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Bankstown Airport is set to see an $18 million upgrade to its amenities and landscaping, in an effort to better service the aviation sector and community.
Jointly funded by Sydney Metro Airports (SMA) and airport owner Aware Super, stage one of the airport’s Placemaking Project will shortly commence, in work that will “reimagine” the airport precinct entirely, according to SMA.
The Placemaking Project as a whole seeks to “transform the airport into a centre of aviation, commerce and community” for the greater Western Sydney area, the airport said in a statement.
Under stage one of the upgrade, the public spaces on the corner of Marion Street and Airport Avenue will go through “significant landscaping upgrades” as well as feature road re-sheeting.
Meanwhile wayfinding, footpath and street lighting upgrades will make it easier for visitors to navigate around the airport and to the newly refurbished terminal. A new cafe with outdoor seating will also be built.
The landscape master plan was prepared by landscape architecture and urban design practice Oculus while local construction company Taylor Construction has been appointed to deliver the project.
Stage one of the project is expected to be completed later this year.
SMA said the Airport Placemaking Project, part of the Bankstown Airport master plan, will contribute $1.64 billion per annum to the NSW economy, and create almost 1,700 new jobs over five years, and 4,000 jobs over 20 years.
“Today we are putting people at the heart of the next chapter of Bankstown Airport by creating an attractive place for people to connect, socialise and enjoy,” said Daniel Jarosch, chief executive officer at Sydney Metro Airports.
“We’re delighted to press ahead with this placemaking initiative and make a real positive and sustainable difference to the community we operate in by making Bankstown Airport a thriving and diverse destination that connects aviation, commerce and the community.”
Meanwhile, Deanne Stewart, CEO at Aware Super said: “Every day we strive to deliver the best outcomes for our members, their families and the communities in which they live – and Bankstown Airport is an asset that does exactly that.
“We’re delighted to support the airport’s placemaking enhancements with continued investment in this critical aviation asset, building on previous projects such as the NSW Police PolAir hangar and terminal upgrade.”
Construction of the airport’s terminal upgrades began earlier this year and are currently ongoing.
Jon
says:What they don’t say is that they are neglecting existing aircraft hangars while hiking rents by huge percentages. The one I work in leaks like a sieve every time it rains, has done so for years and SMA does nothing about it.
Meanwhile the huge new non-aviation warehouses in the southwest corner of the airport – where the aviation museum used to be (and something stinks about the way the archival material and aircraft in that collection were disposed of) – are occupied and all of the land facing Marion Street is being dug up in preparation for the construction of more non-aviation commercial buildings. The ‘improvement’ to the airport entrance is probably a by-product of the need to provide a directory for all the non-aviation businesses that are coming.
chris
says:Agreed. Every time a Non aviation structure is added at BK an opportunity for future expansion of aviation related infrastructure is preempted…