Catherine King approves $3bn third runway for Melbourne airport

One of Australia’s global cities has been cleared for takeoff with a mega $3bn project that will be a big win for passengers.

One of Australia’s busiest airports is ready to take off with a mega $3bn expansion project.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King approved a third runway for Melbourne airport on Friday, with the 3000m-long strip booked for completion in 2031.

The airport’s operators say the extra runway will secure 51,000 jobs and inject an additional $6bn a year into the state’s economy.

“The third runway will deliver jobs and economic growth for the state of Victoria and incredible opportunities for the people of Melbourne’s northwest,” Melbourne airport chief executive Lorie Argus said.

“It will also give airlines the room they need to grow, which will provide travellers with more choice.

“Melbourne airport was specifically designed to be Victoria’s primary 24-hour international gateway and we’ve been safeguarding for this expansion for decades.”

A view of Melbourne airport with the proposed third runway running next to the north-south strip. Picture: Supplied

The runway will be built parallel to the existing north-south strip, west of the control tower.

Early works are expected in 2025 with an opening date booked for 2031.

RMIT University aviation expert Chrystal Zhang said the expansion would reduce flight delays.

“A third runway will enhance Melbourne airport’s operational capacity and help minimise flight delays,” she said.

“It will accommodate more traffic, improve the passenger travel experience and reduce airline operational cost.

“An impact on surrounding suburbs is inevitable, but the airport is exploring noise impacts and will continue to monitor noise levels across the next two decades to attend to the community’s needs.”

The new runway means new flight paths and some parts of Melbourne will experience aircraft noise for the first time and some areas will receive more noise than they currently do, the airport’s operators have said.

Ms King has imposed a sweep of conditions on the approval to minimise noise impacts.

RMIT aviation expert Chrystal Zhang says the third runway will reduce flight delays at the airport. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The airport must provide a legally enforceable commitment to restore the length of the existing east-west runway to maximise the opportunities for noise sharing, design and implement a noise sharing and airspace plan that shares aircraft noise between affected areas, implement a noise amelioration program to impacted communities and conduct a community health study into the impacts of noise before and after the establishment of the third runway.

“The noise sharing plan will be developed by the airport and in consultation with local communities over the years to come,” Ms King said.

“This is a long-term project. The runway won’t be open for some time.

Ms King said the project would elevate the airport to Sydney’s level and other “globally competitive airports”.