Following the decision by the Australian government to privatise most of its airports, Sinclair Knight Merz was retained by Airports Group Australia (AGA)/Airports Group International (AGI) to provide expert advice associated with their tenders for stage one of the privatisation. This involved a tender for the operation of Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth airports.
Sinclair Knight Merz conducted a technical review of the infrastructure at each airport, including roads, runways, and sewer. An estimate was made of the capital costs of bringing that infrastructure up to a satisfactory standard.
Sinclair Knight Merz also assisted in the development of new master plans for each of the airports including conceptual layouts for runways, aprons and taxiways, expansion of International Terminal Buildings and Capital Improvement Plans as well as a draft Environmental Management Plan and advice on the economic benefits of airport developments.
SKM Economics, the firm’s management consulting group, provided a review of the regional economic benefits of private ownership and management of the airports. It also considered how private ownership could strengthen linkages with other parts of the transport sector, industry and tourism.
AGA was successful in its bid for Perth airport and decided against bidding for Melbourne or Brisbane.
The involvement of Sinclair Knight Merz in this project demonstrates its skills in the following areas: