NEWCASTLE Airport has lodged plans with Port Stephens Council to expand its car park and build a small transport hub.
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The $850,000 works are a precursor to the upcoming $80 million redevelopment of Newcastle Airport, approved by Port Stephens Council in April last year.
The development application (DA) for the carpark upgrades includes plans for a new platinum shaded parking area and additional bronze car spaces.
Plans for a taxi and bus terminal are the biggest changes to come out of the DA, creating a small user-friendly transport hub.
"As the airport has grown we've found facilitating vehicular access at the front of the terminal at times difficult, in terms of passenger pick-up and drop off as well as taxi/shuttle bus access," Newcastle Airport manager of Aviation Business Development, David Nye, said.
"Space limitations have made it difficult to address these issues.
"However, during the upcoming terminal expansion, Newcastle Airport will also take the opportunity to develop a small transport hub."
Mr Nye said final designs are still to be completed, but the hub will provide dedicated covered waiting areas for taxis and shuttle buses on the site of the current platinum car park.
This will allow for more public pick-up points at the front of the terminal.
A contractor is still to be appointed for the terminal development, but Mr Nye did say the work would be done with limited impact on airport users during construction.
In 2013 a record 1,198,312 passengers went through Newcastle Airport.
The upgrades come just as 25 QantasLink staff at the airport lose their jobs.
QantasLink lost its contract to provide ground handling services to Jetstar, which made up about 90 per cent of its employees' work at Newcastle Airport.
Brisbane-based company Aerocare won the contract.