Brisbane 6 November 2013. The Sunshine Coast Airport’s new aerospace precinct has launched with Machjet International cementing its tenancy today and new economic opportunities taking off in a way not possible under the previous Labor Government.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney turned the first sod at the Marcoola airport site today and said the airport expansion would support the four pillars of the Queensland economy and boost employment growth.

“The Newman Government will assist Queensland’s airports to build on their areas of competitive advantage and attract new investment,” Mr Seeney said.

“Labor ignored regional strategic infrastructure hubs like this, hubs that are necessary for growing tourism, agriculture, resources and construction and will make the Sunshine Coast a gateway for future economic expansion.

“However, this government will make a significant contribution to support the proposed $418.6 million Sunshine Coast airport expansion by agreeing to transfer, at no cost, three parcels of land needed by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council for this project.

“We promised this type of innovative thinking and better planning at the election and it’s now a part of our Economic Directions Statement Queensland Airport 2013-2023 strategy.

“The launch of Machjet’s future headquarters for fixed-wing aircraft maintenance operations is evidence that the state’s strategic airports can play an important part in growing our economy and delivering better services.”

Member for Buderim Steven Dickson said Machjet’s headquarters will bring an additional 16.5 full-time equivalent aviation positions to the region and $1.82 million in direct wages annually.

“This is just the beginning for the aerospace precinct and the beginning for the Sunshine Coast Airport’s expansion,” Mr Dickson said.

“It’s expected that once the airport expansion, which includes a new runway, is fully operational it could create up to 5,000 direct jobs and result in many more indirect jobs in the region. It could also see Sunshine Coast passenger numbers climb from the current 900,000 a year to two million a year by 2031. This is fantastic news for our region.”

The aerospace precinct is designed to accommodate aircraft up to B737/A320 size and will have direct runway access. It is anticipated that hangar construction will commence in December this year. Machjet is a subsidiary of Sunshine Coast company McDermott Aviation.

Economic Directions Statement – Queensland Airports 2013-2023 is available to download from: www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/airports