The Cocos (Keeling) Islands Airfield Upgrade Project intends to include:
- strengthening, lengthening, and widening of runways and taxiways
- enhancements of airfield lighting and drainage infrastructure
- a new permanent construction wharf, and
- removal of waste from West Island.
The existing runway has the capacity for Boeing 737 passenger aircraft and small military planes, but the upgrade project intends to allow it to take P-8A Poseidon aircraft, capable of low-level anti-submarine warfare operations and high-tech military surveillance.
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are located almost 3,000 kilometres from Perth in the Indian Ocean.
Key Dates
| 2024 | Construction Commencement |
| 2028 | Expected Construction Completion |
Funding contributions
| Federal Government |
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Department of Defence |
| Successful Tenderer: | Fulton Hogan |
| Procurement note: | The project is being delivered under a Managing Contractor model. |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Mar 2023 | A public hearing of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works confirmed that the project was expected to commence construction in late 2024. |
| Mar 2023 | The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works found that the project had merit in terms of need, scope, and cost, and approved the project to proceed. |
| 2024 | Main works commenced on the project. |
| Oct 2025 | The Indian Ocean Territories Administrator confirmed that the Materials Offload Facility was expected to reach construction completion in early 2026. |
Estimated Total Cost
(2022)
Sector
Other
Procurement approach
Managing Contractor |
Location
Western Australia |
Resources
