Moving Adelaide Airport to an artificial island

[andynguyen]

We need an honest discussion about potentially relocating Adelaide’s airports!

Adelaide Airport (our main international airport) has served us well for decades! However, in the long term, capacity at the existing Adelaide Airport will be constrained. Additionally, the current location of Adelaide Airport, in close proximity to residential areas, mean the airport has a curfew in place and poses limitations to construction of taller buildings in Adelaide CBD, limiting Adelaide from realising its full potential!

There are options to relocate Adelaide’s main international airport. Whilst Lower Light aerodrome and Monarto South are potential options, both are too far from the centre of Adelaide, when comparing distances between main airports and city centres internationally. It also makes for an unpleasant experience especially for business and high end travellers, medical transport and those flying in from the regions, and limit ability to attract flights into Adelaide.

Some have suggested moving the airport to Dry Creek. Dry Creek unfortunately has a number of downsides. It is in close proximity to Parafield Airport (Adelaide’s general aviation airport), which is not ideal for flight operations, but Parafield Airport should also relocate at some point no matter what, given its current proximity to thousands of residents. Lower Light aerodrome would be an ideal location for the relocation of Parafield Airport, given it is within a reasonable distance to a greater number of people within the Adelaide metropolitan area whilst still providing a buffer with current and future residential developments.

The main issue is once the Parafield Airport site is freed up for development, if Adelaide’s main Airport is relocated to Dry Creek, it can limit Parafield’s potential due to height restrictions preventing high rise buildings from being built there! Furthermore, an airport at Dry Creek will impact residents to the east of Dry Creek, which may limit the ability of that new airport to operate 24/7. There may be space constraints which may result in a need for another domestic airport in the very long term which could create inefficiencies. It would also be in very close proximity to dolphin and bird sanctuaries, which can pose environmental issues (and safety concerns for the latter).

Dry Creek would better be used for housing development if and once the ground is suitable, with provisions for a new Olympic standard rowing and canoeing venue, plus a surf park, urban beach and some open space around it, and the relocation of sporting facilities from the State Sports Park at Gepps Cross with additional State level sporting facilities!

Therefore, my preferred suggestion would be to relocate Adelaide’s main airport to be built as an artificial island! Artificial island airports are not without precedent - Hong Kong International Airport, Osaka Kansai Airport and a number of other airports globally were built in that manner! For reasons like centrality to the Adelaide metropolitan area, proximity to existing main roads, wind speed and the need to preserve more stunning natural attractions, my preference for location of the artificial island airport would be to the west of Semaphore! The location of the artificial island airport also takes into account the shipping channel towards Outer Harbor.

The new Adelaide Airport west of Semaphore could have two north south runways intially catering to commercial planes, which would align with the prevailing wind direction, and together with the eastern edge of the airport land being about 1.5-2.5km apart from the coastline, it would pose minimal impact to existing residents and beach goers. That will also allow the new airport to operate 24/7, resulting in greater benefit to Adelaide and South Australia’s economies. There would also be another smaller runway catering to smaller aircraft to the north of the two main runways, in a south west to north east direction. If in the very long term, the airport needs to expand, it can build another north south runway to the west, and that will create efficiencies because there would no longer be a need to build a second domestic airport!

The new Adelaide airport could be served by a road tunnel starting from the Port River Expressway, a road bridge from Outer Harbor and a rail tunnel being an extension of the rail line from Port Dock to the airport which could also serve as a realignment of the Outer Harbor line up to Glanville. Travel times between the new airport and the Adelaide CBD would be around 25 minutes by both road and rail.

By moving Adelaide Airport to an artificial island west of Semaphore, and Parafield Airport to Lower Light, it means Adelaide can realise its full potential. Both the existing Adelaide and Parafield airport sites can be developed into new CBDs with skyscrapers, tall buildings and plenty of housing! The new CBD at the Adelaide Airport site would work hand in hand with the existing Adelaide CBD whilst the new CBD at the Parafield Airport site would be the focal point for northern Adelaide! Adelaide CBD would also grow modestly, with height limits increased to allow more skyscrapers to the built in parts of the city centre whilst still maintaining heritage and character in relevant areas. And instead of Dry Creek being used for an airport, the site can be used for more housing developments, including medium and higher density development, once the ground is made suitable for development.

Adelaide is in a housing crisis, and Adelaide will be running out of greenfield land in about the next 20-30 years! By thinking strategically about where to relocate the Airports, it means more housing can be built, together with the associated infrastructure, industrial and commercial developments!

[Simmos083]

Are you on crack ? Big weekend champ? Never going to happen

[VinyTapestry849]

Sorry, but there is no tangeable benefit to moving airport. 24/7 flights does not put weight a cost of like $15 billlion relocation plan. Plus you’ve have to widen roads around the new airport and all of that.

The current airport will be undoing a large expansion soon anyway, and eventually a second runway will be built behind the current terminal

[andynguyen]

Sorry, but there is no tangeable benefit to moving airport. 24/7 flights does not put weight a cost of like $15 billlion relocation plan. Plus you’ve have to widen roads around the new airport and all of that.

The current airport will be undoing a large expansion soon anyway, and eventually a second runway will be built behind the current terminal

All options need to be on the table when it comes to the future of Adelaide’s aviation needs!

Personally, I think building another runway at the existing Adelaide Airport is so short sighted! It limits the development and lifestyle potential of Adelaide and result in negative impacts to more residents especially to the north east of the airport as well as displacements to businesses and amenities!

Relocating Adelaide Airport, as with all major projects, will always have financial costs involved! But it does have its benefits though - it frees up the existing Adelaide airport land to build a new city there, and height restrictions can also be eased or removed for the existing Adelaide CBD so that more tall buildings can be built in the right places there! These developments will create more revenue over time which could more than offset the cost of relocating Adelaide Airport, and accommodate an extra 150,000 more people!

Whilst an artificial island airport can more expensive than a typical airport, there are tangible benefits in siting the new Adelaide Airport at a newly built artificial island west of Semaphore compared to locating it at Dry Creek. By building the new airport at an artificial island, land can be used more efficiently as Dry Creek can then be used for housing in the medium term, and once Parafield Airport is relocated, that site can be used to build another city with taller buildings and minimal or no height restrictions!

Billions of dollars of revenue could be created over time which could potentially more than offset the cost of building the new artificial island airport, at least an extra 100,000 people could live within metropolitan Adelaide compared to the Dry Creek airport option, and housing development across Adelaide will be more balanced. Furthermore, additional economic activity and revenue can be generated through the artificial island airport operating without a curfew through its north south runway configuration. In contrast, the Dry Creek option is still within 2km of a residential area to the east and a curfew free airport there is not guaranteed.

The other thing to note is that airports are a Federal Government responsibility, and thus airports are funded primarily by them! That means South Australian taxpayers won’t have to foot the entire bill - the State just needs to fund the road and rail links to the new artificial island airport west of Semaphore, potentially in conjunction with the Federal Government! A rail tunnel to that new Adelaide airport would be just over half the length than the Perth airport rail link, and the road tunnel would be about the same length as the southern tunnel of Adelaide’s North South corridor project, thus those connections are technically feasible. There is also the option for the private sector to partially or fully fund the airport itself, which can relieve burden on Australian taxpayers! And regardless, the new airport will be partially funded by the sale of the existing Adelaide airport!

I would hope the State Government commission a fesability study into the future air travel needs in Adelaide as soon as possible! My preference is still for Adelaide Airport to be relocated to an artificial island airport west of Semaphore and the benefits and costs needs to be compared with other options, that being an additional airport runway at the existing airport and a new airport on land at Dry Creek, to see which option stacks up the most, with special consideration to the long term development and lifestyle potential of the whole Adelaide metro area!

[SouthAussie94]

Why don't we move the CBD to an artificial island and build the new airport where the CBD is? The new Festival Tower can be the control tower....

[Patrick_27]

Sorry, but there is no tangeable benefit to moving airport. 24/7 flights does not put weight a cost of like $15 billlion relocation plan. Plus you’ve have to widen roads around the new airport and all of that.

The current airport will be undoing a large expansion soon anyway, and eventually a second runway will be built behind the current terminal

All options need to be on the table when it comes to the future of Adelaide’s aviation needs!

Personally, I think building another runway at the existing Adelaide Airport is so short sighted! It limits the development and lifestyle potential of Adelaide and result in negative impacts to more residents especially to the north east of the airport as well as displacements to businesses and amenities!

Relocating Adelaide Airport, as with all major projects, will always have financial costs involved! But it does have its benefits though - it frees up the existing Adelaide airport land to build a new city there, and height restrictions can also be eased or removed for the existing Adelaide CBD so that more tall buildings can be built in the right places there! These developments will create more revenue over time which could more than offset the cost of relocating Adelaide Airport, and accommodate an extra 150,000 more people!

Whilst an artificial island airport can more expensive than a typical airport, there are tangible benefits in siting the new Adelaide Airport at a newly built artificial island west of Semaphore compared to locating it at Dry Creek. By building the new airport at an artificial island, land can be used more efficiently as Dry Creek can then be used for housing in the medium term, and once Parafield Airport is relocated, that site can be used to build another city with taller buildings and minimal or no height restrictions!

Billions of dollars of revenue could be created over time which could potentially more than offset the cost of building the new artificial island airport, at least an extra 100,000 people could live within metropolitan Adelaide compared to the Dry Creek airport option, and housing development across Adelaide will be more balanced. Furthermore, additional economic activity and revenue can be generated through the artificial island airport operating without a curfew through its north south runway configuration. In contrast, the Dry Creek option is still within 2km of a residential area to the east and a curfew free airport there is not guaranteed.

The other thing to note is that airports are a Federal Government responsibility, and thus airports are funded primarily by them! That means South Australian taxpayers won’t have to foot the entire bill - the State just needs to fund the road and rail links to the new artificial island airport west of Semaphore, potentially in conjunction with the Federal Government! A rail tunnel to that new Adelaide airport would be just over half the length than the Perth airport rail link, and the road tunnel would be about the same length as the southern tunnel of Adelaide’s North South corridor project, thus those connections are technically feasible. There is also the option for the private sector to partially or fully fund the airport itself, which can relieve burden on Australian taxpayers! And regardless, the new airport will be partially funded by the sale of the existing Adelaide airport!

I would hope the State Government commission a fesability study into the future air travel needs in Adelaide as soon as possible! My preference is still for Adelaide Airport to be relocated to an artificial island airport west of Semaphore and the benefits and costs needs to be compared with other options, that being an additional airport runway at the existing airport and a new airport on land at Dry Creek, to see which option stacks up the most, with special consideration to the long term development and lifestyle potential of the whole Adelaide metro area!

All this nonsense reads like AI along with your island airport picture...

[Ho Really]

Andy, if you had said relocate the Adelaide International Airport to the RAAF Base Edinburgh and move the base to Monarto, etc., perhaps your vision would be more plausible. But let's be serious. The current airport will be sufficient for a while yet. Give it at least 10 years before thinking about a second runway. A new airport perhaps 30...

Cheers

[VinyTapestry849]

I can understand where Andy may be coming from but it’s just that the benefits for moving cannot and will never out weight the costs.

For example, Sydney Kingsford smith airport is 5x as busy as Adelaide airport, and the city of Sydney still operates with its airport having a curfew.

[ChillyPhilly]

I don't believe Adelaide Airport will be relocated anytime soon.

Gillman-Dry Creek is the only other potential location mooted, but this would come with damaging environmental impacts given the marine and plant life in the area.

The Multi-function Polis concept had an expanded Adelaide Airport with a third runway, located parallel and west of the existing main runway.

The current airport location is a massive strategic advantage and will serve needs well into the future. Yes, a curfew does create some restrictions, but it wouldn't be much fun or use landing at 3am after a 15-hour flight from the other side of the world.

[Prodical]

Adelaide airport is so convenient to the city - really well located and a bonus for travellers, rather that a $60 fare from Melbourne airport to CBD

Does anyone have news on the Adelaide airport expansion? I thought that once the new LT car park was finished that work could start on extending the terminal building itself.

[andynguyen]

Andy, if you had said relocate the Adelaide International Airport to the RAAF Base Edinburgh and move the base to Monarto, etc., perhaps your vision would be more plausible. But let's be serious. The current airport will be sufficient for a while yet. Give it at least 10 years before thinking about a second runway. A new airport perhaps 30...

Cheers

If the Federal Government agrees on relocating the RAAF base to Monarto then that could be another option, but things that need to be considered include the recent investments in defence at the Edinburgh base, as well as the airport being within 2km of the nearest residential area to the south of the airport! Such a move also needs to be better managed and coordinated, especially given increased global tensions resulting in the need to increase defence capabilities! That option is better than adding a new runway at the existing Adelaide Airport, or relocating the airport to Dry Creek/Gillman, and I would hope any feasibility studies into expanding Adelaide’s civil aviation infrastructure looks at all options!

[rev]

I like your posts, they're generally well thought out.

But what about the significant investment in the current airport site? There's already been hundreds of millions spent, and more is planned. Why would they move the airport any time soon? Besides the fact the Greater Adelaide Plan isn't even looking at moving the airport. It's a moot point and pure vision by those posting about it.

Moving it to an artificial island off suburbia at Semaphore. How does that change anything over the current situation at the existing airport? A different set of residents will be directly impacted.
I live about 5km from the current airport, I'm not under a flight path, but I can still hear planes taking off especially the international flights.
You say Dry Creek is within 2km of housing. So is your artificial island. Flights would be taking off and banking left over the suburbs to head to eastern states.

You say an extra 100,000 could live within the metro area by moving the airport to an artificial island. Dry Creek is bigger then the current airport site, and it's already selected for housing in the coming decades.

By the time any serious consideration or proposal for moving the airport comes along, it will be a good 40-50 years in the future.
By that time, the only logical place will be outside of the metropolitan area likely in the north.

[rubberman]

Assuming that such an island is feasible from an engineering perspective, the other question is whether it would still be simpler to just use such an island for residential purposes rather than relocate an airport.

Then there's the question of alternatives. If an alternative airport were built at Tailem Bend, for example, would the cost of a high speed rail tunnel and/or vehicle tunnel be more or less than the island option?

A high speed rail tunnel direct to the CBD would be 25-30 minutes. But if we had the budget for an island of this size, maybe it's also an option. The SAR actually came up with a tunnel option for the South Line, so it couldn't be too outrageously costly.

[andynguyen]

Assuming that such an island is feasible from an engineering perspective, the other question is whether it would still be simpler to just use such an island for residential purposes rather than relocate an airport.

Then there's the question of alternatives. If an alternative airport were built at Tailem Bend, for example, would the cost of a high speed rail tunnel and/or vehicle tunnel be more or less than the island option?

A high speed rail tunnel direct to the CBD would be 25-30 minutes. But if we had the budget for an island of this size, maybe it's also an option. The SAR actually came up with a tunnel option for the South Line, so it couldn't be too outrageously costly.

At some point in time, Adelaide could be connected by high speed rail, and given the terrain, there will need to be a tunnel for high speed rail linking Adelaide and the Eastern states, and thus that is independent of Adelaide’s future aviation needs!

However, not everyone will use high speed rail for transport from the airport to the city centre! There will be people that will still rely on private transport leaving the airport - including VIPs, executives, business people, large groups etc., and people coming to and from the airport from different parts of metropolitan Adelaide and surrounds where high speed rail is not necessarily the most efficient form of transport! And not to mention, high speed rail does not replace ambulances for medical transport!

For those reasons, Tailem Bend and surrounds is not an ideal place to locate Adelaide’s main airport, given its distance to populated areas in Adelaide, and taking into account lessons learnt from the siting of the second Sydney airport! And commercial air services is probably not viable in that region for the foreseeable future, especially if it is served by high speed rail in the very long term combined with the high costs of regional air travel!

Across the world, artificial islands are built in places where availability of greenfield land nearby is scarce. When I first proposed the option of an artificial island airport, I made the assumption that the Edinburgh RAAF base would be retained for its current purpose (however there is also an option, with agreement from the Federal Government, to relocate the military base and upgrade Edinburgh for civil aviation use)! To build a new artificial island airport itself would cost at least $10-$15 billion dollars, plus add in around $6 billion for transport to the airport - including a road tunnel from the Port River Expressway, a rail tunnel as an extension of the Port Dock line and a road bridge from Outer Harbor. It would be somewhat similar thing for an artificial island used for residential purposes, but instead of airport infrastructure, you have residential buildings!

We need to be open to all options on how to expand Adelaide’s aviation capacity in the long term in a way that maximises the potential of Adelaide and South Australia!

[Mpol02]

I dont think this is a concern any of us will have to deal with in our lifetimes.

Having said that what about new the waste plant up at Bolivar?