Sydney Airport Terminal Expansion, Australia

Sydney International Airport, also known by the name Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport, is situated in the suburbs of Sydney in Mascot right next to Botany Bay.

The airport is the major airport of Sydney (a major hub for the national carrier Qantas) with three runways and three terminals (international, domestic and Qantas domestic) and has the distinction of handling 46% of international passengers in Australia.

In 2006–2007 the airport handled around ten million international passengers which is a 25% increase over the 2001–2002 figure of eight million passengers (overall passenger figures for 2006 showed 30 million for the year).

Projections expect the number of international passengers using the airport by 2023–2024 to exceed 20 million. This increase in numbers has led to the instigation of an expansion project for the international terminal T1.

The airport, which is the 33rd busiest in the world, is operated by Sydney Airport Corporation Limited (SACL). The last T1 terminal improvements were completed in 2000 in time for the Sydney Olympic Games.

SYDNEY AIRPORT T1 EXPANSION

In October 2007 work began on the T1 expansion project. The investment for the project is estimated at $500m and will involve work in several areas. The expansion will add 7,300m² (increase of 10%) to the departures level to provide more space for passenger processing (check-in) and also for retail outlets, restaurants, cafes and passenger waiting areas. There will also be a new outbound and early baggage handling system.

30,000m² of the departures level is being redeveloped and the Australian customs and immigration area will be centralised to better serve the larger passenger numbers (work on the departures level is due to be completed by 2009).

In addition there will be a string of other improvements around the terminal building including new aerobridges, taxiway improvements (so that the A380 can be accommodated) and also an improvement in the capacity of the arrivals baggage handling system (three new baggage carousels) to improve passenger flow at peak times especially when the A380 is brought into service in greater numbers.

T1 will also benefit from an additional 120m of moving walkways, improved signage, refurbished washrooms and new floor and ceiling finishes.

SACL has appointed Bovis Lend Lease as the managing contractor for the project. The project manager for the airport project is the Australian company APP.

In addition Woodhead were awarded a contract to design and plan the new extension and improvements around the airport. Turner and Townsend have been awarded a contract for the construction of 5,000m² of retail development in T1 as part of the total expansion.

CAR PARKING

A new eight-floor multi-storey car park (approved in April 2005) with a floor space of 100,000m² started construction in April 2007 and is being built on the old long-term car park.

The new car park is being built adjacent to T1 and will be connected to the terminal with 3,000 covered spaces (bringing the total parking at the airport to 4,800 spaces). The car park will be equipped with moving walkways and lifts to assist passengers with their luggage.

In addition the car park will have dual plumbing installed and will use recycled water for flushing its toilets. The project is costing an estimated $65m and is expected to be completed by 2008. The car park project is being designed and constructed by Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd.

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