Going for second best: New airport to mix trainee pilots with jumbo jets

By John Van Klaveren
A FEASIBILITY study has recommended Avalon for a new regional airport despite identifying a better option.
The $150,000 study scored a greenfield site at Gheringhap highest but said developing it would take longer and cost too much.
City of Greater Geelong should still “consider the safeguarding of a possible future airport site in the Gheringhap area”, the report said.
Aviation Minister Gordon Rich-Phillips said the regional aviation study covered the next 30 to 50 years because Geelong Airport at Grovedale would close to make way for Armstrong Creek housing.
The report recommended that the City, Avalon’s airport operator and State Government work together on a long-term plan for Avalon.
Lethbridge Airpark should help to submit an application for funding to cover runway and lighting upgrades, the report said.
The study estimated developing a regional airport at Avalon would cost up to $25 million and take up to two years.
Avalon Airport owner Linfox was drawing up a master plan for the site to include facilities for general aviation.
“A permanent development at Avalon East would most probably consist of a single north-south orientated runway up to 1500m long parallel to the existing runway at Avalon Airport, based on a two kilometre separation,” the report said.
“A preliminary review of the proposed location of the Avalon East runway would appear to satisfy line-of-sight issues and response times from the existing Avalon air traffic control tower.”
Geelong Airport operator Andrew Townley said he would relocate to Tocumwal at the end of the year because Avalon would be too expensive.
“The big issue for us is the cost – it’s going to be a fair bit more than what we’re paying at Grovedale,” Mr Towley said.
“We had to draw a line in the sand and realise its not going to work for us.”
Mr Towley said mixing beginner pilot students with jet aircraft was undesirable.
He would return to Geelong only to complete annual reviews for his trained pilots.
The Independent reported in March that Mr Townley believed a move to Avalon would cost him scenic joy flight customers, a significant part of his business.