Melbourne Airport planned Loop Access Road

A draft master plan for the future development of Melbourne Airport will be released next year; with planned infrastructure upgrades, access improvements and terminal additions set to foster tourism in Victoria.

Following Melbourne Airport’s annual stakeholder update this week, Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) managing director Felicia Mariani said the development project “will create even greater demand from both domestic and international visitors.”

“Melbourne Airport’s plans to build new infrastructure and expand its capacity shows a willingness to aggressively take hold of future growth and establish Melbourne as a leading international destination and gateway,” Ms Mariani said.

Melbourne Airport chief executive officer Chris Woodruff said the draft proposition will cover future airfield, terminal and landside development at Melbourne Airport, including projects such as an elevated loop road.

“The Master Plan will set out how we plan to develop Melbourne Airport over the next twenty years, during which our passenger numbers are forecast to grow to 60 million passengers per annum,” Mr Woodruff said.

One of the key features of the plan is the construction of a loop access road.

“The safest and most efficient terminal designs separate pedestrians and vehicles," Mr Woodruff said.

"We envisage that passengers will be picked-up and dropped-off by different transport modes within new multi-level structures that will be adjacent to the terminals.”

Ms Mariani said increased visitation from key international markets, paired with the significant growth in overall passenger numbers to Melbourne demands amenity improvements.

“With international visitors from key markets such as China up 8 percent, it is important that Melbourne Airport build a facility to meet future needs and projected growth for the next 10-20 years,” Ms Mariani said.

“Melbourne Airport’s leadership and forward thinking is a real blueprint for the planning and expansion that is needed in aviation infrastructure if Australia is to achieve the goals set under the Tourism 2020 Strategy.”

Mr Woodruff said that upon submission to the Commonwealth Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the master plan would be available for public comment.