An illustration of what an upgraded Merimbula Airport terminal may look like on approach from the north apron. Photo: Supplied.
Two significant developments for Merimbula and the region more broadly are advancing with Bega Valley Shire Council submitting its Development Application for the upgrade and redevelopment of the Merimbula Airport terminal and the Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel approving the construction of an Aldi supermarket in the town.
The community will soon be able to provide feedback on the airport proposal when the application is publically exhibited in the coming weeks.
Prepared by architecture firm, STEA, and informed by consultation with airport user groups, the plan is for the terminal building to extend just past the current airside gates. The revamped site will also include airport screening, a search room, upgraded staff room, an external seating area with access to the café, and the separation of incoming and departing passengers.
Council says a modular approach to the expansion, will mean little disturbance to the current operations and allow for further sections to be added as the need arises.
Council’s project manager, Jenny Symons, says the key aims of the project are to improve passenger comfort and safety and importantly future-proof the airport for the foreseeable future.
“They [the plans] comprise of the bare minimum needed to allow for the introduction of security screening for passengers and their baggage, which could become mandatory at any time and is required for the airport to cater for any aircraft larger than the current Rex fleet,” Ms Symons says.
“Feedback from user groups about the importance of features such as the external seating area has been incorporated into the design and careful attention has been paid to ensuring disruption to the terminal’s operations will be minimised during the construction phase.”
Rothelowman Architects’ concept plan for the supermarket building. Photo: Supplied.
Across the bridge on the other side of Merimbula Lake shoppers are rejoicing that the long talked about Aldi Supermarket on the old Council library site on Main Street will become a reality.
The DA went before the Joint Regional Planning Panel due to the cost of construction; valued at $6.9 million and because Council was the landowner.
The German giant will now be able to proceed with their plans, importantly the panel did impose modified conditions of approval that will require Aldi to do the following:
- Submit a landscape plan that provides additional landscaping to the Main Street carpark;
- Plant four large trees (10 – 20 metres in height) within the road reserve of the new service road and a further two within the Main Street footpath;
- Provide a public artwork in Merimbula or a monetary payment in lieu of;
- Fence the side boundary with 99 Main Street using materials that complement the development;
- Only trim and/or remove trees and vegetation that would impede construction of the supermarket;
- Provide Council with a noise verification report within three months of the supermarket opening.
Meantime, construction of the town’s new Woolworths Supermarket continues on the land next door, with the Woollies project set to be completed by Christmas 2018.
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