Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion - Environmental impact statement

Overview

Queensland's Coordinator-General and the Australian Government Department of the Environment invite you to have your say on the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion project.

Prepared by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, the EIS describes the project and its potential environmental impacts, both positive and negative. The EIS was prepared in accordance with terms of reference approved by the Coordinator-General.

About the project

Sunshine Coast Regional Council proposes to develop a new runway and associated infrastructure at the existing airport site at Marcoola, located solely within the Sunshine Coast Regional Council local government area, approximately five kilometres north of the regional centre of Maroochydore.

The project has an expected capital expenditure of $347m and includes the following key features:

• a new 2450m long by 45m wide north-west /south-east runway, capable of servicing aircraft such as the A330, B787 and B777
• proposed changes to airspace and flight paths
• two end taxiway loops, navigation aids and  expansion of the existing apron and terminal
• an Air Traffic Control Tower and Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Services Station
• dredging of up to 1.1 million cubic metres of sand for fill from Spitfire Realignment Channel at Moreton Bay
• transport and temporary mooring of a dredge offshore at Marcoola for sand pumping to the project site
• temporary construction operations including a sand pumping pipeline and tailwater release to the Marcoola Drain.

EIS process

Coordinated project

The Coordinator-General has declared this project a ‘coordinated project’, under section 26(a) of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (Qld).The EIS was prepared by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council as the proponent for the coordinated project.

The Commonwealth Minister for the Environment has determined that the project is a 'controlled action' (EPBC 2011/5823) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act).

The relevant controlling provisions under the EPBC Act are wetlands of international importance (sections 16 & 17B), listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A), and listed migratory species (sections 20 & 20A).

The coordinated project is being assessed under the bilateral agreement between the State of Queensland and the Commonwealth.

Aviation airspace management

The Commonwealth Minister for the Environment also determined that the associated plan for aviation airspace management (referral 2011/6104 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Airservices Australia as proponent) will be assessed by way of an EIS as to whether the action has, will have, or is likely to have an impact on the environment.

Public comment is being sought under section 103(1)(c) of the EPBC Act.

Impacts relevant to the EPBC Act referral 2011/6104 will be assessed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment under a separate process. 

How to comment

Submissions close at 5pm on 13 November 2014

The single EIS addresses state and Commonwealth matters for consideration under the bilateral agreement and also addresses impacts relevant to aviation airspace management.

You are invited to comment on the project’s potential environmental impacts and/or the effectiveness of measures proposed to manage those impacts.

The Coordinator-General and the Commonwealth Minister will consider your submissions as part of the evaluation of the project’s impacts.

All submissions about the EIS whether relating to the coordinated project or relating to the aviation airspace management plan (EPBC Act referral 2011/6104 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Airservices Australia) can be made in accordance with the information set out below.

1. Read the EIS:

a.   on the Coordinator-General's website 

b.   at the Department of Environment's website

c.   by ordering a free electronic copy or purchasing a printed copy by telephoning 1800 210 755 or emailing info@SCAexpansion.com.au

d.   by visiting one of the following display locations between 1 October 2014 and 13 November 2014 to view a printed copy:

• Sunshine Coast Regional Council service centres:
  - Caloundra: 1 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra
  - Maroochydore: 10 First Avenue, Maroochydore
  - Nambour: Cnr Currie and Bury Streets, Nambour
• Sunshine Coast Airport Management Office, 10 Electra Lane, Marcoola
• Sunshine Coast Regional Council libraries:
  - Beerwah Library, 25 Peachester Road, Beerwah
  - Caloundra Library, 8 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra
  - Coolum Beach Library, 6 Park Street, Coolum
  - Kawana Library, 30 Nanyima Street, Buddina
  - Kenilworth Library, 4A Elizabeth Street, Kenilworth
  - Maleny Library, 5 Coral Street, Maleny
  - Maroochydore Library, 44 Sixth Avenue, Cotton Tree
  - Nambour Library, Cnr Bury and Currie Streets, Nambour
• Noosa Shire Council, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin
• Noosa Shire Council libraries:
  - Cooroy Library, 9 Maple Street, Cooroy
  - Noosaville Library, Wallace Drive, Noosaville
• Bribie Island Library, Cnr Welsby Parade and First Avenue, Bribie Island
• State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank, Brisbane
• National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra, ACT
• Department of the Environment, John Gorton Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600.

Relevant links

More information about the project

View the Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion project EIS

Read more about the coordinated project EIS process

Final Terms of Reference