Brisbane Airport: New Parallel Runway Project

Brisbane Airport New Parallel Runway Project

Brisbane Airport developed a new parallel runway and associated infrastructure on a low lying coastal area, 2km west of the existing runway.

The climate change challenges

The main challenge was the location of the runway in close proximity to Moreton Bay, with future climate change vulnerabilities related to storm surge, sea level rise and local/regional flooding events and increase in average temperatures. The site is adjacent to Moreton Bay Marine Park (a Ramsar site and marine park), Nudgee Beach, Boondall Wetlands and the Kedron Brook Floodway which have important ecological and social values which need strong consideration during any development planning.

The solution

The planning and design of the runway considered the long-term operating life, and future projections of the localised impacts of climate change, including:

• Hydrological modelling to include sea level rise and increased frequency of cyclonic events.
• Increased temperature considerations in the runway length and planning for future upgrades.
• Runway height to accommodate tide levels, storm surge effect and wave propagation.
• Construction of tidal channels and the installation of a new sea wall.

The Outcome

Planning for potential climate change impacts on the NPR has ultimately delivered a safe and continuous operation of critical infrastructure in a changing climate. Runway height specifications and other engineering considerations resulted in outcomes that far exceed minimum requirements to ensure future climate impacts are mitigated.