The endorsement of the Avalon Airport Master Plan by the Federal Department of Defence is set to trigger a new wave of development opportunities for one of our region’s greatest assets.
Federal Member for Corangamite, Sarah Henderson, welcomed the approval of the Avalon Airport Master Plan which provides for a significant expansion of the airport’s operations, as well as the establishment of non-aviation related developments.
The Avalon Master Plan provides the planning mechanism to:
• expand the existing domestic terminal to accommodate international operations without a Major Development Plan (up to 10,000 square metres);
• construct a new international terminal and airfreight terminals as well as provision to extend the existing runway and build additional runways;
• develop the site to accommodate retail, commercial and industrial operations;
• continue the Australian International Airshow until at least 2025;
• construct a rail link into the airport; and
• develop recreational and sporting facilities.
Under the Master Plan, the curfew free status of the airport will continue and the City of Greater Geelong will remain the Planning Authority.
This new Master Plan incorporates the planning provisions within the new Special Use Zone 11 approved by the Victorian Government in late 2014, providing consistency of development planning mechanisms across all three levels of Government. The Master Plan is effective September 2015 and is current for a 20 year period.
“Avalon Airport has the potential to be a very significant driver of jobs, new industries and economic growth. With the Federal Government’s commitment to help fund an international terminal (contingent on an international deal being concluded), I am very keen to see Avalon finalise a commercial deal to bring international flights to our region,” Ms Henderson said.
“As someone who has fought so hard to support Avalon’s international aspirations, this planning approval is an important next step. Let’s not forget that when Avalon Airport landed an international deal with AirAsia X back in 2008, the previous Federal Labor Government cited planning restrictions as one reason that international flights would not be permitted. This goes down in history as one of Federal Labor’s most destructive economic decisions for our region.”
The CEO of Avalon Airport, Justin Giddings, said: “While future developments will in many instances require final Department of Defence and City of Greater Geelong approval, the sky is the limit in terms of the opportunities now available at Avalon Airport.
“The Avalon Airport Masterplan provides a great opportunity for new developments which will create jobs and significant economic benefits for the region,” Mr Giddings concluded.
Avalon Airport Background
Avalon Airport was leased to the Linfox Group by the Department of Defence in 1997. Avalon Airport Australia Pty Ltd (AAA) owns the leasehold and forms part of the Linfox Airports Group.
Avalon Airport is situated around 50 kilometres from Melbourne and 20 kilometres from Geelong. Established in 1952 for Australian aerospace defence purposes, Avalon Airport has played a leading role in Australia’s aviation industry for over 50 years.
Avalon is a State Significant Asset which has a 3,048 m runway. It is capable of landing the A380 and other large aircraft. It has 5km of taxiways and 32 ha of sealed surfaces. It has modern navigational aids and simultaneous hydrant refuelling for multiple aircraft. It has a passenger terminal capable of handling over 2 million passenger movements per year and car parking for over 2,000 vehicles. It has 55,000 m2 of hangar space including 3 wide bodied aircraft hangars. It has huge areas of underutilised land available for new uses. No other Australian state has a second airport with anything like these facilities.
In June 2015 Jetstar and Avalon Airport announced a new 10 year agreement that will see Jetstar operate more flights and destinations from Avalon. As part of this arrangement Jetstar will commence a new daily Gold Coast service on 26 October 2015.
11 October 2015