New images show scale of development at Melbourne Airport property precincts

Swathes of land around Melbourne Airport are being transformed into world-class destinations under a revitalised push to turn Tullamarine into the city’s next major growth hub.

Artist images of URBNSURF's wave pool. One of Melbourne Airport's property precincts.

Swathes of land around Melbourne Airport are being transformed into world-class destinations under a revitalised push to turn Tullamarine into the city’s next major growth hub.

New pictures provided to the Herald Sun show for the first time the scale of the airport’s ambitious plans that will bring together a global businesses park, a medicinal cannabis factory, a wave pool for surfers and the Essendon Football Club.

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Melbourne Airport property chief Linc Horton said Tullamarine was developing into a precinct unlike any in Australia.

“We’re in this unique position in that we’ve been gifted with this big piece of land that was historically out in the boondocks,” he said.

“Now we’re right in the thick of things … The edge of the inner city and in the biggest growth corridor in Melbourne.

“We have the opportunity of creating this economic centre in the northwest of Melbourne that relieves pressure in the CBD.

“There’s no reason we can’t have 40,000 or 50,000 people here over the next 40 years.”

Artist images of The Forefront, another one of Melbourne Airport’s property precincts. Picture: Supplied.

An elite sports facility has become a training base for Essendon, while wave-pool company URBNSURF are currently excavating a cove expected to open in Easter 2019.

Mr Horton said the airport’s business park, the largest in Australia, was also becoming a major economic gateway to the rest of Victoria.

“We had a really good look at ourselves and asked who would truly benefit from being here,” he said.

“We’re ideally located for a great deal of truck movements and with the growing trend of e-commerce that is important for logistics companies.

“We now have 37 international airlines and the more routes you open the more opportunities you have for products to be shipped in and out.

“Very soon Australia’s largest state-of-the-art medical marijuana facility will be also be operating from a five hectare site.”

A 464-room hotel will also be built steps away from Terminal 4 and will feature a restaurant, cafe, bar, conference rooms and gym to service passengers and staff.

Artist images of The Forefront. Picture: Supplied

Mr Horton said Melbourne Airport had the largest land bank of any major Australian airport, with 2663ha of leasehold space.

“We are part of this huge airport infrastructure asset,” he said.

“Because of the residential growth in this corridor we not only have space for businesses but employees to work for them.

“If you strip back to fundamentals we are run by Australian superannuation funds and the objective for us to grow the airport responsibly and sustainably.

“We want to do that in any way that benefits the property, the airport and the wider community.”

Artist images of a new airport hotel.

Melbourne Jet Base. Picture: Supplied.