Melbourne Airport’s draft Master Plan available for public comment

The 2013 draft Master Plan sets out the vision for the development of the airport over the next 20 years to cater for the 64 million passengers who are forecast to come through the airport each year by 2033 (compared to 29 million this year).

Specifically, the 2013 draft Master Plan includes:

• A proposed new runway to meet capacity demands. With the existing two-runway system expected to reach capacity around the end of the decade, Melbourne Airport has proposed a new east-west runway as its third runway. The new runway will be located 2km to the south of the existing east-west runway and will be 3km in length.

• Long-term road solution. An elevated loop road built above the existing road network is proposed to cater for more vehicles and reduce travel time as the number of passengers using the airport grows. The loop road will be constructed in stages over several years, with the first stage expected to begin in 2015.

• Environment Strategy. The Environment Strategy addresses the key environmental issues associated with the airport's operations and proposed actions by the airport to address them and protect and improve the environment.

• Ground transport. The draft Master Plan includes details of initiatives to facilitate the movement of people to and from the airport, including a proposed airport rail link and upgrades to roads and transport connections.

• Airport safeguarding. The Master Plan sets out the importance of state and local planning policies and controls to land-use and development around the airport, to protect communities that surround the airport.

The 2013 draft Master Plan also includes updated Australian Noise Exposure Forecasts (ANEF) contours which show the areas affected by aircraft noise. These noise contours are updated every five years when a new master plan is prepared. In order to help the community better understand the impact of aircraft noise in their area, an online noise tool has been developed to show the forecast impact of aircraft noise, including changes to noise contours. The noise tool is available at www.melbourneairport.com.au/noise-tool

According to Melbourne Airport CEO, Chris Woodruff, the 2013 draft Master Plan is an important milestone in the development of Melbourne Airport, and an important blueprint for Victoria's economic future.

"The draft Master Plan highlights the economic and social importance of Melbourne Airport and how its future growth will continue to drive the Victorian economy, including more than doubling spending by interstate and international visitors from $8.5 billion to $18 billion by 2033; growing the number of jobs directly related to airport operations from more than 14,000 now to 23,000; and more than doubling the airport's contribution to Gross State Product from $1.47 billion to $3.2 billion over the next couple of decades."

The draft Master Plan also sets the scene for a $10 billion investment in airport infrastructure over the next two decades.

"Melbourne Airport is about to embark on the most significant period of growth since it opened in 1970, and the publication of our preliminary draft Master Plan is an opportunity for all Victorians to comment on our plans," Mr Woodruff said.

The draft Master Plan will be submitted to the Commonwealth Minister for Infrastructure and Transport for approval following the public consultation process which runs for sixty business days from today.