The ‘eco-efficient’ airport metropolis :aligning economics, stakeholder interests and environmental objectives

The coming of the ‘airport city’ is widely recognised, but research determining stakeholder interests, and in particular, ecological objectives, in meaningful and weighted terms, remains neglected. Some privatised airports increasingly see their most important stakeholders as private equity investors and superannuants in funds that have injected significant amounts into airports, underwriting their expansion and development. Clearly though, there is a role for local residents, precinct users, and ecologically trained economists to play in airport expansion planning and management. Assuming that ‘distanced’ airport shareholders are more likely to prioritise economic-based objectives than local community stakeholders and scientific experts, a tension which hitherto did not exist now tempers airport development strategies. I identify 5 “ends objectives” for the airport metropolis out of a longer list the Brisbane Airport Corporation cites. Much effort has been put into developing sustainability indicators. However, these indicators need to be weighted to develop a hierarchy of objectives to achieve a balance between the various interests. Such a balance is not only fundamental to achieving a degree of sustainability, it may also enable synergies of co-operation and integration at the economic, environmental and social levels. This paper discusses attitudes and approaches to objectives by the airport metropolis stakeholder pool, and canvasses strategies for harmonising interfacial planning and decision making initiatives based on findings. It is preliminary research that provides front-end input for decision-making models whether currently in existence or yet to be designed.