Airport looking at acquisition of land for runway and expansion

PEOPLE living in Gladstone Park are angry at Melbourne Airport expansion plans after its latest land acquisition moves.

Melbourne Airport is considering the acquisition of more land for expansion and a new runway.

PEOPLE living close to Melbourne Airport say they are worried about scarce consultation on a proposal to acquire land in Tullamarine to expand its runway development.

The Department of Finance last week published three notices which said the Commonwealth of Australia was “considering the acquisition of the interests” in three pieces of land near the airport.

The mostly vacant land, more than 182ha in total, was listed as 115 and 145 Bassett Rd and 185-215 McNabs Rd, Tullamarine.

The notices said if the land was acquired, it would be leased to Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne).

Acquisition would facilitate expansion of the airport’s runway system, as detailed in the Melbourne Airport Master Plan, subject to all other relevant approvals being obtained.

ACTION GROUP TAKES RUNWAY FIGHT TO PREMIER

THIRD RUNWAY FEARS NOT ADDRESSED

RESIDENTS MAKE NOISE OVER THIRD RUNWAY PLAN

THIRD RUNWAY CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF

The masterplan includes proposals to expand the airport’s north-south runway to 4500m, lengthen the east-west runway to 3500m and build a third and fourth runway.

Hume Residents Airport Action Group secretary and Gladstone Park resident Frank Rivoli said the pre-acquisition notices were worded “ambiguously”.

He said the notices did not specify what exactly the Bassett Rd and McNabs Rd land would be used for.

“It is not providing accurate information to the reader, it’s not clear,” Mr Rivoli said.

“It shows they want the land, but won’t tell us what for.”

A Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development spokesman said there had been plans since the 1990s to expand Melbourne Airport to cater for future growth.

He said passenger movements through the airport were expected to double to 64 million passengers a year by 2033.

The department spokesman said the expansion land would facilitate this growth, including plans for a new east-west runway, subject to the relevant approval processes.

“Over the past decade, neighbouring landowners have negotiated with the operators of Melbourne Airport to sell the majority of land required for the airport’s expansion,” the spokesman said.

“The Department of Finance is now assisting the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development to acquire the remaining land required for the airport runway expansion.

“Pre-acquisition declarations are published in the newspaper to inform the community and copies provided to affected persons.”

Gladstone Park resident Dennis Ruggiero said a health study into how a third runway would affect the community should have been completed by now.

“I think it’s ridiculous, they fly over people all over the world, if it affects people in Chicago or Mumbai, it will affect people in Australia,” he said.

Fellow Gladstone Park resident Keith Munday said a third runway meant planes would be flying as low as 300m to 500m above homes in the suburb.

“It’s ridiculous — it’s too close,” he said.

“There will be planes flying over homes and dropping carcinogenic fumes over people trying to have a quiet time with their families on a Sunday, or live quietly.”

Melbourne Airport was contacted for comment.