The development of Australia’s Newcastle Airport is taking shape with enabling works for a new passenger terminal soon to begin.

The facility’s CEO, Peter Cook said the works will include a new premium car park offering, directly in front of the existing terminal.

The first stage in the delivery of the terminal expansion will commence in 2023, but car park works will start soon and run through to the second quarter of next year.

Newcastle Airport
An artist's impression of the new premium car park which boasts 1,212 solar panels laid on the roof of the structure. Newcastle Airport

Cook said: “Our work to be international-ready is gaining pace, and visitors to the airport will start to notice some changes over the coming months as our brand-new premium car park begins to take shape.

“The design of this car park, as with the expanded terminal, is driven by sustainability. The 1,212 solar panels covering the car parks will produce 983,315Kw annually, representing 21% of the airport’s annual consumption.”

There will be around 160 parking spaces, with eight electric vehicle charging spaces, accessible and motorbike spaces. This complements the additional parking spaces being added at the airport this year.

The regional gateway – located 80 miles (130km) north of Sydney – says it is on track to be ready for long-range, high-capacity code E aircraft by 2024, with both airfield and terminal works scheduled for completion in the first half of that year.