Airservices is a government-owned corporation providing safe, secure, efficient and environmentally responsible services to the aviation industry. We manage air traffic operations for around 75 million passengers on more than three million flights every year.

Temporary radar at Machans Beach, Cairns

The temporary radar at Machans Beach.

Airservices has upgraded and recommissioned back into service a permanent radar at Redden Creek, Cairns.

The temporary radar located at Machans Beach, used during the upgrade, has been decommissioned and dismantled.  The radar, as well as supporting buildings, will be removed from the site by the end of April 2012. 

The project was part of a nationwide infrastructure modernisation program to improve the safe and efficient movement of air traffic in our skies.

For more information refer to:

Information provided to residents during the upgrade

Why is the upgrade necessary?

The upgrade of the existing terminal area radar is part of a $80m nationwide infrastructure modernisation program to ensure the safe and efficient movement of air traffic in Australian airspace.

The temporary radar will maintain the current levels of flight safety in the region while the permanent Cairns radar is upgraded.

Why does the temporary radar need to be located at Machans Beach?

Airservices has carefully planned the works to minimise disruptions to the residents of Machans Beach.

The Machans Beach site is owned by Airservices and was chosen to host the temporary radar because it is ideally located to accurately track aircraft approaching and departing Cairns Airport during the period the permanent radar is out of service.

Please see the map of the approximate location of the temporary radar for details.

Is it safe?

Airservices has also carried out a comprehensive safety assessment to ensure there are no risks to the environment or residents, the nearest of whom live more than 175 metres from the site.

What other options were considered?

Other locations were considered but were technically unacceptable due to interference from buildings or the topography around Cairns Airport.

Airservices also considered other locations within the airport precinct. These were ruled out due to interference from airport buildings. The only suitable site at the airport is occupied by the current permanent radar being upgraded by Airservices.

How high will it be and how big will the supporting buildings be?

The temporary radar main structure consists of a 10 metre tall tower with primary and secondary radar mounted on top.

Other facilities on site will include an equipment shelter the size of a shipping container, a small demountable office and power supply equipment.

For an idea of what the temporary radar looks like, please see the photo of the radar used at Cecil Park in Sydney while Airservices was upgrading the main Sydney radar.

What will happen to the tower and site after this work is finished?

Once the permanent Cairns terminal area radar has been upgraded and brought back into service, the temporary radar will be dismantled and removed from the site. The foundations and fencing will remain in place for possible future emergency use if required.