MOORABBIN Airport’s master plan has been approved by the federal government.
The fate of the master plan has been unclear since last year. The previous federal government rejected the Moorabbin Airport Corporation’s draft master plan in 2022. The new master plan, approved by infrastructure minister Catherine King earlier this month, replaces the 2015 master plan.
Opponents to the master plan have voiced concerns about the amount of land set aside for non-aviation use. Moorabbin Airport Corporation CEO Paul Ferguson said “we’re committed to creating a world-leading sustainable, mixed-use urban site with safe aviation, training and education facilities while supporting commercial, industrial and retail operations to drive employment growth and local community prosperity.”
“Developments and renewal are essential to the airport. This is consistent with the Commonwealth’s policy of commercial development being essential to the airport’s operational and financial viability. Moorabbin Airport relies on a thriving ecosystem of mixed-used customers for aviation space growth and funding. With aviation at our heart, areas that are for non-aviation will greatly help to upgrade legacy infrastructure to benefit aviation and non-aviation customers,” he said. “The focus of Moorabbin Airport always was, and always will be, on safe aviation. Our approach for future land use is framed around growth, intent on improving our airspace, flight training and education as well as sustainable aviation infrastructure.”
Infrastructure minister Catherine King said the decision took the concerns of other stakeholders into account. “I acknowledge that there have been stakeholder concerns with the master planning process relating to Moorabbin Airport, particularly around community engagement and general aviation planning processes. However, the plan resolves a number of stakeholder concerns raised with the previous draft and paves a strong path for growth,” she said. “This includes by setting flight training as a strategic driver of the airport’s development plan, with student numbers set to increase from the current 1,350 to 1,800 by 2041.
“[The master plan] tightens land use controls to protect the core aviation precinct, confirms the airside fence on the Western apron will not be moving, and highlights Moorabbin Airport Corporation’s commitment to act to minimise environmental impact in targeting net-zero by 2050.”
A statement from the Moorabbin Airport Corporation says that the plan will lead to $285 million in investments into the airport in the next eight years. “The Airport is set to generate a 38% increase in economic benefit per year for the Airport’s stakeholders and the local community – up from $870 million to $1.2 billion per year, by 2029,” the MAC said.
Kingston Council publicly called for more consultation to take place last month (“Airport neighbours left in the dark” The News 30/8/23).
To read the Moorabbin Airport Masterplan 2021 visit moorabbinairport.com.au/about-us/planning
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 13 September 2023