The community is invited and encouraged to provide feedback on the proposal when the application is publicly exhibited in the coming weeks.

Prepared by architecture firm STEA, and informed through consultation previously undertaken with airport user groups, the plan is for the terminal building to extend just past the current airside gates and would include airport screening, a search room, upgraded staff room, an external seating area with access to the café, and the separation of incoming and departing passengers.

Through pursuing a modular expansion, there will be little disturbance to the current terminal footprint and allow for further sections to be added as the need arises into the future.

BVSC project manager Jenny Symons said the key aims of the project were to improve passenger comfort and safety and importantly future-proof the airport for the foreseeable future.

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“STEA have an excellent track record of designing airport terminals and we are very confident in the work that has been done in preparing these plans,” Ms Symons said.

“They comprise the bare minimum needed to allow for the introduction of security screening for passengers and their baggage, which could become mandatory at any time and is required for the airport to cater for any aircraft larger than the current Rex fleet.

“Heating and cooling of the building will be improved through the use of environmentally friendly instantaneous heating and fan driven ventilation and cost effective measures are being incorporated to ensure that the terminal’s presentation to arriving travellers will reflect its key role as a gateway to the area.

“Feedback from user groups about the importance of features such as the external seating area has been incorporated into the design and careful attention has been paid to ensuring disruption to the terminal’s operations will be minimised during the construction phase,” Ms Symons said.