The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, today announced the formal approval of Melbourne Airport's plan to build a new domestic terminal facility in the Southern Precinct of the airport.
The first phase of the Southern Precinct development is expected to be operational by mid-2015 and includes:
- a new domestic terminal with capacity of up to 10 million passengers per annum for use by domestic airlines;
- additional aircraft parking aprons;
- associated taxi-lanes and new taxiways;
- new car parking in close proximity to the new terminal, which will also provide vehicle pick-up and drop-off, car rental and other ground transport services;
- the reconfiguration of the existing road network to provide access to the proposed terminal facility.
Government forecasts expect the number of passengers transiting through Melbourne Airport to double from the current 29 million to 64 million by 2033.
Approximately 14000 people are employed at Melbourne Airport in various capacities and it is a major cog in the Victorian economy.
http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/aa/releases/2013/April/aa071_2013.aspx for copy of Government Media Release
http://melbourneairport.com.au/News-Events/Listing/Overview/federal-government-approves-southern-precinct-program.html for Melbourne Airport media release