Milestone for construction of new control tower in Rockhampton

Airservices General Manager Technology and Asset Services, Alastair Hodgson, said that the cabin lift was a significant milestone in the construction effort.

Flooding in Rockhampton in January prevented the construction company project team from accessing the site, resulting in some setbacks, Mr Hodgson said. However, despite this, the construction of the new tower is now on course for completion in early July.

The new tower will be 23 metres tall and one of the first in Australia to be equipped with the latest electronic air traffic control technology, including a touch screen system in the control tower cabin. The tower is fitted with high-tech flight and operational technology, surveillance systems and integrated voice communication devices to provide essential information to controllers, while allowing them to perform operational tasks, Mr Hodgson said.

The design and construct project is being undertaken by Badge Construction (SA) Pty Ltd. It also involves plant and equipment  rooms, general office spaces, meeting and training rooms
for air traffic controllers.

Its an impressive structure and just another step forward for the community in demonstrating Rockhampton is back open for business.

The new tower will replace the existing air traffic control tower built in 1961. The new tower was designed with the ground floor positioned above the existing ground line to ensure the structure sits higher than flood level.