I have approved the major development plan for the construction of a third runway at Melbourne Airport.
This new runway will allow Melbourne Airport to cater for the demand of a growing city, providing better access for freight and passengers and driving economic growth for years to come.
Throughout my consideration of this proposal, the needs of the local community have been front of mind.
That is why I have imposed certain conditions on Melbourne Airport in order for the third runway to proceed. These represent the most comprehensive set of conditions for a project of this type, including:
- Melbourne Airport providing a legally-enforceable commitment to restore the length of the east-west runway to maximise the opportunities for noise sharing;
- Design and implementation of a noise sharing and airspace plan that prioritises sharing of aircraft noise between affected areas;
- Implementation of a noise amelioration program to communities most impacted;
- And conducting a community health study into the impacts of noise before and after the establishment of the third runway - recording baseline data in the lead up to and for the first 20 years of the operation of the third runway.
My decision to require that the airport maintain sufficient capacity on the existing east-west runway is to support effective noise sharing at Melbourne Airport, so that no one community bears the brunt of the airport's growth.
The noise sharing plan will be developed by the airport, and in consultation with local communities, over the years to come.
This is a long-term project - the runway won't be open for some time.
Melbourne's third runway will bring it in line with Sydney and other globally-competitive airports.
But these conditions, along with relevant environmental requirements, mean that we are balancing the growth of the airport, with the needs of the communities on the ground.
