Avalon dream ‘in five years’

By John Van Klaveren
AVALON Airport will go international in five years, Melbourne Airport’s chief has conceded.
Chris Woodruff said it was a matter of when, not if, Avalon achieved international status and attracted an overseas carrier.
“I can’t think where else in Victoria an international airline would choose to fly into apart from Melbourne or Avalon.”
Mr Woodruff conceded international status for Avalon would “put a wobble” in Melbourne Airport’s passenger forecasts.
“I’ll try and make that not happen by the way,” Mr Woodruff told a Geelong Business Network breakfast.
“Our plan is that people from the Geelong region will continue to use Melbourne airport.”
Mr Woodruff admitted public transport links from regional centres, including Geelong, were deficient.
“I think my team can put more effort into trying to convince other bus operators to provide services from Geelong.”
Mr Woodruff said Melbourne Airport serviced 28 million passengers annually, which he expected to grow to 60 million by 2033.
The airport would spend $1 billion on improved roads and access, extra terminal space and possibly a third runway.
Mr Woodruff said road plans included direct access to Melbourne Airport from Western Ring Road.
He pushed the case for Melbourne Airport to receive a rail link before Avalon.
“When state governments make decisions about public infrastructure like airport railway links we’ll certainly join the debate about priorities.
“We don’t shy away from our position that the need for a Melbourne airport railway link is greater than Avalon’s.”
Mr Woodruff said Melbourne Airport’s master plan showed an underground station with a kilometre of underground track.