Yellowknife Airport land use plan sets out growth vision

The Northwest Territories government has published a land use plan for Yellowknife Airport that identifies the west side terminal area as the preferred option for long-term development, according to a Department of Infrastructure news release issued Oct. 9.

The Yellowknife Airport Land Use Plan, posted on the FlyYZF website, is a framework for future airport development and land use decisions. It points to opportunities for aviation, commercial and infrastructure development while weighing operational, environmental and community considerations.

“The Yellowknife Airport Land Use Plan is an important milestone in the Yellowknife Airport Gateway Strategy,” Infrastructure Minister Vince McKay said in the release. McKay described the plan as a roadmap for growth and investment that supports connectivity and economic development across the territory.

The plan was developed with the YZF Economic Advisory Committee and through consultation with stakeholders, including the Department of National Defence. The release gave no dollar figures, passenger counts or completion dates.

The land use plan is one part of the broader Gateway Strategy, a long-term initiative to strengthen the airport’s role in economic development across the N.W.T. The strategy is now moving into a phase focused on implementation planning, investment readiness and support for future growth.

Current work at the airport includes construction of runway end safety areas, design planning for terminal washroom upgrades and continued work with National Defence on the Runway Taxiway Expansion Project, the release said.

The plan arrives as the territory weighs its finances. Earlier this year, the N.W.T. forecast a $39-million deficit and a $790-million capital budget, and MLAs have pressed for shorter medical flights for seniors, a reminder of how much the territory depends on air links. The full plan is available as a PDF on the airport’s website, and the territorial release is on the government newsroom.

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