The Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, has today approved the Essendon Airport Master Plan.
In approving the airport's strategic direction for the next 20 years, the minister said that Essendon Airport had a strong and vibrant future.
“The aviation sector plays a critical role in building a strong national economy and Essendon Airport makes a significant contribution to Victoria's economy,” he said.
“It plays an import role as one of Victoria's regional gateways and as an aviation employment cluster in Melbourne's inner north.
Essendon Airport currently supports 4200 jobs directly and development over the next five years is expected to support an additional 2000 jobs.
The Plan states operations at the airport contributed around $485 million a year to the City of Moonee Valley's economy, with this figure expected to increase by $187 million a year over two decades of the Master Plan.
Truss said he recognised there was significant interest within the community about the proposed investigation into the shortening of the airport's north-south runway.
“My approval of the 2013 Master Plan is not an approval for this proposal to proceed,” he pointed out.
“A decision on this proposal will only be reached after Essendon Airport completes a very detailed investigation involving examination of operational, safety and environmental impacts, including from aircraft noise.
“The outcome of this investigation will then need to be considered through the regulatory processes under the Airports Act 1996. A key component of these regulatory processes is public consultation.”
Truss said the Master Plan included significant non-aviation developments.
“However, I will not agree to any development which would compromise the use of Essendon for aviation,” he said.
“The Government is committed to supporting sustainable growth in civil aviation."
Essendon Airport management now has 50 business days to make the Master Plan public.