Beverly McArthur MP, State Member for Western Victoria Region, Media Release, 8 July 2021
The absurdity of an airport runway in two ‘halves’ is a problem that must be fixed.
The Ballarat Airport and its enormous potential is currently hamstrung by the limited runway that is split by the road leading into the facility.
It restricts the size of aircraft able to land at the airport.
Having publicly argued for the continuation of plans for the runway extension – with $5 million of Federal and $5 million of Ballarat Council funding already committed – the Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, says the project’s success now sits firmly with the State Government.
“The current road into the airport – which cuts through the runway – can clearly no longer be used when the runway is extended.
“Access to the airport must be via another road – and that road is Liberator Drive – and right now it is a road-to-nowhere within the Ballarat West Employment Zone, BWEZ.
“Liberator Drive needs to be extended – circumventing the runway – to provide a new access to the airport. This falls within the State Government’s responsibility,” Mrs McArthur said.
Mrs McArthur was joined by the Shadow Minister for Aviation, the Hon. Gordon Rich-Phillips, in Ballarat this week for a series of meetings with the City of Ballarat and Airport users. Both Coalition MPs are adamant this project is imperative and must proceed without delay.
“Regional airports allow local businesses to bypass congested and inflexible capital city airports and connect directly with customers and markets when and where they need to,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.
“A 2 km regional road takes you 2 km. A 2 km regional runway allows a direct connection to anywhere in Australia.
“The runway project will offer great dividends to Ballarat and needs to proceed as a priority,” he said.
Mrs McArthur said the Ballarat airport expansion fits the bill.
“There is now furious agreement about the incredible capacity for the airport to provide a new frontier for Ballarat growth, jobs, business and aeronautical specialisation,” Mrs McArthur said.
“But without the Victorian Government committing very quickly to $2 million to extend Liberator Drive – all of this potential is lost.
“Right now, $20 million of private business development is sitting idle, dependent on State Government action.
“For just $2 million, $20 million dollars of investment is switched on and unlocked almost overnight.
“If Regional Development actually wants to live up to its name – it needs to do something – Regional Development would be an obvious start.
“The development of Liberator Drive – to enable the Ballarat Airport runway extension – is the easiest decision it could ever face.
“Then again, this isn’t Melbourne; we are outside the tram tracks and it would require the State Government to actually recognise that there is a regional community of millions of people who also pay taxes and need attention.
“The time has come.
“Build Liberator Drive, build the runway, build a new future for Ballarat.”
