September 2023
Moorabbin Airport Corporation has received a green light for its 2021 Master Plan from the Commonwealth Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon. Catherine King, outlining plans for Moorabbin Airport’s growth and renewal over the next two decades.
Recognised as a leading Australian airport for flight training as well as a State Significant Place for Victoria and a key activity centre for the City of Kingston, the approved Plan will see $285 million invested in the Airport over the next eight years, bringing direct investment in the precinct to over $500 million since its privatisation in 1998.
As a result, the Airport is set to generate a 38 per cent increase in economic benefit per year, up from $870 million to $1.2 billion per year, by 2029. As one of four purpose-built aviation flight training airports in Australia, the approved Master Plan was updated and finalised via collaboration with the Commonwealth and key stakeholders and outlines plans for the Airport to remain focused on aviation activities. With land use framed around aviation, the Aviation Development Plan (ADP) aims to further expand the Airport’s aviation floorspace - which has increased by 20 per cent since pre-privatisation - with 43 per cent of floorspace further renewed over the past two decades.
Key inclusions in the approved ADP will see the addition of new and upgraded training sites to accommodate over 1,800 students per year as well as an extra 100 aircraft to be developed, cumulatively providing 720 aviation parking spaces for customers. Significantly, an extra 10,000 sqm of new apron pavement will also be developed. Supporting stakeholder feedback, the airside fence on the western boundary of Precinct 2 will remain unchanged – as set out in the 2015 Master Plan.
The provision for sustainable aviation initiatives such as electric, hydrogen and environmentally friendly engines, increased online training and use of simulators, as well as modern airport design and technologies are further planned to revolutionise the Airport and improve community well-being, noise control, emission footprints and logistics delivery. 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,” says Moorabbin Airport Corporation CEO, Paul Ferguson.
Awarded Metro Airport of the Year in 2022 by the Australian Airports Association (AAA), the 2021 Master Plan will continue and extend Moorabbin Airport’s efforts made to deliver a safe, sustainable and improved airfield for its customers and the local community well into the future.
“Moorabbin Airport plays a significant role as a key transport gateway - its continued viability as a purpose-built base for aviation flight training and education is essential for the growth of our aviation industry in Australia,” says, Australian Airports Association CEO James Goodwin. “The AAA is pleased to support the 2021 Master Plan, which will help to connect Australian airport members and partners with a progressive, safe and sustainable airbase for long-term viability."
Making these upgrades to aviation activities possible, the 2021 Master Plan also identifies 200,000 sqm on 40 hectares of land for appropriate non-aviation development, which will make way for vital facilities and infrastructure that partly supports aviation functions of the Airport. “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,” says Ferguson.
“Developments and renewal are essential to the Airport. This is consistent with the Commonwealth’s policy of commercial development being essential to 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.”
Locally, Moorabbin Airport has the potential to be a key feature in the City of Kingston’s economic recovery due to the extent of investment planned in the 2021 Master Plan. Over the last five years, the Airport contributed to 30 per cent of new jobs created in the City of Kingston and represents 7 per cent of employment in the area, also providing nine per cent of the municipality’s economic activity each year. “Moorabbin Airport has been a cornerstone of the City of Kingston for over 74 years. This is our fifth Master Plan since privatisation; it is a process that ensures regular engagement with our community to enable us to deliver and plan for our, and our stakeholder joint futures for viable outcomes for the Airport,” added Ferguson. Recording over 8.4 million visits at the Airport each year, Moorabbin Airport Corporation supports over 30-plus community initiatives each year, benefitting 15,000 people, 100 organisations and 120 events via financial contributions or in-kind support to youth, charities, Airport customers, local emergency services, the aviation industry, Australian National Aviation Museum and FareShare Garden.
“Moorabbin Airport’s success as an urban centre for economic activity is the result of 20 years of strategic planning, delivery, safety and customer support. We look forward to this next Master Plan period, which will grow the Airport’s reach and further our ability to safely support the aviation industry, as well as the local community well into the future,” says Ferguson.
Moorabbin Airport Corporation For more information regarding Moorabbin Airport, and to read the 2021 Moorabbin Airport Master Plan, please visit MAC’s website https://www.moorabbinairport.com.au/
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