Better facilities for airport users and the community

“Let’s Invest for Tomorrow” – Gold Coast Airport’s Project LIFT is transforming the airport into a superior gateway to South East Queensland and northern New South Wales for tourists and business travellers.

Gold Coast Airport needed to expand to meet the needs of the region as a growing tourist destination and popular location for people to live.

Stage 1 of Project LIFT involved the construction of two new wide-bodied aircraft stands, which could be used for serving four narrow-bodied aircraft, to allow for extra aircraft parking at peak times. Stage 2, which commenced in 2019, involves the southern terminal expansion to the south of the existing terminal.

As the lead consultant for airside and landside civil design developments, Beca provided operational planning for the new stands and taxiways – working closely with the terminal designers and aircraft fuel company to optimise the layout and positioning of the aerobridge rotundas and fuel hydrants.

Design of bulk earthworks and major drainage reserve diversion and filling to create land for aircraft pavements, landside roads and hotel development was part of our remit, as well as design of all the airside civil, structural and electrical infrastructure and facilities.

The complexities and challenges of achieving all this within a tight budget and deadlines, managing interfaces with multiple consultants, and working alongside numerous concurrent projects – all while the airport remained fully operational – was testament to established relationships, excellent planning and a great team effort.