Work on the new building,with spaces for about 1700 cars,will begin soon,between the existing car park and the Ibis and Pullman hotels near the domestic terminal.
To compensate for the loss of the waiting area,Brisbane Airport will introduce 30 minutes free parking in the short-term car park – level two of the P1 car park – from March 11.
Brisbane Airport commercial executive general manager Martin Ryan said the car park would help address capacity challenges,particularly during peak holiday seasons.
“Since COVID,we have seen an increased share of people wanting to drive to the airport,” he said.
“We continue to see the demand for parking grow as Brisbane’s population expands and we’re investing now to cater for current and future passenger needs.”
But it was bad news for drivers of overheight vehicles,of 2.4 metres or more,who would unable to park near the terminal.
Those drivers would have to use the open-air Airpark,about a three-kilometre drive from the domestic terminal,and catch a free shuttle bus.
Those buses run every 15 minutes 22 hours a day,and every 30 minutes between 1.30am and 3.30am.
“We too are sorry to see the dedicated overheight area go which is currently used by around a dozen vehicles at any one time,but the trade-off is the creation of 1700 urgently needed parking spaces,” Ryan said.
Completion of the new car park was expected around mid-2025.
The development further emphasised the car-centric nature of transport to and from Brisbane Airport,with the privately run Airtrain not considered good value for money by critics of company’s monopoly on services to the airport.
Talks between the Airtrain and the state government to end the private operator’s 35-year monopoly early,but new Transport Minister Bart Mellish has indicated a desire to go back to the table.
The new car park was one of more than 150 projects in the,which included a third passenger domestic and international hybrid terminal,positioned between the two runways.
Imminent work would also include undercover scooter and bike storage,a short walk from the domestic terminal.
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