iscover
supplied)
Ballina Byron Gateway Airport in northern NSW has officially opened its $20.68 million runway upgrade.
The project, which received $5.5 million in federal government funding through the Building Better Regions Fund with the remainder paid for by Ballina Shire Council, used 15,000 tonnes of raw asphalt and is expected to add a decade of life to the runway.
The original surface was given a new 80mm overlay with full-width trapezoidal grooving, as well as installation and repair of surrounding landscaping and refreshed line markings on the runway and taxiways.
Additionally, the visual slope indicator system was replaced, and runway edge lighting was upgraded with more energy-efficient LEDs.
“Each year, our busy regional airport supports about 635,000 commercial passengers – this is expected to increase to over 900,000 by 2040,” said airport manager Julie Stewart.
“Strengthening this important piece of airport infrastructure will extend the runway’s lifespan by up to 10 years.
“Our airport is a key gateway for visitors to the beautiful Northern Rivers region, but the airport is also essential to support emergency service aircraft during regional disasters.”
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said the government funding for the upgrade was part of a commitment to improve regional air connectivity.
“Since the grant was awarded, Ballina Byron Gateway Airport has supported a record-breaking number of flights following the pandemic and is exceeding passenger numbers prior to COVID. The upgrades will continue to support this growth,” she said.
The upgrades come ahead of Ballina Byron’s move from next year to controlled airspace, as CASA works with Airservices Australia to implement approach controls and a “digital tower”.
Digital aerodrome services use cameras and computer-aided technology to allow for air traffic control to operate at an airport without the need for a physical tower. Western Sydney International will also have a digital tower when it opens in 2026.
According to CASA’s branch manager of air navigation, airspace and aerodromes, Adrian Slootjes, the rollout of new air traffic services at Ballina Byron is a result of sustained aviation growth in the region, and is part of a “graduated approach to safely accommodate further growth”.
“When we review airspace it’s important that we look not only at what is happening today, but also to look at growth trends in recent years and what operators are predicting into the future,” he said.
“We consider a range of data and information, look at incidents and occurrences and take a risk-based approach to our recommendations.
“While there have been a range of incremental changes and enhancements in aviation safety in the region, we consider that these additional changes are required to ensure the safety of passenger transport operations and all airspace users in and around Ballina.”
