Rail push for Avalon

Andrew Mathieson
AVALON Airport should have a rail link to Melbourne to ensure Victoria is Australia’s national entry point, according to the state’s peak business group.
Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry believes its proposal for a spur line from Little River to Avalon’s first train station then on to Lara would also open up the Geelong region to international visitors.
The chamber included the link in policy papers released this week ahead of November’s state election to influence the next government.
The paper listed airport infrastructure as a priority, calling for Melbourne’s two recognised airports – Tullamarine and Avalon – to match Sydney’s direct airport train lines.
Chamber chief executive Wayne Kayler-Thomson said Avalon would be a more practical rail link than Tullamarine so it should take priority.
“Geelong’s probably the easiest because we can either redevelop a spur line from Geelong to Melbourne rail line to give that connection,” he said.
“That’s more likely to be achieved than a fast-rail link to Melbourne airport.”
The chamber listed the airport link as a long-term goal to be built between 2015 and 2025.
Visitors to Avalon have had to catch buses to either Geelong or Melbourne for the past five years passenger flights at the airport.
Mr Kayler-Thomson said Avalon’s development potential was significantly ahead of Sydney airport, which battled curfews and congestion.
“We have the advantage at Avalon of, if it can be developed as an international airport, having two international airports in Victoria as opposed to Sydney which is still thinking about whether it can develop a second airport.
“We think that’s very important from a leisure and tourism perspective, from a business perspective as well as from a freight perspective.
“This is directly linked to internationalising Avalon Airport. We also know how important it would be to Geelong.”
Mr Kayler-Thomson said a recent visit to inspect fast-rail infrastructure to Shanghai airport was “absolutely amazing”.
Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu has also publicly favoured the Avalon proposal over Tullamarine.
The Liberals’ plan to make a policy announcement before the election.
“We believe that Avalon has huge potential as a second international airport and obviously the rail line there produces other opportunities,” Mr Baillieu said.