Airport Development Group reinforces commitment to safety during Airport Safety Week 2025

Airport Development Group (ADG) joined airports across Australia and New Zealand from 13–17 October to celebrate Airport Safety Week 2025, part of National Safe Work Month 2025, reaffirming its commitment to workplace and aviation safety across the Northern Territory and Cairns.



The initiative, led by the Australian Airports Association (AAA) and New Zealand Airports Association (NZ Airports), brings together airport teams, tenants, contractors, and community partners to focus on safety awareness, education, and continuous improvement.

ADG launched the week at Darwin International Airport, with the executive leadership hosting team members and stakeholders to officially commence activities across its airports, including at Alice Springs Airport.

Key Highlights



• Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Walk: Teams at Darwin and Alice Springs airports inspected airfield areas to identify and remove debris that could pose a risk to aircraft operations. Alice Springs’ FOD Walk was joined by Alice Springs Town Council CEO Andrew Wilsmore, showcasing the value of local collaboration.

• Snake Handling Awareness Training: ADG team members and a cross section of key stakeholders based at the airports received practical safety guidance for outdoor and airside environments.

• A series of educational sessions and wellbeing initiatives, including webinars on safety culture, emergency management, CPR, fire extinguisher training, and wellbeing workshops.



“The FOD Walk is an important hands-on reminder that safety is everyone’s responsibility,” said Melanie Cobbin, Head of Airport Operations at ADG. “Removing hazards like debris protects aircraft and equipment, but it also reinforces our collective accountability for maintaining a safe and operational airfield.”

Tony Edmondstone, ADG CEO, noted: “Airport Safety Week is part of the larger conversation of National WorkSafe Month 2025. It’s about keeping safety front of mind, learning from each other, and ensuring our teams, passengers, and community stay safe every day.”

ADG also welcomed NT WorkSafe CEO Grant Hastie to participate in the Darwin events, acknowledging the importance of industry-wide collaboration in promoting safety.

Ms Cobbin added “Safety is the foundation of everything we do at ADG. Airport Safety Week strengthens our culture of awareness, learning, and care, which keeps our team members and passengers safe every single day.”