Runway needs repairs

IN NEED OF REPAIR: Coffs Harbour City Council is discussing a $5 million upgrade of the airport runway.

COFFS Harbour City Council will discuss taking out a $5 million loan to cover an upgrade of the airport runway.

The pavement has started to show signs of surface deterioration over the past year and remedial work including heavy patching and crack sealing is required.

A report to city councillors ahead of Thursday's council meeting states that the current runway surface has exceeded its design life by eight to 10 years.

A geotechnical pavement assessment in June, last year found a replacement of a 50mm overlay was needed within two years.

"It is proposed to carry out the resurfacing in the 2013/14 financial year and an estimated loan of $5 million has been included in the airport forward financial plan to fund this work," the report says.

In order to reduce the overall cost of the borrowing, the council could apply for a 4% interest subsidy under the NSW Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme.

Council engineers say there would be minimal impact to flights with majority of the works to be carried out at night.

The proposal would see a 50mm thin seal added to the top layer of asphalt on the runway. 

Already the council has sought independent advice from several consultants after Geotechnical Solutions were commissioned to undertake the pavement assessment.

The current airport runway was laid in 1985 and subsequently widened to 45 metres in 1998.