, Council increased the existing width from 18m to 30m to provide an improved level of safety.

In September 1999 Council resolved to close the sporting fields at the eastern end of the aerodrome. These sporting fields were known as Glynis Nunn-Cearns & John McDonald Ovals. This area was fenced off and included in the Aerodrome Operational Area.

Following the aircraft crash that occurred in November of 2001, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) recommended that Toowoomba City Council liaise with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to enhance aircraft deceleration in the runway end safety area of runway 11/29.
In February of 2003, the existing stopways were constructed from fill sourced locally, to produce the runway area as it stands to date.

Project background

Toowoomba has had a Regular Public Transport (RPT) service operating from the aerodrome since the 1950s. A direct flight to Sydney was offered to residents from Oakey, with a service to Bundaberg and Maryborough from Toowoomba. In the 1960s TAA offered direct flights to Brisbane and, as late as the 1980s, a direct Sydney flight was still operating from Oakey. Eastland Air offered Toowoomba residents a direct flight to Sydney, but this ceased with the collapse of Ansett Airways. In 1997, it was estimated that 10,000 people per annum were using air travel as their preferred method of transport from Toowoomba.

In 2009, a RPT feasibility study was carried out and Toowoomba was identified as a viable market for Toowoomba-to-Sydney and Toowoomba-to-Brisbane routes. Council also considered various options to enhance the existing operations of the aerodrome.

Due to site constraints of the existing aerodrome being bounded by the abutting roads, the aerodrome has been recognised as having limited capacity to accommodate larger RPT aircraft and would not be suitable for large RPT jet operations.

On the 16th March 2010, council resolved to request that a strategy report be submitted to urgently bring forward medium to long term options for larger airport facilities for Toowoomba and the region. This strategy review is currently being undertaken.

On the 20th April 2010, council resolved to commit to supporting an upgrade program for Toowoomba Aerodrome. The stages were identified as: -

• Proceed with undertaking calling Expressions of Interest for Commercial RPT Operations
• Proceed with finalising the design
• Proceed with calling tenders for the construction

As part of the upgrade program, Ministerial Designation will be required for a land parcel included in the Aerodrome Operational Area.

This Public Information Document is also part of the project delivery requirements.

Proposed upgrade works program

Following a review of operational requirements and feedback from possible Commercial RPT Operators, the upgrade program has been defined as follows:-

• Extension and upgrade of Runway 11/29
• Extension of the existing general aviation taxiway (light aircraft)
• Widening of the central taxiway for larger aircraft
• Extension of the existing apron and parking area

Propose prjoect delivery program

The proposed program of delivery is detailed in the table below:

Plan of proposed works

The attached plan (Drawing Number A3–101187B) provides preliminary details of the proposed upgrade works.

Submissions

Submissions about any aspect of the proposed upgrade project should be made in the following format:-

• Be in writing, dated and signed by each person or entity who makes the submission
• State the name and address of each person or entity who made the submission; and
• State the grounds of the submission and the facts and circumastances relied on in support of the grounds.

Submissions are to be received by or before 5:00pm, 22 June 2010.

Submissions should be addressed to:-

Chief Executive Officer
Toowoomba Regional Council
PO Box 3021, VF
TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350

Attn: Project Officer – Robert Mottin