Runway Upgrade Programme
The runway upgrade featured an overlay and AGL modernisation to extend pavement life and update lighting. Works included western runway regrading to fix settlement and new tug roads for efficiency. Activities were staged in a live environment to ensure operational continuity
Sector
Aviation
Location
Brisbane, QLD
Project Overview
The runway upgrade programme comprised a runway overlay and Aeronautical Ground Lighting (AGL) upgrade to extend pavement life and modernise airfield lighting systems. Works also included western runway regrade activities to correct settlement and restore compliant pavement geometry, along with the construction and upgrade of tug roads to improve aircraft ground movement efficiency. All works were delivered within a live airfield environment, requiring careful staging to maintain operational continuity.
Client’s Requirements
Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) required comprehensive cost validation and estimating services prior to tendering the separable portions of works, ensuring commercial confidence, budget alignment, and governance readiness before proceeding to market.
The programme comprised:
• Runway Overlay and Aeronautical Ground Lighting (AGL) Upgrade
• Western Runway Regrade Works
• Tug Roads
For the Runway Overlay and AGL Upgrade separable portion, Brisbane Airport required an independent estimate review of the previously prepared 90% design estimate. The review was to validate scope completeness, pricing assumptions, construction methodology, staging impacts, and risk allowances within the live airfield environment, ensuring the estimate was robust, Transparent, and suitable for internal approval processes.
For the Western Runway Regrade Works and Tug Roads separable portions, Brisbane Airport required the preparation of detailed first-principles estimates based on developed design documentation. These estimates were to incorporate comprehensive quantity take-offs, productivity-based rate build-ups, and clear delineation of direct and indirect costs, reflecting airside operational constraints and constructability considerations.
Across all separable portions, the client required governance-ready cost outputs that enabled comparison of scope elements, confirmation of budget adequacy, and informed decision-making prior to progressing to construction.
The overarching requirement was to achieve cost certainty, transparency, and commercial confidence across the Runway Upgrade Programme within a complex live operational airport environment.
Our Contribution
Anhur Dynamics Consulting delivered independent and detailed estimating services to Brisbane Airport Corporation to support pre-tender budget validation and commercial readiness across all separable portions.For the Runway Overlay and Aeronautical Ground Lighting (AGL) Upgrade, we undertook an independent review of the previously prepared 90% design estimate. This review included validation of scope completeness, construction methodology, staging assumptions within the live airfield environment, rate build-ups, risk allowances, and overall cost alignment with market conditions. The objective was to provide BAC with an impartial and governance-ready confirmation of estimate robustness prior to tender release.
For the Western Runway Regrade Works and Tug Roads separable portions, we prepared detailed first-principles estimates based on a comprehensive review of all design documentation. Our services included full measurement and quantity take-offs, development of productivity calculations, development of transparent first-principles rate build-ups, and direct engagement with the contractor market to benchmark and test key cost inputs.
A detailed Basis of Estimate (BoE) report was prepared for each separable portion, clearly documenting assumptions, inclusions, exclusions, methodologies, staging impacts, and pricing logic. This ensured full transparency, auditability, and alignment with BAC’s procurement strategy. Through this structured and methodical approach, we strengthened cost certainty, enhanced market readiness, and provided Brisbane Airport Corporation with a defensible and investment-aligned cost position across the entire Runway Upgrade Programme prior to tendering.
Competitive Advantage
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Providing an independent validation of the 90% design estimate for the Runway Overlay and AGL Upgrade, strengthening confidence in scope completeness, pricing assumptions, and risk allowances prior to market release
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Undertaking detailed measurement, quantity take-offs, and productivity validation for the Western Runway Regrade and Tug Roads separable portions to eliminate reliance on high- level allowances
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Developing transparent first-principles rate build- ups aligned with live airfield construction constraints and staging requirements
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Engaging directly with the contractor and supplier market to benchmark key rates and ensure pricing reflected current conditions
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Preparing comprehensive Basis of Estimate (BoE) reports to provide full transparency of assumptions, methodologies, inclusions, exclusions, and risk considerations
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Structuring outputs to support procurement strategy decisions and governance approval prior to tender
Through disciplined quantity surveying methodologies, independent commercial scrutiny, and market-informed pricing, Anhur Dynamics Consulting enhanced budget certainty, reduced procurement risk, and positioned the Runway Upgrade Programme with a defensible and investment-grade cost baseline. This provided BAC with greater confidence in proceeding to tender within a complex live operational airport environment.