THE proposed master plan for Moorabbin Airport has been knocked back by the federal government.
Infrastructure, transport and regional development minister Barnaby Joyce announced that the plan had been rejected under the Commonwealth Airports Act last week.
The draft master plan put out by Moorabbin Airport last year outlined a number of objectives, including “growing flight training activity to 1,800 students per year, an increase of 450 students from 2020 levels and forecast as the safe maximum achievable within airspace capacity constraints of the airport”, “investing a further $300 million in aviation and non-aviation activities by 2029”, and “simplifying the airport’s planning framework by reducing the number of land use precincts from seven to five, and aligning associated zoning and planning controls for aviation and non-aviation areas”.
Kingston Council has been campaigning against the approval of the master plan. The mayor Steve Staikos has expressed fears that the plan “continues the trend of previous master plans that facilitated substantial non-aviation development, further threatening to squeeze out aviation businesses.”
“We welcome the Australian Government’s refusal of the proposed master plan and believe it sends a clear signal in support of the local aviation industry,” Cr Staikos said. “We want to see adequate space set aside around runways to ensure safety and secure a strong future for aviation businesses, plus see much tighter controls to limit commercial development near neighbouring homes.
“We believe the decision at Moorabbin Airport is an important one for local governments around Australia who have a strong role to play in enhancing aviation policy.”
Kingston councillor Tracey Davies said that council is “looking forward to working with MAC, the Moorabbin Airport Chamber of Commerce and the Australian Government to develop an enhanced plan that meets the needs of the aviation industry and neighbouring residents.”
Moorabbin Airport was contacted for comment.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 6 April 2022
