Melbourne Airport’s annual stakeholder update

Melbourne Airport CEO, Mr Chris Woodruff, outlined the airport's long term vision to improve airport access and reduce traffic congestion on the airport precinct at the annual stakeholder update held in Melbourne last night.

"We're proposing to build a new, single direction, elevated road that will sit above our existing road network."

"As we look to double our passenger numbers to around 60 million passengers per annum, this new road will enable us to provide access while reducing the amount of time it takes to travel through the airport precinct," Mr Woodruff said.

"The project is still very much in its early stages of design and planning and is also several years from completion, but it's the kind of major project that is necessary for us to meet the future demand for access to Melbourne Airport," said Mr Woodruff.

Mr Woodruff said the road is likely to be constructed in stages and would cost several hundred million dollars.

One of the key features of the proposed new road loop is to separate pedestrians and vehicles.

"The safest and most efficient terminal designs separate pedestrians and vehicles. We envisage that passengers will be picked-up and dropped-off by different transport modes within new multi-level structures that will be adjacent to the terminals."

Mr Woodruff said Melbourne Airport was planning to invest more than one billion dollars over the next five years on airside and landside infrastructure.

This includes plans for the new Southern Precinct domestic terminal to support the growth in the domestic passenger market, in addition to the current refurbishment of the T3 terminal in conjunction with Virgin Australia.

Concept illustrations of the proposed new domestic terminal were also released. Construction is proposed to commence in the new year subject to final planning and Board approval and agreement with airline customers.

"Over the last year we've completed a number of important projects, including the redevelopment of our international terminal and the opening of two new baggage reclaim units in international arrivals. Outside the terminal, we completed the first stage of our terminal forecourt redevelopment, and we also opened the $26 million APAC Drive On-ramp."

Mr Woodruff said Melbourne Airport would release its draft master plan for the future development of Melbourne Airport for public comment in early 2013 prior to its submission to the Commonwealth Minister for Infrastructure and Transport for approval.

"The Master Plan will set out how we plan to develop Melbourne Airport over the next twenty years, during which our passenger numbers are forecast to grow to 60 million passengers per annum.

"The Master Plan will cover future airfield, terminal and landside development at Melbourne Airport including projects such as the elevated loop road. It will also include provision for a future rail link which is currently being investigated through the Victorian Government's Melbourne Airport Rail Link Study."

Mr Woodruff said the continued growth of Melbourne Airport and its curfew-free operations was a major competitive advantage for Melbourne and Victoria, and supported the state's economic prosperity and social and cultural well-being.