SCD Article - International airport high on Palmer's priorities

[Arnz]

http://ow.ly/p94uR

CLIVE Palmer will use any balance of power the Palmer United Party achieves in the Senate to ensure he delivers for the Sunshine Coast, with an international airport at Maroochydore high on his priorities.

Mr Palmer made the commitment as a full distribution of preferences began yesterday at the Australian Electoral Commission counting room at Maroochydore.

He sits on a knife's edge 36-vote lead over the LNP's Ted O'Brien.

[Arnz]

As much as a international airport is nice, I do think the SCC (Airport owners) should talk to Palmer about sorting out domestic flights before considering the upgrade.   Although whether the upgrade happens or not can go either way (knowing Palmer and his intention to 'sue' anybody that gets in his way), I can't see long-haul flights out of MCY when BNE is over 1 hour down the road for long-haul international flights.

I'd personally still put the Beerburrum - Landsborough/Nambour duplication ahead of a full-blown Airport upgrade, although I wouldn't mind a scaled-down Airport upgrade to at least take fully-loaded 737/A320s on medium-haul domestic and international to Perth, Cairns, Darwin and Christchurch to name a few (for example, Jetstar moving some of their domestic LCC flights from BNE to a upgraded MCY could help lower their fees).  They would still need to move the Airport terminal regardless of the upgrade to take more planes.  Current Airport terminal can only take 4 parked 737/A320s.

[SurfRail]

I think you will struggle with MCY being a LCC port for Brisbane.  If Caloundra was still the main airport for the region it would be a lot more competitive, something akin to Avalon (which I had the misfortune of having to fly through last Thursday).  MCY seems too far away.

[Fares_Fair]

Clearly it appears that Mr Palmer is interested in the airport upgrade for his own purposes, i.e. primarily to service his resort at Coolum.
That's not to say it isn't required.

[#Metro]

I think Mr Palmer will be a far better advocate for rail than anyone prior.

[somebody]

I'm pretty sure MCY is already good enough to reach AKL, DRW, ADL, CNS but there is no demand.  It's only PER (Perth) which increasing the runway length would help.  And if there isn't demand from ADL, why would there be from PER?

[Arnz]

There was daily flights from MCY to ADL, but that went when Tiger got grounded and they subsequently closed their ADL base when they restarted services.

MCY-AKL is seasonal for 5 months every year (Jun to October)

[Stillwater]

Maybe RailBOT could sue Palmersaurus if he doesn't follow through on his offer to extend light rail from the airport to his Coolum resort. 

[somebody]

I still don't reckon there's much point in expanding the runway capability at MCY.  It's not preventing anything that any airline actually wants to do.

[Gazza]

I'm pretty sure MCY is already good enough to reach AKL, DRW, ADL, CNS but there is no demand.  It's only PER (Perth) which increasing the runway length would help.  And if there isn't demand from ADL, why would there be from PER?

FIFO workers based on the Sunshine coast?

[Arnz]

^

There are daily FIFO charters from MCY to the Central Queensland mines.  This started initially at 4x weekly but is now daily. 

http://iminco.net/fifo-jobs-for-sunshine-coast/

http://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/sunshine-coast-charter-flies-in-400-mine-workers-t/1229566/

Based on the anecdotal evidence from the papers and social media every time the airport topic comes up, theres at least enough demand for CNS a few times weekly via a LCC at least.  (best candidate is Jetstar due to having their North Qld hub at CNS) 

[somebody]

I'm pretty sure MCY is already good enough to reach AKL, DRW, ADL, CNS but there is no demand.  It's only PER (Perth) which increasing the runway length would help.  And if there isn't demand from ADL, why would there be from PER?

FIFO workers based on the Sunshine coast?

Where in the world would FIFO require additional runway to what is provided at MCY?  Not in Australia, at least.

[Arnz]

FB topic & discussion: https://www.facebook.com/thesunshinecoastdaily/posts/10151593136902261

Most are in favor of fixing the domestic routes first (as per usual most participants are asking for North Qld flights) rather than full blown upgrading for long-haul stuff. 

CNS a few times weekly via JQ (2-3 per week) would be good as a interim solution for one-stop connections to Asia (Japan, China, SE Asia, etc) as well as cater for the local MCY-CNS traffic if Palmer wants the Asian traffic ASAP.  Ditto with SCC working with NZ to upgrade AKL flights from seasonal to year-round. 

[Stillwater]

SCA currently operates the existing north-south runway 18/36, which is 1,797 metres long and 30 metres wide. The airport is also responsible for managing the terminal building, public car park including 715 paved spaces, all internal access roads, all runways, taxiways and aprons, visual aids and all serviced land at the airport. It also manages the concessions and leasing activities to all airport customers and stakeholders.

The original runway was opened in 1961 and has since been extended several times. Its size and width restrict operations to narrow body aircraft types (B737-700/800 and A320) thereby limiting the number of aircraft able to use the facility.

This results in a reduced payload, particularly when considering trans-Tasman flights.

The proposed new east-west runway 13/31 will provide a take-off distance of 2,450 metres in each direction with a runway width of 45 metres, opening up the airport to a range of wide-bodied aircraft servicing international operations. The airport is currently constrained in the amount and type of industries that can be attracted to this port from an aviation perspective as the larger aircraft cannot be accommodated on the current runway. The new east-west runway is expected to provide greater opportunity.

A new east-west runway 13/31 runway scenarios that allow for:

–– recovery of a proportion of flights lost due to weather/wind conditions and the narrow runway. This amounts to 2.5 per cent of passengers per year;
–– increased route options and no restrictions on trans- Tasman activity; and
–– Additional passengers resulting from this scenario are added to the baseline
forecasts.

from Sunshine Coast Airport business case:
http://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/public_submissions/published/files/Sunshine_Coast_Regional_Council.pdf

[Fares_Fair]

Should the Sunshine Coast be recognised as a city?
8th Oct 2013 11:22 AM 

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/former-mayors-push-for-sunshine-coast-to-step-up-a/2042350/

SHOULD the Sunshine Coast region be renamed a city? Former Maroochy Shire mayors Alison Barry-Jones and Joe Natoli believe it should.

They're heading a campaign to raise support for the idea.

While they admit it's "only" a name change, Ms Barry-Jones argues the change would carry certain prestige and help boost the region's credibility.

She has written to her local councillor Stephen Robinson, Mayor Mark Jamieson and other councillors to flag the idea.

She said there could be no doubting "the benefits that this status affords in attracting capital investment, patronage and added clout when negotiating".

"If we are really serious about positive commercial advancement, then it is time to remove any barriers - perceived or otherwise - that restrict our capacity to negotiate and be commercially successful in an extremely competitive global environment," Ms Barry-Jones wrote in her letter

"This initiative in no way intrudes upon the treasured characteristics of the Sunshine Coast as a diverse and multi-village destination offering its colourful and varied experiences; it allows us to blossom and enhance that image while providing a sustainable lifestyle for which current and future generations will be truly appreciative."

The idea has already gained the support of Cr Tim Dwyer, who was first elected to Caloundra City Council in 2000.

He said that "the way it sounded and the way it positioned Caloundra" were positive factors.

Initially the change would require a council resolution that the CEO investigates the renaming.


The case for a Sunshine Coast City - the letter to council

To the Mayor and all Councillors

Dear Cr. Robinson, I am requesting that Council through you as my local Councillor progress the Sunshine Coast to the next step in maturing our image to City Status.

The purpose is to establish our credibility as a destination worthy of serious investment and quality of life.

The holding of City status gives a community no special rights other than that of calling itself a "City".

Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige, and consequently, competition for City status is traditionally hard-fought around the world largely for the benefits that this status affords in attracting capital investment, patronage and added clout when negotiating.

The concentration of development we are now seeing in the coastal areas greatly facilitates interaction between people and business, to the benefit of both parties in the process.

Maroochydore, now home to the Coast's main business precinct, should be recognised as mature enough to embrace the level of business and cultural activity a City attracts.

Both tourism and construction are the region's economic base but the need to lure additional sustainable investment which an enriched culturally vibrant City heart would attract is paramount.

Now that Noosa is going its own way, and Caloundra, prior to amalgamation, was classified as a City, it would be common sense to re-establish the City label overall to the Sunshine Coast.

As it was with the early title of "University College", being re-structured to a stand-alone University (USC) enhanced its credibility to other institutions and investors and proclaimed that it had high quality academic credentials and status.

This simple name change consequently broadened the volume of investment opportunities in selling education and promoting its academic educational and research potential.

The same applies to our soft image as a "Region" as compared with "City" status. City status would uplift our image attracting investment on which our community can build and prosper.

Our region's business leaders and politicians are boasting International Airports, International Education, and International Hotels, along with nation's best Hospitals, Convention Centres and International Business Interface; yet cling to an outmoded status.

If we are really serious about positive commercial advancement, then it is time to remove any barriers (perceived or otherwise) that restrict our capacity to negotiate and be commercially successful in an extremely competitive global environment.

This initiative in no way intrudes upon the treasured characteristics of the Sunshine Coast as a diverse and multi-village destination offering its colourful and varied experiences.

It allows us to blossom and enhance that image while providing a sustainable lifestyle for which current and future generations will be truly appreciative.

Words are extremely powerful; as we know they can make or break our economic destiny on the Sunshine Coast.

I therefore highly recommend and seek your support to progress this proposal to fruition.

Over thirty years I have personally been involved in the three previous initiatives by business community leaders and Maroochy Shire Council to obtain City status.

I believe a City status is compatible with the political rhetoric promoting Councils grand vision for the future.

This evening's news program introduced the Sunshine Coast as the largest CITY in the Southern hemisphere without a proper rail system. I agree that comment applies to much of the regions infrastructure requirements.   Fares_Fair comment: this was Channel Seven Local News

There in rests my case!

I understand the initiative to be registered as a City requires a resolution by Council that the CEO investigates the renaming of Sunshine Coast Regional Council to the status of Sunshine Coast City Council and report back to Council for discussion and implementation through professional protocols.

On behalf of the Sunshine Coast Unity Group I respectfully request that this proposal be put to Council in the form of a formal motion for consideration.

Alison Barry-Jones OAM 

Chairman Sunshine Coast Unity Group.