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Progress / Latest News

Progress / Latest News

See the latest updates below or

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Project Updates

A plane loading on the newly laid asphalt apron

    22 May 2025

  • All asphalt works were completed on 22nd May. This was 2.5 weeks ahead of schedule. This included strengthening of Runway 17/35 and Taxiway A by at least 80mm thick asphalt overlay.
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  • As part of the overlay works the shape of the runway was improved to enable better water run off. The RPT Apron construction work was also completed 22nd May, which involved rebuilding the Apron with a flexible asphalt pavement.  The RPT Apron was re-opened to Qantas Q400 aircraft on 2nd June allowing them to utilise a Q400 at full weight. The Secondary Runway 05/23 was treated with Jet Black to extend its useful life.
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Works on Airport lighting systems continues until late July.

24 April 2025

The Fulton Hogan team has nearly finished the first layer of asphalt over the runway with only several hundred metres left to go. Here is some footage of what a single night looks like for the team!

14 April 2025

Progress shot of the runway showing how much has been resurfaced

Photo taken by Quentin Blatchford

night works on runway

10 April 2025

Fulton Hogan are well and truly progressing the first pass of asphalt, completing approximately 170m a night using approximately 750 tonnes of asphalt a night.

Click here to see a larger version of the photo

08 April 2025

Fulton Hogan successfully began laying asphalt on the southern end of the runway.

apron removal complete

07 April 2025

Demolition of the RPT Apron complete with concrete removed completely.

01 April 2025

Demolition of the RPT Apron continues.

concrete removal

31 March 2025

Demolition of the RPT Apron began with the concrete being broken up and removed.

Fulton Hogan bore under runway

23 March 2025

Fulton Hogan bored underneath the secondary runway to install an underground conduit for the new lighting circuit being installed at a later date.

Mobile Asphalt plant built

05 March 2025

Fulton Hogan has begun construction of the mobile asphalt plant. This plant is located on Industry Drive at the Industrial Estate, ensuring separation from the community and minimising any potential impacts from noise or smell.

Whyalla Airport runway

After extensive behind-the-scenes lobbying on the community’s behalf, Whyalla City Council has managed to secure $30 million in State and Federal Government funding to enable the city’s airport runway to receive a major upgrade, while minimising the impact on local ratepayers.

Read full release here