Management of issues in the delivery of airport infrastructure within Western Australia

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to present the identified underlying antecedents of problems unique to the procurement of airport infrastructure and recommend initiatives for their management. This research is significant due to the importance of airports in economic growth through improving the logistics of both freight and people. This paper first presents the typical characteristics of airport infrastructure procurement. It then focuses on the main issues with project procurement method selection and management of stakeholders involved within an airport infrastructure project. A case study of stakeholder industry practitioners involved in a Western Australian airport terminal project was then undertaken to reveal issues with current practices encountered during its planning, design and construction phases. Their management strategies and control techniques were also compared. The planning phase in particular was found to have the greatest influence over the nature and severity of issues encountered within the airport terminal project later on. This paper suggests that these issues could be mitigated if properly managed at the project level from the outset.