ID: 23056 Date: 22 Dec 2009

Adelaide Airport Ltd (AAL) has welcomed the approval of its master plan by Federal Minister for Transport, Anthony Albanese.

The preparation and review of the plan pre-date the Government’s aviation policy white paper but it is the first such plan to be approved following its release.

AAL Managing Director, Phil Baker, says the master plan sets out the planning framework for the airport over a 20-year horizon, within the context of its ultimate planning potential. The master plan itself remains in force for a 5-year period.

"The approval of the Adelaide Airport Master Plan will allow us to increase the overall airport capacity to accommodate the forecast demands and to achieve the best possible economic benefit for the South Australian community," Mr Baker says.

"We will seek to further enhance the airport’s role as a major driver of economic activity in the State, as well as balancing this with an environmental impact which is acceptable to the community as a whole.

"The master plan is the base upon which we seek to build a better airport through the development of our infrastructure for both aviation and non-aviation use."

Mr Baker has thanked Minister Albanese and his department, and says the onus is now on AAL to achieve the objectives it has set out.

"I particularly recognise that this is the first airport master plan approved within the context of the aviation policy white paper release earlier this week by the Australian Government," Mr Baker says.

"It is also the first master plan to be approved following the completion of Adelaide Airport’s new domestic and international terminal, T1.

"While a master plan is ultimately a plan of the possible not an assurance of the probable, we have delivered a plan that is both realistic and achievable in the current international and national climates.

"It is important that the potential of the airport and its infrastructure is fully realised, enabling us to fulfil the expectations of our stakeholders and the community as a provider of safe, effective and efficient air transport services."

Mr Baker said AAL would now proceed to a final version of the master plan for publication and dissemination.