Call for modernisation of air traffic control towers to cope with more traffic

The Public Works Committee will hold a public hearing in Canberra tomorrow to examine an Airservices Australia proposal to refurbish air traffic control towers.

The hearing is part of the committee’s inquiry into proposed Brisbane and Cairns Control Tower Life Extensions. If approved, the works will see the facilities upgraded in preparation for the roll out of new technologies.

Airservices Australia said the towers are more than 20 years-old and largely original. Modernisation will ensure the towers have the capability to meet a forecast 60 per cent increase in aviation traffic across Australia’s air space by 2030.

The estimated cost of the project is $23.9 million (excluding GST). Construction work on the Cairns tower is scheduled to commence in early 2016 and to be completed by the end of the same year. Work on the Brisbane tower will start in late 2016 and is expected to be completed by mid-2017.

The Committee Chair, Senator Dean Smith, said the committee is looking forward to considering the works in more detail.

Public Hearing Venue: Committee Room 1R6, Parliament House, Canberra
Date: Friday, 16 October 2015
Time: 10.00am to 11.00am

The hearing will also be webcast at www.aph.gov.au/live.
Full details on the project are available on the committee’s website: www.aph.gov.au/pwc

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