By NOEL MURPHY
A NEW FERRY option for Avalon Airport could have Seacats plying passenger trade to and from Geelong.
Proponent Lyons Capital told the Independent the company’s plan to operate a ferry service between its Wyndham Harbour development, Avalon and Melbourne could extend to include Geelong.
Lyons Capital’s Greg Miller said the proposal depended on State Government policy still to be fleshed out but Avalon and Geelong were among sites earmarked for ferry links with Wyndham Harbour.
Lyons Capital announced plans this week to link Avalon by ferry with Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs to overcome lengthy travel times to Tullamarine’s airport.
Mr Miller said an Avalon service was a likely add-on to proposed ferry runs between Melbourne and the harbour development at Werribee South.
“Our work at the moment is focussed on Wyndham Harbour and the city and Avalon Airport as a likely inclusion.
“Avalon is part of our investigations and preliminary talks with Avalon identify the airport as a potential site for a ferry terminal.
“Once we have better understanding of what the government’s strategy is we’d like to include Avalon Airport. At the moment it’s very much as a tourism airport and looking to grow to international.
“It’s intrinsically linked to Melbourne growth targets and we’d link southern suburbs like Brighton, Rye, Frankston and down the track possibly Geelong.’”
Avalon Airport boss Justin Giddings said he was interested in the ferry service and “happy to sit down’” with Lyons Capital.
“Of course, if they’re looking to bring more people to Avalon we’re happy to discuss it with them,” Mr Giddings said.
“You can imagine how a service from the other side of the bay in an hour or so would be great but it’s up to the developer.”
A recent government discussion paper on water transport possibilities in Melbourne’s west suggested Avalon could be considered if ferry services were found to be feasible.
“A large increase in traffic through the airport could provide demand for a ferry connection to the CBD and the Bellarine Peninsula,” the paper said.
