Avalon to become Victoria's second international airport with new terminal

[whatmeworry]

The big issue is that Avalon is in the wrong place.

The demographic centre of Melbourne is a long way out in the SE suburbs and moving further SE all the time.

A properly planned second airport should really be to the SE not the West but where could we put it ?

Melbourne's demographic centre has been shifting back towards the CBD westwards for a while.

If there was another Airport SE of the city, it would take take out some prime farming land which I am sure the Liberal party has earmarked for some poorly planned bogan estates!

The site at AVV is between the western treatment plant and industrial zone of Corio. As a result the land around AVV is not particularly for useful for agriculture or housing and is already owned by the government.

 

[Hvr]

Of course the next requirement will be for a direct railway line between Tullamarine and Avalon.

That way people transferring between said airports to change carriers will be able to do so easily.

 

[whatmeworry]

Could be possible if they do the train line to MEL via the Albion goods train line, then the new rail from West Werribee could take you to Sunshine and then MEL. However would probably mean 3 trains.

File:Melbourne RRL.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[markis10]

Bring back Fishermans bend airport I say!

 

[Simo]

The only thing wrong with the Sydney airport train us the cost. I am going o/s in a couple if weeks and I am catching a bus from the centre if Canberra direct to Sydney international for $17 (about a three hour trip). The train from Sydney central costs $16.40 (about 10 mins). Go figure.

Train costs out of BNE airport are huge as well.

It costs app $15 to get into the city where it only costs $10 to get from Sunshine Coast to BNE city and that is over an hour on the train.

 

[Robert Qld]

I'm pretty sure people would put up with the annoyance of AVV for $49 international airfares (this price is a guess, but it wouldn't surprise me)... It's amazing what ppl will do to save a dollar or 2. Esp if it means they can get flights to bali and coughet.

A status run in 2017 then!

 

[Blinky]

Absolutely agree. Somewhere around Koo Wee Rup or Tooradin would be ideal, and it would cost relatively little to upgrade and reopen the South Gippsland rail line.

Ha. The State Government must be monitoring this forum:

Third airport flagged for south-east | Tullamarine Avalon Tooradin

Domestic air travellers could take a plane from a third airport on Melbourne's south-eastern fringe under a new strategy to be released today.
Planning Minister Matthew Guy is expected to release a discussion paper today that flags a third airport, claiming road traffic is choking Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine.
Tooradin, south of Cranbourne, is listed as an option for the new airport in the Metropolitan Planning Strategy discussion paper, the Herald Sun has reported.

 

[JessicaTam]

Ha. The State Government must be monitoring this forum:

Third airport flagged for south-east | Tullamarine Avalon Tooradin

And they have a train line running past!

 

[Blinky]

And they have a train line running past!

Well the South Gippsland Railway is not used at the moment (apart from irregular tourist trains) but can be upgraded fairly cheaply.

 

[smit0847]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the vast majority of people living in Melbourne do not want to use Avalon. Tullamarine is far enough from the city as it is. Avalon should be named Geelong airport because they are its only supporters. It could then be built up as a low cost alternative like OOL is to BNE. No-one calls OOL 'Brisbane - Gold Coast'. Target Geelong airport to the locals who can support it while services are built up. They love it, we hate it.

For as long as I can remember AVV has languished as a pathetic excuse for an airport with a few token flights each day. Its owners have grand plans that have never 'taken off'. AFAIK there is only one airport bus for each flight and it arrives something like 90 minutes before each (DOM) flight to account for bad traffic and the excruciating slowness of moronic once-a-year budget flyers. Not convenient or fast for people like us (I think for a 5pm flight the bus leaves Southern Cross at 2.30pm). I've often left Southern Cross on the Tulla Skybus at 4pm and comfortably made my 5pm flight.

As for intl services it will be crucial to attract some big players. Obviously Air Asia, Jetstar Asia and Scoot are no brainers but then China Southern and Eastern immediately spring to mind and if they can bring them in then they could approach other carriers that offer budget 'full service' like Royal Brunei and Vietnam Air. JQ could move HNL, BKK, HKT and DPS services there and even consider direct Japan or Beijing flights. This would free up Tulla for premium services.

As for a SE Airport I assume this would just be domestic - otherwise I dont think it acceptable to have an intl airport an hour from the CBD in Australia - it would be the only one?!?

 

[JessicaTam]

Well the South Gippsland Railway is not used at the moment (apart from irregular tourist trains) but can be upgraded fairly cheaply.

True. An electrification extension from Cranbourne shouldn't be too difficult.


Sent from my iThing.
Why, because iCan.

 

[Blinky]

The government envisages the SE airport to be international as well as national.

 

[k_sheep]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the vast majority of people living in Melbourne do not want to use Avalon. Tullamarine is far enough from the city as it is. Avalon should be named Geelong airport because they are its only supporters. It could then be built up as a low cost alternative like OOL is to BNE. No-one calls OOL 'Brisbane - Gold Coast'....

Funnily enough, AirAsiaX used to do just that! I think they've stopped that though.