Nicole Vaughan
November 29, 2024

Developing Aviation Precincts: Supercharging Investment in Australia

Aviation is more than just about flying planes—it is a critical driver of economic development through aviation precincts.

Aviation is more than just about flying planes—it is a critical driver of economic development through aviation precincts. Airports are evolving into fully-fledged commercial hubs, attracting investment in retail, industrial, and logistics operations. This transformation is helping to stimulate local economies, create jobs, and boost Australia’s global competitiveness. In this blog, we explore how airports like Brisbane, Melbourne, and Western Sydney are leading this transformation and what it means for Australia’s future.

BNE Master Plan

Brisbane Airport’s 2020 Master Plan lays out a bold vision for the future, transforming the airport into a vibrant economic precinct that will attract billions of dollars in investment. The new parallel runway, completed in 2020, has already doubled the airport's capacity. Now, attention is shifting towards expanding the commercial and industrial zones around the airport.

Dan Cain elaborates, "Brisbane is positioning itself not just as a gateway to Queensland, but as a critical economic hub for the region. The master plan is designed to create a sustainable, long-term impact on jobs and investment."

Key elements of the BNE master plan include:

  • Logistics Hub: A new logistics precinct will take advantage of the airport's increased freight capacity, attracting global supply chain players.
  • Commercial Development: Retail and office spaces will be developed around the airport, creating a vibrant precinct for both travellers and local residents.
  • Industrial Growth: The airport precinct is expected to generate thousands of jobs by attracting industrial developments linked to aviation and freight operations.

Melbourne Airport Growth

Melbourne is one of the busiest airports in Australia, handling over 37 million passengers annually. The airport’s master plan includes significant upgrades to terminals, the construction of a third runway, and the development of business parks and logistics hubs.

  • Third Runway: Scheduled for completion by 2027, the third runway will increase capacity and reduce congestion, making Melbourne a more attractive option for international airlines.
  • Business Parks: Melbourne is developing business parks around the airport, which are already attracting investment from logistics, retail, and commercial tenants. These developments are expected to create thousands of jobs and further integrate the airport into Victoria’s economic fabric.

Western Sydney International (Badgery’s Creek)

Western Sydney International is more than an airport—it’s a key element of the region’s broader economic strategy. The project is expected to generate over 28,000 direct jobs and inject billions into the local economy.

Dan explains, "Western Sydney International is setting the standard for what modern aviation precincts should look like. It’s a strategic investment not just in transport infrastructure, but in the future of Western Sydney as an industrial and commercial powerhouse."

Key features of the precinct include:

  • Aerospace and Logistics Hub: Western Sydney International is expected to attract aerospace manufacturers, logistics firms, and even advanced manufacturing operations, creating a nexus of industrial activity.
  • Multimodal Transport Links: The airport will be integrated into Sydney’s broader transport network, with direct rail and road connections, making it easily accessible from across the city.

Regional Examples – Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion

Regional airports, like Sunshine Coast Airport, are also evolving into economic engines for their regions. The recent runway extension has unlocked international travel routes and increased the airport's capacity to handle larger aircraft.

  • Tourism Impact: Sunshine Coast Airport is positioning itself as a hub for international tourists, attracting visitors from New Zealand and Southeast Asia.
  • Economic Development: The expansion is expected to generate $4.1 billion for the regional economy over the next 20 years, creating jobs and opportunities for local businesses.

"Regional airports are crucial," says Cain. "They provide the connectivity needed for regional economies to thrive and are key to the decentralisation of growth from major cities."

Best Examples of Community Engagement Strategies

  • Brisbane Airport (BNE) Master Plan: Brisbane Airport’s community engagement around its master plan involved extensive consultation, particularly around the flight path changes associated with the new runway. Through a multi-channel approach, including public forums, online resources, and stakeholder meetings, concerns about noise and environmental impacts were addressed, while highlighting the economic benefits of the master plan.

Dan notes, "Brisbane’s masterplan engagement strategy is a blueprint for how to involve the community in large infrastructure projects. It’s about building trust and ensuring that the local population feels like a part of the airport’s evolution."

Summary and Conclusion:

Airport precincts are transforming Australia’s aviation landscape. From Brisbane to Western Sydney to regional hubs like Sunshine Coast, airports are becoming commercial centres that generate jobs, boost local economies, and improve connectivity. These developments underscore the critical role aviation plays in supercharging economic growth across the country.

from our clients

Spatial are my go-to for solutions

Spatial are my go-to for solutions nobody has dreamt up yet! They have an incredible knack for combining tomorrows tech solutions with creativity, intuitive UX and analytics. The results are engaging interfaces that are impactful and ultimately bridge the gap between project and stakeholders.
66
99
Kate Kernaghan, Company Director, Factotum Communications

They look tremendous, the team have done amazing work!

Our booth very popular - the corflute poster was so incredible to point at our ideas, even at a concept level. Well done to you and the Spatial Media team!
66
99
Rainer Knobloch, Co-Founder - Strategy and Operations

It was a pleasure to work with everyone

Spatial Media masterfully brought our CETO wave energy technology to life and provided a glimpse into how we're harnessing the immense power of the ocean to create clean, renewable electricity. Thank you to Spatial Media - Visual Engagement Solutions for their incredible work on this animation!
66
99
Brighid Jay, Chief Commercial Officer, Carnegie Clean Energy

A very straightforward and fun process for EnergyAustralia

From the initial kick off meeting to the final video, it was a very straightforward and fun process to work with Spatial Media. The final video is outstanding and really helped bring the project to life for our stakeholders. Highly recommended.
66
99
Matt Bruers, Development Director, Wooreen BESS, EnergyAustralia

Top shelf solutions for North East Link project

Spatial Media offers top shelf solutions that help tell the often intricate stories around the construction of major infrastructure. From animations to 3D models, dealing with Spatial has been seamless, and the end results have been first class.
66
99
Jamie Aldridge, Communications Manager, Spark – North East Link – D&C 

Airside Driving Simulator an important part of the training program

It can be storming outside. It could be night time. Any time of the day or night we can create these simulations. It’s very flexible.
66
99
Niel Young, Training Coordinator, Brisbane Airport

Enhancing and innovating communication for Melbourne Airport

Spatial Media is an excellent partner and we’ve been impressed by the work the team has produced for Melbourne Airport to help inform our travellers and community about our terminal upgrades and new runway. They are great to deal with and deliver a polished product with creative thinking and a can-do attitude.
66
99
Andrew Lund, Head of Media and Communications, Melbourne Airport

They are our go to tech-savvy experts with huge amounts of creative flair!

COVID19 social distancing restrictions made having our large scale community event nearly impossible, so we decided to take our face-to-face event online. Spatial worked really closely with us to develop the concept, design and platform that would host our virtual community event. The Spatial team are exceptionally creative, with a fantastic ability to bring your idea to fruition in a way you never thought possible. They made our pen on paper scribble into something that over 45k stakeholders visited online, more than what we could have reached in person. Thank you
66
99
Emily Divitaris, Senior Communications Advisor, WestConnex

Valuable long-term partnership with Brisbane Airport Corporation

The Spatial Media team are always professional, well organised and continuously deliver high quality content pieces on time and on budget. They bring new ideas to the table and constantly adapt to changing requirements. I would highly recommend Spatial Media to all.
66
99
Lauren Graham, Head of Commercial Marketing, Brisbane Airport Corporation