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Leading the design for Melbourne Airport’s Third Runway

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Trish Sunga Trish Sunga Australasia Press Office,Sydney
8 June 2022

Beca, Arup and Airbiz have been appointed as a combined team to manage design for Melbourne Airport’s Third Runway (M3R), a $1.9 billion, critical infrastructure project.

The new 3000m-long runway will considerably enhance the airport’s capacity, enabling simultaneous runway operations and reducing the duration and impact of delays. Running parallel to the existing north-south runway and 1.3km to the west, it will connect to the airport terminal by a network on new taxiways. 

Over the coming years, the team will work collaboratively to prepare schematic design, develop Principal Project Requirements (PPRs) and be the design guardian during procurement, construction and into operation. Arup will deliver geotechnical and earthworks, civil engineering, sustainability and Safety in Design.

The team’s appointment continues a longstanding relationship with Melbourne Airport, which has included prior phases of M3R.

“

This is a key project for Victoria and we are proud to be partnered with Beca and Airbiz as a collaborative and highly experienced team to the next stage of Melbourne Airport’s Third Runway. ”

Liam O'Donohue Liam O’Donohue Victoria Leader

Liam said it was a highly complex project involving new underpass structures, utilities, road design, transport planning, water treatment and retention facility and security.

Watch the video on Melbourne Airport's Third Runway Concept Design
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Melbourne Airport’s Peter Parsons, Program Manager commented: “The Beca / Arup team has performed fantastically for Melbourne Airport over many years, and we look forward to this continuing through the next phase of the design. The combined team brings a wealth of local and international experience which we will be drawing upon as we start to define the requirements of the runway for our airline customers”. 

“Melbourne Airport has been a priority client for our teams for many years, and we value our collaborative working relationship. Our combined team shares a strong commitment to bringing safe, sustainable and creative ideas to Melbourne Airport, along with a transparent and open working relationship,” said Craig Downey, M3R Design Manager at Beca.

With increases in freight and annual passenger numbers expected to grow to 76 million people by 2042, the third runway will secure important economic benefits for Melbourne and the state of Victoria.

Subject to Federal Government approval, construction is expected to take place over four years from 2022 to 2026. 

Project

Melbourne Airport Southern Precinct Program

Read how Arup was commissioned by Melbourne Airport to help deliver the best passenger experience for visitors at the Tullamarine Airport. 

Read more about this project