By DANIELLE GALVIN
AFTER years of speculation, Casey’s closest neighbour could be home to Melbourne’s third major airport following the release of the Plan Melbourne report.
Minister for Planning Matthew Guy confirmed that the Cardinia Shire Council had scouted possible sites for the airport which would serve the south-east and Gippsland.
Speaking to the much-anticipated report on Wednesday morning, Mr Guy said the possible sites for the airport were between Kooweerup and Lang Lang.
In July, Star News Group reported that a site in Monomeith had been earmarked as a possible location.
“An airport to the south-east of Melbourne would serve one-third of Victoria’s population including the 300,000 residents of Gippsland,” Mr Guy said.
“It would have the benefit of good transport connections and the potential of future rail access.”
The State Government will now work with the shire to investigate the sites.
“After identifying a preferred location, we can investigate a process for private sector investment in the development of a new airport in this corridor,” he said.
Mr Guy said the southern and eastern regions of Melbourne are projected to grow by up to 1 million residents by 2050, bringing the population catchment of a south-east airport up to about 3 million, the same as south-east Queensland.
He said the airport would complement the new Port of Hastings and that there would be no changes to the Tooraddin Airport which is primarily used for flight training.
Cardinia shire Mayor Brett Owen said the airport would serve a population of 2.7 million people, including the 1.5 million people who live in the Dandenong and the south-east region and 300,000 residents of Gippsland.
“People want it, Melbourne needs it, it can happen here,” he said.
