By NOEL MURPHY
A NEW $7.2 MILLION development at Barwon Heads Airport will help secure increasing business through Geelong’s chief general aviation facility.
A sealed runway and improved drainage works to be built next month at a cost of around $700,000 will overcome long-standing problems with wet weather.
The airport’s owners and its commercial operators will spend another $6.5 million over the next three years on new planes, buildings and facilities to drive the Barwon Head Rd precinct to a new level of enterprise.
The airport hosts general aviation, charter flights, flight training, parachuting, aerobatic and historic warbird flights, with business ramping up in recent years after the closure of the former Geelong Airport at Grovedale to make way for Armstrong Creek development.
“We have lots of people coming into Barwon Heads, it’s big business Geelong,” said airport spokesman Jeff Brooks.
“When you have a goat track runway that’s wet in winter, covered in water, people can’t get into Geelong. We have people flying in from Wagga Wagga, Hamilton, Canberra, Griffith, Mildura, all coming to Geelong to do business.
“We even have a lot of golf travellers, people flying in and out to play golf here or on King Island.”
Aviation Minister Gordon Rich-Phillips is set to formally announce State Government funding for the runway and drainage works tomorrow.
Mr Brooks said the works should take about four months from November, leaving the airport in peak new condition for summer.
“The main thing, really, is fixing the drainage. It’s been a problem, with heavy rain water just sitting there and closing the airport.
“We’re fixing the drainage and relaying the structural base for the runway. It will be a proper tarmac, an all-weather landing strip.
“Concurrent with that is $6.5 million spending by commercial operators and owners over the next three years on new aircraft and structures at the airport.”
The Barwon Heads upgrade comes as Lethbridge Airport undergoes a similar upgrade, with million-dollar backing from Spring St, and as Avalon Airport cuts fees in a bid to lure general aviation.
Mr Brooks said Lethbridge was complementary to Barwon Heads.
Lethbridge management has told the Independent likewise of Avalon’s general services.
