ARFFS Proserpine Fire Station
The Whitsunday Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) Airport Fire Station was delivered to meet CASA requirements triggered by sustained passenger growth at Whitsunday Coast Airport.
Client: Airservices Australia
Location: Proserpine, QLD
MODE Expertise: Architecture, Interior Design
ARFFS Proserpine Fire Station
The Whitsunday Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) Airport Fire Station was delivered to meet CASA requirements triggered by sustained passenger growth at Whitsunday Coast Airport.
Following the airport exceeding 350,000 annual passenger movements, Airservices Australia was required to establish a new Category 6 fire station and supporting infrastructure to ensure continued aviation safety compliance and operational readiness.
Delivered by MODE in collaboration with ADCO Constructions under a Design and Construct model, the project establishes a purpose-built emergency response facility on a greenfield site on the council side of the airport.
The facility is designed to support rapid response operations, with a drive-through fire station configuration accommodating up to 8 x 8 fire trucks with high axle load requirements. The building includes operational offices, amenities, kitchen facilities and a gym to support 24/7 emergency response operations.
Constructed using structural steel and fibre cement cladding, the facility is supported by extensive civil works including approximately 8,000m² of concrete pavement and 8,000m² of asphalt, including a dedicated emergency runway access road directly connecting to the airstrip. Existing water and sewer infrastructure was also re-engineered to enable on-site treatment due to remote service connections.
A key focus of the design development process was improving operational efficiency, with MODE refining and rationalising circulation pathways to ensure all functional spaces connect directly to the primary response route, reducing response times and supporting critical emergency readiness.
Delivered within a live operational airport environment, the project required close coordination between all stakeholders, with stringent safety, staging and traffic management strategies ensuring uninterrupted airport operations throughout construction.