Perth Airport Expansion In The Works

Perth Airport has announced it has secured Broad Construction Services (WA) Pty Ltd to undertake the first stage of it’s A$300 million expansion works of the international terminal.

The initial construction stage will begin in May 2012, and includes a major expansion of the incoming duty free retail shops, immigration area on the first level and the baggage reclaim hall.

The expansion which is scheduled to be completed in 2014 will help alleviate the congestion in queuing and waiting times for its customers.

Perth Airport chief executive officer, Brad Geatches said the expansion would ensure the airport was able to meet the rapid growth in international passenger numbers.

 “We are very aware that, due to the growth in international passengers to over 3.3 million in 2011, more than 220,000 up on the prior year, the current international arrivals experience is not what it should be,” Mr Geatches said.

“We are committed to ensuring everyone who travels through Perth Airport has a high quality experience, so we are completely changing the arrivals journey and doubling the size of all processing areas.”

Mr Geatches said Broad Construction Services is also currently working on the construction of the new A$120 million Domestic Terminal, which will service regional WA and some interstate routes from early next year.

Additionally, in an effort to reduce congestion to the International Terminal, Perth Airport has just completed a new intersection between Tonkin Highway and Dunreath Drive.

The A$10 million intersection is located to the north of the current Tonkin Highway/Leach Highwayintersection.

The intersection allows passengers to travel between Tonkin Highway and the International Terminal, however, it does not allow access to the Domestic Terminals.

“We are investing more than A$750 million over three years to expand Perth Airport, and the transformation of the current International Terminal represents the first stage towards achieving our vision of having all commercial air services operating from one convenient location by 2020,” Mr Geatches added.

(Source: http://www.etravelblackboard.com/article/131126 )

New One Direction Shows Melt Ticketek

THE announcement of new 2013 shows for British boy band One Direction has sent ticketing website Ticketek into meltdown. Again. 
 
The band's second tour from September 11 to 29 next year, including concerts in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne Adelaide and Perth, was announced at the end of their last tour on the eve of their departure from Australia on April 18.


Ticketek announced on Twitter today that One Direction would now do two extra shows on the tour, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne, and tickets would be available from 5.30pm (AEST).
Fans took to the site and to Twitter, with some saying they'd had success, others saying the site froze and others appealing to people not buying tickets to get off the site.

This is not the first time the ticketing website has gone into overload. Ticketek was unable to complete purchases recently for those buying tickets for concerts for Prince in April and Radiohead earlier this year.

Not that it's stopping the One Direction fans. They're now calling for extra shows to be scheduled in Brisbane. 

New One Direction Shows Melt Ticketek

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This West Perth Car Rally Is For Everyone

 

 It’s not a race and it’s not a classic car show.

The West Perth car rally, being held this Sunday, April 29, is just a fun afternoon for families and friends to get in their cars and explore the back roads of West Perth, says organizer Dianne Oliver.
“When I drove around, I had no idea what’s here,” said Oliver, who came to Mitchell from London two years ago.

To give all residents a chance to really explore their backyard, Oliver and the rest of the tourism and community beautification committee have created a 100 km drive through West Perth. Rally participants will need to solve over 100 clues along the way, although Oliver said the rally is not a scavenger hunt and many clues can be solved without stopping and getting out of the car.
“It’s just for fun,” she said.

The answers will be posted at Lion’s Park in Mitchell, where the tour ends. Door prizes will be awarded and refreshments will also be available.

The tour starts at Wighty’s Repairs on Highway 8. Oliver said each car will be marked as a rally participant and a different vehicle will be sent out every two to three minutes.
She estimates that the entire tour will take between two to three hours. There are two washroom breaks built into the tour as well.

Registration for the West Perth Car Rally is from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, April 29 at Wighty’s Repairs on 122 Huron Rd. (Highway 8). The cost is $10 per vehicle.
This West Perth Car Rally Is For Everyone

It's Business Time: Flight Of The Conchords Announce Aussie Tour Dates

Song in their heart, laugh in their belly: Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. Picture: Channel Ten

AFTER sell-out tours in New Zealand, Kiwi comedy duo Flight of the Conchords will cross the Tasman for their first-ever run of Australian headline shows.

Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, who claim to be "New Zealand’s best export after sheep’s wool", will perform six shows in July.

"We are finally returning to Australia. Mostly to apologise,'' Clement said.

Flight of the Conchords have come a long way since winning Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival more than a decade ago.

After getting their start in stand up comedy, they created a radio series for BBC Radio 2 before making the acclaimed HBO comedy series Flight of the Conchords.

The series earned them a massive 10 Emmy nominations and a WGA nomination for Best Comedy Series.

Tickets go on sale on Tuesday 17 April via www.frontiertouring.com/fotc

Tour dates for Flight of the Conchords' Australian tour:

- Sydney Opera House - Thursday, July 5
- Brisbane Entertainment Centre - Saturday, July 7
- Newcastle Entertainment Centre - Tuesday, July 10
- WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong - Wednesday, July 11
- The Plenary, Melbourne - Saturday, July 14
- Challenge Stadium, Perth - Wednesday, July 18
It's Business Time: Flight Of The Conchords Announce Aussie Tour Dates

'Arrogant' NZ Breakers Fire Up Perth Wildcats

The perceived arrogance of reigning champions New Zealand will serve as a major motivating factor for the Perth Wildcats today in the opening game of the best-of-three NBL grand final series at Vector Arena.

'Arrogant' Breakers fire up Wildcats

The Wildcats were incensed by the Breakers' exuberant celebrations in the immediate aftermath of their last meeting in round 22 at Challenge Stadium, and coach Rob Beveridge has used video footage of the incident to fire up his players this week.

New Zealand's home-and-away wins over Perth in last season's semifinal series, which included a sensational 38-point haul from former Breakers star Kirk Penney in game two, also left a sour taste in the Wildcats' mouths.

"We've showed vision of them celebrating on our court and how cocky they are at times," Beveridge said.

"That there is a driving force for us. I just think it was a little bit arrogant the way they carried on after the games.

"I think you've got to be gracious in defeat and humble when you win.

"That's how I was brought up and they definitely didn't show that."

Wildcats co-captain Shawn Red-hage said his team was the underdog against a New Zealand side that has won 23 of 31 games this season.

The Breakers finished on top of the ladder for the second consecutive year and bounced back from a shock series-opening loss to Townsville to win their semifinal tie in three games.

Redhage admitted the round-22 clash, in which New Zealand beat Perth 101-99 in overtime, remained fresh in the memory.

"They were the top team all year and beat us on our home court," Redhage said.

"They celebrated nicely, so we'll remember that, and we're ready to go back over there (to Auckland).

"It's a tough place to play, they've got a great team, they know their roles and they're going to be ready for us.

"Any time someone comes to Perth and gets a win, those teams are usually pretty excited because it doesn't happen too often.
"Hopefully, we can exact revenge and get a win over there."

Talented New Zealand swingman Tom Abercrombie faces a final fitness test today after injuring his left ankle during the win over Townsville.

Breakers forward Gary Wilkinson is delighted that his side has the opportunity to defend last year's championship against the Wildcats.

"It's going to be a battle and I love playing against them," Wilkinson said.
"They come out hard every night and it's just a good feeling when we win because you know you've worked hard for it."

Tickets for game two of the grand final series at Challenge Stadium tomorrow week are available through Ticketmaster.