Award winning airport

Restaurant owner Kerry Bright, Shellharbour City Mayor Cr. David Hamilton and Councils Director of Operations and Services Arthur Webster with the Award at the airports Aviator Lounge Restaurant.

SHELLHARBOUR City Council has won a prestigious engineering excellence award for its upgrade of the Illawarra Regional Airport.

Announced in Sydney Monday night, May 22 at a gala dinner, the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (NSW Division) declared the airport project the winner of its top award - Design and Construction of a Local Government Public Works Project.

The judges comments referred to the airport as an exciting project because of the diverse nature of the local, regional and interstate benefits that it provides, and highlighted the reconstruction of runways, the development of the Light Aeronautics Industry Cluster and the relocation of HARS.

The judges comments went on to say, The project is a very worthy winner because of its different facets and wide ranging benefits to the regional community. It is a holistic project involving more than just design and construct.

Mayor of Shellharbour City, Cr David Hamilton, said the award provided further recognition for the many years of planning and works that have seen the airport transformed from a basic asset into a facility that provides positive economic benefits to the local community and the wider Illawarra region.

The upgrade of the airport has enabled Council to maximise the airports long term sustainability by attracting aeronautical related business to provide employment and economic benefits, allowing QantasLink to operate regular services, and attracting tourists to the HARS museum, he said.

The project has been overseen by Councils Director of Operations and Services Arthur Webster, and he is to be congratulated for the result.

Commenting on the award, Mr Webster said that he was pleased that the holistic nature of the project had been recognised.

It was so much more than just a runway extension and facilities upgrade project, he said.

The diverse nature of the works has enabled new industry to be established at the airport and bring employment and new income to the region.

The restaurant at the terminal building has also proved to be an amazing success, attracting people for business lunches, dinners and functions throughout the week.