Sunshine Coast Airport redeclared security controlled with new airside area

Sunshine Coast Airport has been re-declared a security controlled airport by the Department of Home Affairs, which simultaneously revoked its earlier declaration and established a new airside area for the facility. The decision, taken under the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004, was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 8 September 2026 as notice NTC-31159 (official reference C2026G00593).

The notice was signed on 27 August 2026 by Gerome Balangue, a Delegate of the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs (Position No. 48000573), and takes effect upon publication in the Gazette.

Revocation of the previous declaration

The new notice revokes the earlier instrument NTC-30341, which had declared Sunshine Coast Airport a security controlled airport and was published in the Gazette on 22 April 2026 under reference C2026G00252. The revocation and the fresh declaration are made under subsection 28(2) of the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004.

Under the same instrument, the Delegate establishes, in accordance with section 29 of the Act, an airside area for the airport, being the area indicated on the attached map that forms part of the notice. The boundaries of the airport are likewise shown on that map.

What the declaration means

A security controlled airport declaration brings the facility within the security framework of the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004, imposing obligations on airport operators, airlines and other industry participants. The designation of a defined airside area determines the zone in which aviation security measures apply.

• The airport operator must maintain an approved transport security program.
• Airlines and other regulated entities must comply with the security requirements for the declared airside area.
• Travellers and staff moving through the airside zone are subject to the applicable screening and access controls.

Validity and scope

The notice states that it remains in force until otherwise revoked in writing and upon subsequent publication in the Gazette. It applies to Sunshine Coast Airport and its newly defined airside area, replacing the previous security controlled declaration of April 2026.

For airport operators, airlines and travellers using Sunshine Coast Airport, the re-declaration confirms the continuation of the airport’s security controlled status while updating the boundaries of the protected airside zone. The change reflects the regulatory requirement that security declarations and their associated areas be kept current and accurately mapped.

Source: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, Government Notices, 8 September 2026, p. NTC-31159 (official reference: C2026G00593).