Go behind the scenes of the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport Terminal Expansion

The Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is now the third busiest airport in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle, with 529,000 passengers as at June 2018 reflecting a growth rate of 8% since June 2010.

To cater for this growth and provide an improved travelling experience for passengers, the BBGA passenger terminal and carpark is being expanded.

Image 1: Artist impression of BBGA Terminal Expansion.

The current phase of works includes the expansion of the cafe and addition of a bar, plus new toilet facilities and expanded arrivals and departures concourse. The major features of the terminal upgrade include:

• larger terminal building from about 2,000m2 to 3,000m2, an increase of 50%

• increased seating capacity in the departure lounge from 160 to 360 seats to cater for the increasing number of passenger jets

• an expanded café and bar

• a news and gifts retail outlet

• new toilet facilities, upgraded disabled toilets and parents room

• improved building features such as air-conditioning and building management systems.

Image 2: Artist impression of BBGA Terminal Expansion.

The progress of the project is being recorded on time lapse video and can be viewed on the BBGA website: ballinabyronairport.com.au/expansion-projects/

View time lapse video of construction at: https:// vimeo.com/287419242

The project has been allocated $4.5 million from the NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Infrastructure Program, established under the Restart NSW fund, and $2.4 million in loan funding from Ballina Shire Council.

The growth in passenger numbers and the expansion of the airport is critical to increasing tourism, employment and business opportunities within the Northern Rivers Region.

Image 3: Artist impression of BBGA Terminal Expansion.