Fresh push for eastern air hub

By DANNY BUTTLER
A LONG-AWAITED major airport to service the eastern side of Melbourne is back on the agenda.
The State Government has set the cat among the seagulls with a planning blueprint that includes a domestic air hub at Tooradin or another site in West or South Gippsland.
Planning Minister Matthew Guy said a third major airport, which was a proposal in the Metropolitan Planning Strategy discussion paper released last week, could service 250,000 people every year.
“It is one (proposal) that a number of country councils and the Committee for Gippsland have raised with us and it is one that would optimise the reverse commute,” he said.
Domestic flights would see 300-seat planes landing at Tooradin, with the potential for international flights to be routed there in the future.
Nola Delorenzo, who owns Wings and Fins Seafood Restaurant at Tooradin Airport, said she would love a new runway and terminal to be built.
Ms Delorenzo believes a more direct route for Chinese tourist could help encourage more visitors to Victoria.
“If they had a domestic airport out this side, all the people who people who come from Asia can get off at Sydney, catch a flight to Tooradin and head straight to Phillip Island,” she said.
Like many eastern suburbs residents, Ms Delorenzo said getting to and from Tullamarine was becoming an increasingly frustrating experience.
“If you have an 11am flight you have to leave by six o’clock,” she said.
“If the tunnels go down it there is an accident we are in big trouble.”
Since Minister Guy raised the issue, the third airport has been the hot-button issue in the area.
“I was in Cranbourne and it was the talk of the town last week,” Ms Delorenzo said.
City of Casey chief executive officer Mike Tyler said there had been discussion
about a possible third airport for Melbourne in the Casey-Cardinia region for longer
than 30 years.
“There would clearly be economic benefits to the Casey-Cardinia region by the
establishment of the proposed airport.
“Not only would it be convenient for residents but it would generate jobs and the jobs
would be in the opposite direction to the general peak traffic flow which would make
better use of existing and future transport infrastructure.
“It would provide a significant economic stimulus to the region.
“The City of Casey welcomes further information from the State Government on the
proposal.”
The proposal has also been backed by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (VIC), which said a third major airport it would strengthen Victoria’s economy.
Executive director of the UDIA Tony De Domenico said the commitment to the establishment of the third domestic airport in this location would be a major boost to business confidence.
“We believe this will have wide support across the community who would support action to get the first stage of the project on the current agenda,” he said.