By Kyra Gillespie
Gumbuya World Director Ron Weinzierl has thrown his support behind an international airport in the South East.
The Tynong North amusement park boss has described it as a “big plus for tourism“ in the region.
“It will play a key part in making the South East accessible and reduce transport vehicles on the M1, making it better for local residents,“ he said.
It comes after renowned futurist Brian Haratsis addressed the Casey Cardinia Business Breakfast on the subject at the Cardinia Cultural Centre last week.
“This is not just an airport, it will be an aerotropolis,“ Mr Haratsis said in his opening speech.
“The 2000 hectare proposition would include, hotels, conferencing, retail – it would look more like a Melbourne Airport in the future with a business park.
“It’s not just where planes take off – if you think about the South East you think about air freight – transporting produce like asparagus that grows in the region.“
Mr Haratsis highlighted the time it takes to get to Melbourne Airport from the South East, with local commuters often having to factor in congestion.
“A reverse commute out to a South East airport would be a lot less expensive and time consuming,“ he said.
“This project would create at least 1000 jobs each year in construction per year, and 6000 ongoing jobs by 2035.
“You can imagine the impact on the region; that’s like introducing a whole new industrial sector and all the supply-base that goes with that.
“This will create a jobs buffer for a region hit by a decline in traditional manufacturing.“
The airport has been on the radar of Cardinia and Casey councils, who both support the project, for years.
While a site hasn’t be confirmed, the state government, in its Plan Melbourne strategy, has looked at farmland between Kooweerup and Lang Lang for Melbourne’s third airport.
Residents have expressed mixed responses to the colossal development.
“I have mixed emotions about this; I think it would be great to have an airport so conveniently close. It will create many jobs also. But I also love our quiet little area. This will bring a lot more people, traffic and noise to the area,“ one woman said online.
“Something needs to happen in the South East, it takes far too long to get to Melbourne Airport and longer to Avalon. It would certainly be a boost if planned properly. They would hopefully re-open the rail line and upgrade the South Gippsland Highway,“ another said.
A Bayles resident present at the business breakfast, who wished to withhold his name, believes the area is inappropriate for an airport.
“There are many ibis, pelicans and other water birds who call these wetlands home; it’s not the appropriate place for planes,“ he said.
“The area is a big food bowl and aeroplanes often drop quantities of kerosene; it’s disturbing to think of vegetables being grown under a flight path.“
“There’s plenty of land around that’s not close to towns. Why can’t they build it away from the growing towns?“ another asked.
The Victorian Government is expected to secure a site for the new airport by 2021, the value of which is estimated at $5 billion for the entire site.
Private company Paragon Business Group has offered to develop the airport that is expected to commence operation in 2030.
Paragon has engaged with interested parties in Dubai, who reportedly have the cash and desire to bring the project, expected to rival Tullamarine in size, to fruition.
