Ex-mayor behind air park project

Jessica Benton
FORMER Geelong mayor Ken Jarvis is behind plans to turn Barwon Heads Airport into a new regional base for light aircraft.
The plans include a residential development where residents would be able to fly private planes in and out of the airport.
Mr Jarvis said he was one of 20 members of Geelong Surf Coast Airpark, which hoped to assume ownership of Barwon Heads Airport this month.
“Barwon Heads is in the perfect position because it’s a long-established airport and there’d be little impact on the surrounding areas or nearby communities,” Mr Jarvis said.
“Given its position, it would be the ideal location to service the Surf Coast, Bellarine Peninsula and Geelong.”
Mr Jarvis said the proposed regional base could accommodate flying schools, charter operations, recreational and tourist flights and act as a base for emergency aircraft.
The pending closure of Geelong’s airport at Mt Duneed, near Grovedale to make way for residential development at Armstrong Creek and operational changes squeezing light aircraft out of Melbourne airports had enhanced the potential of the Barwon Heads plan, he said.
“The general aviation industry is in crisis. While the country uses a lot of light aircraft, over recent years the industry has been under threat, especially smaller airport bases such as Geelong, Essendon and Moorabbin where there’s land sales for development purposes happening,” Mr Jarvis said.
“This is a real opportunity for Geelong to develop a proper regional base for general aviation and attract business that currently operates out of Moorabbin and Essendon. We could generate a whole new industry here.
Mr Jarvis said the group planned to upgrade facilities and improve the runway to allow for extensions.
An “air park” proposal for residential development was also in the pipeline, he said.
The development would be similar to facilities overseas where residential areas combined with airports.
Mr Jarvis said the Barwon Heads proposal had stirred interest at all levels of government.
“Because the airport is pre-existing, (our proposal) can be done and we have the right,” he said.
“There’s been resistance to some parts, mainly the air park proposal, but this is a real opportunity and no different to a residential development on a golf course where you’re combining a hobby with a lifestyle. But the airpark doesn’t have to be a part of the immediate plan.”
Geelong Aviation and Flight Training’s Andrew Townley, who is also involved in the Barwon Heads plan, said the future of operations at the Mt Duneed airport were “uncertain”.
“We’ve got a minimum lease for the next two and a half years and then it’ll be a year by year basis. It’s likely we’ll be kicked out in five to seven years because of the land sale for the Armstrong Creek development,” he said.
“We’re looking at all sorts of options but early indications are that it’s a good chance we could move over there (Barwon Heads).”