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Merimbula Airport Infrastructure Works

Council has formally adopted an Airport Master Plan that includes the extension and upgrades of the Merimbula Airport runway and creation of a General Aviation Precinct to the Southern end of the airport.

Project Summary/background

Merimbula Airport is a vital component of the shire’s integrated transport network linking the Bega Valley Shire with capital cities across Australia. It provides essential links for professional, legal, specialist and medical services and passengers for tourism, employment and business purposes.

The Merimbula Airport Infrastructure Works project will improve the runway and create a new precinct for general aviation. The changes will provide for existing and future passenger aircraft and create a dedicated area for general aviation use. This will increase our tourism opportunities and make it easier for people to travel for business. The project will also stimulate general aviation activity at the airport.

The project includes three elements:

  1. Runway Extension
    • Scope: Extend the existing runway length so that it is fully compliant for maximum take-off weight for larger aircraft, including ATR 72 and Dash8 Q400 aircraft.
    • Deliverable: Design and construction of a 120m long runway ‘starter extension’ at each end of the existing runway  and retain the existing  take-off and landing points.
  2. General Aviation & Commercial Precinct
    • Scope: Provision of additional general aviation infrastructure (taxiways, vehicle access, stormwater services) to permit the relocation of general aviation activity away from the secure areas that will be required for ATR72 and Dash8 Q400 aircraft.
    • Deliverable: Design and construction of infrastructure to permit the development of general aviation activity at the airport to the limit of available funding.
  3. Existing Runway Improvement
    • Scope: Renewing and strengthening of existing runway, taxiway and aprons to reset the current pavement and increase its classification to allow unrestricted operations for larger aircraft including SF 340 Q400.
    • Deliverable: Design and construction of an overlay of the existing runway, taxiways and aprons to the to the limit of available funding.

Purpose

Council owns and operates the Merimbula Airport, providing a vital component of the shire’s integrated transport network linking the Bega Valley Shire with destinations across Australia. The airport provides essential links for professional, legal, specialist and medical services and passengers for tourism, employment and business purposes.

The social benefits of ensuring the airport’s infrastructure keeps pace with the community’s needs and changes in aircraft design have been identified in: ‘Working Towards Our Future’ Bega Valley Shire Community Strategic Plan 2042.

Council has recognised the importance of ensuring the infrastructure at the airport keeps up with the stringent federal legislation for aviation and wider airline industry trends. It has actively pursued funding opportunities to invest in the necessary infrastructure with the aim of increasing passenger travel options for the community and to support and stimulate general aviation activity at the airport.

Funding

Council currently has $15m available in external funding comprising:

  • NSW State Government Funding – Restart NSW – Regional Tourism Infrastructure Program –  $4,391,040 – October 2016
  • NSW State Government – Drought Stimulus Package - $4,000,000 – December 2019
  • Federal Government – Regional Airports Program Grants – Round 1 – $4,500,000 – June 2020 with a $63,000 BVSC Co-Contribution
  • Federal Government – Regional Airports Program Grants – Round 2 – $2,165,000 – August 2021

Council has committed to fund the previously resolved loans program by $2.4m, with the runway extension to be funded by the existing airport infrastructure Special Rate Variation.

A funding application has been submitted to the NSW Government Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund for $0.98m and Council is awaiting on the outcome of this funding.

At its meeting of 4 August 2021, Council endorsed a further loan of up to $2m to be funded by the future income generated by the lease of general aviation precinct land to assist in covering any funding gaps.

In total, funds of up to $20.45m are available to deliver Merimbula Airport infrastructure projects.

Connection to Council's Community Strategic Plan

The airport is a critical element of Council’s strategic transport direction. The management and provision of passenger services into the future is critical to ensure the best outcomes for the community.

The upgrade of infrastructure at Merimbula Airport is consistent with several key strategic directions set by Council as part of the Community Strategic Plan:

  • Goal 3: Our economy is prosperous, diverse and supported by innovative and creative businesses.
  • Goal 9: We have opportunities to work, learn and socialise through the provision of affordable public transport and telecommunications services.
  • Goal 10: We have a good network of good quality roads footpaths and cycleways connecting communities throughout the Shire and beyond

This project also aligns with actions identified in Council’s adopted Delivery Program 2021-22:

  • 5.9.3: Deliver capital works programs for Merimbula Airport
  • 5.10.1: Manage, construct and maintain Merimbula Airport

The Merimbula Airport Master Plan is another major strategic driver for the airport.

Related documents

Who can I speak to:

Jenny Symons
Project Manager
Bega Valley Shire Council
Phone: (02) 6499 2222
Email: jsymons@begavalley.nsw.gov.au

Daniel Djikic
Project Services Manager
Phone: 02 6499 2222
Email: DDjikic@begavalley.nsw.gov.au

Timeline of works


  • October 2016

    Funding announced for runway extension by NSW Government Restart NSW – Regional Tourism Infrastructure Program.

  • December 2016 – November 20217

    Design and consultation commenced with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to develop a starter extension model for the runway extension.

  • December 2017

    Secretary’s Requirements for the Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (SEARs) for the runway extension were issued.

  • January 2018 – September 2018

    Environment Investigation and other studies undertaken in accordance with SEARS.

  • October 2019

    Development Application submitted for runway extension.

  • November 2019 – October 2020

    Further Environment Investigation and other studies undertaken in accordance with SEARS.

  • December 2019

    NSW State Government – Drought Stimulus Package funding received to progress General Aviation Precinct.

  • June 2020

    Federal Government – Regional Airports Program Grants – Round 1 funding received to progress existing runway overlay.

  • October 2020

    Submission Report submitted to progress Development Application.

  • May 2021

    Development Approval received for the Runway Extension.

  • June 2021

    Tender process for Runway Extension, Runway Overlay and General Aviation Precinct projects.

  • August 2021

    Federal Government – Regional Airports Program Grants – Round 2 funding received to progress additional General Aviation Precinct scope.

  • August 2021

    Contract awarded for Runway Extension, Runway Overlay and General Aviation Precinct.

  • October 2021

    Construction commenced on southern runway platform and general aviation precinct.

  • January 2022 - March 2022

    Scheduled six-week closure of runway to allow sealing and strengthening works commences on 31 January 2022. Due to inclement weather, the runway closure has been extended to Friday, 25 March (inclusive).

  • March 2022

    Project works complete.

Frequently Asked Questions


This phase of work will involve building into Merimbula Lake to create the platform for the extension to the southern end of the runway. We will keep in touch with the oyster lessees regularly, including real-time water monitoring during the earthworks, to ensure any impacts on oyster farming can be mitigated.

No. During phase one works, Rex and Qantas flights will operate as scheduled, however general aviation flights will be restricted to take-offs and landings in the early morning and late evening, after 1pm on Saturdays and all day on Sundays.

This work is expected to be completed by early November 2021.

The planned closure is from 31 January 2022 and will last for six weeks. This will mean that no flights will be able to land or take-off from Merimbula Airport during this period. Due to inclement weather, the runway closure has been extended to Friday, 25 March 2022 (inclusive).

The process for strengthening and overlay of the runway requires foamed bitumen stabilisation to increase the runway strength. This is followed by a wearing coarse consisting of a two-coat seal.  Undertaking this sealing process requires full closure of the runway.

During the planning phase for these works several options were comprehensively investigated in an effort to keep the runway operational, including night works and rolling closures during the working day. In the end and in order to achieve the best possible outcome within the constraints of the available project budget, time, quality and safety, it was determined that a continuous six-week closure would be the best option.

A two-coat seal is a road surface treatment consisting of a layer of bitumen made up of large aggregate that is sealed over with another layer of bitumen made up of smaller aggregate.

Foamed bitumen stabilisation is used to improve the strength of granular materials while retaining a flexible pavement.

Foamed bitumen is produced by injecting small amounts of water and air into standard road-grade bitumen at high pressure. This results in the bitumen expanding to around 20 times its original volume.

Foaming of bitumen allows it to be evenly distributed throughout a soil or a granular material. It can be mixed on site or in plants.  It reuses the existing upper pavement layer and supplements that material with imported gravel.

Various windows for the closure were considered, however the specialist engineering advice is that sealing the runway at the hottest part of the year will provide the best engineering result. Two windows either side of the busy Christmas period were identified as most suitable. The window starting on 31 January was selected as it falls after the NSW school holidays and was determined to have the least impact of the two options.

The goal for these works is to secure the long-term future of Merimbula Airport to ensure we can continue to provide passenger services to and from the airport. The general trend in domestic RPT services is for aircraft sizes to increase and runways need to adjust to this change. The runway starter extension and strengthening of the existing runway will allow for unrestricted usage by ATR72 and Dash8 Q400 aircraft which are widely used across the domestic airline market in Australia.

General aviation will have restricted access whilst the southern platform is constructed with flights restricted to early morning and late evening after works hours and after 1pm on Saturday. Full usage will be allowable all day on Sunday. During the runway closure no flights will be able to land at or take off from Merimbula Airport.

Both the airlines have been consulted and normal scheduled flights will be able to occur on a shortened runway during the southern platform works, however all flights will be suspended during the six-week closure. Council is acutely aware the six-week closure will impact both airlines and passengers alike. However, to complete these works in the shortest possible time and within required cost and quality parameters, Council considers this to be the best long term option for our airport.

All flight enquiries during this period should be directed to Qantas ad REX who will be able to discuss your options with you.

Emergency services and freight will be accommodated up until the full six-week runway closure. Communication is underway with the relevant agencies and freight providers to ensure alternative arrangements are in place during the closure period.

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) and other combat agencies will be made aware of the closure so they can develop contingencies. The airport would still be able to accommodate rotary aircraft but not fixed wing aircraft during the closure.

Yes, several rounds of consultation occurred during the planning and the exhibition of the Development Application for the runway extension. We provided regular updates to the media and reports to Council on the progress of the project. Further information will be made available to the community as the project progresses.


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