A third runway for Melbourne airport will give it the highest capacity in the country and boost the Victorian economy.
Australia Pacific Airports Corp chief executive Chris Woodruff said the expansion of the airport marked an important growth period.
“Melbourne Airport is about to embark on the most significant period of growth since it opened in 1970,” he said.
The plan for the new runway was revealed in a new draft document released this week.
The third runway is part of a wider $10 billion dollar expansion budget for the airport of the next 20 years.
The runway will run parallel to the existing east-west runway, with a distance of two kilometres, meaning they can operate at the same time, Financial Review reported.
The third runway is closer to the terminal, signalling fewer taxiing delays are expected.
Plans also reveal it is expected to reduce noise in the south but increase it to the airport’s east.
Homes in nearby suburbs Tullamarine, Gladstone Park and Broadmeadows are expected to be affected.
Melbourne Airport will be able to support 380,000 aircraft movements a year, or up to 88 movements an hour after the upgrade.
Qantas Airways chief executive Alan Joyce welcomed the move to extend the airport’s capacity.
“I think it’s great that Melbourne is ahead of the curve in terms of developing its infrastructure,” he said.
“The infrastructure across the country needs to keep pace with economic development, and Melbourne is one of the airports that is ahead of that curve.”
The draft plan is open for public comment for 60 business days.
Image: beca.com