Land Reclamation for the Sunshine Coast New Runway Starts Soon

Dredging and Reclamation Solutions Pty Ltd (DRS) has successfully completed full installation of the sand delivery (reclamation) pipeline that will be used for the Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion (Runway) Project.

Image source: DRS

Working closely with MP Dredging, DRS wrapped up temporary construction operations including the establishment of the sand pumping pipeline.

With the pipeline now complete, sand placement operations for the new runway will begin in the next couple of days.

According to the project’s official website, Dredging International vessel ‘Nile River’ will dredge around 1.5 million cubic meters of sand from the Spitfire Realignment Channel in Moreton Bay. The sand will then be pumped from the vessel onto the project site via this pipeline.

The dredging and sand placement operation will take approximately three months. The officials also added that the dredging activities need to be completed, with all materials taken off the beach, before the next turtle nesting season starting in November 2018.

When completed, the $225 million Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project will deliver a new east–west runway (capable of servicing aircraft such as the A350 and 787 Dreamliner) and associated infrastructure at the existing airport at Marcoola, Queensland.