Tuesday, 15 October 2019

 Mr FINN (Western Metropolitan) (17:42): I wish to raise a matter on the adjournment this afternoon for the Minister for Planning. As I am sure he is aware and certainly everybody out in the north-west of Melbourne is aware, Melbourne Airport is a very, very important part of the local economy. Indeed it is a very important part of the Victorian economy, as a gateway to Victoria, as a major employer in that part of Melbourne and as a huge contributor to the economy of Victoria via tourism. It is the gateway of course for interstate and overseas tourists who are coming to Melbourne in increasing numbers.

People who live around the airport, including me, are very much aware of the need to protect the airport, and I think it is commendable that councils in years gone by, particularly the old Broadmeadows council and the old Bulla shire, went out of their way to ensure that the land around the airport was protected from overdevelopment, from housing. Sadly the old Keilor council—what can you say about them?—went the other way and not only did they build up almost to the gate of Essendon Airport, but they have done the same thing pretty close to Tullamarine airport. So on one side of the airport you have got full protection for the airport; on the other side not so much.

The Melbourne Airport management plan is something that is eagerly awaited by many people, including constituents of mine who have visited me wanting to find out what their position is as residents of Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road, and they want to see it removed from the environs overlay. One thing that the house may be aware of—it may not be aware of, but it may be aware of—is that the jets these days are a lot quieter than they used to be. Sometimes when I am travelling down Sunbury Road a jet will fly over the top of the car and I will barely notice that it is there. It is quite extraordinary. There is a degree of expectation that the overlays in the airport management plan will be restricted somewhat or indeed be changed significantly. So I am asking the minister to provide a time line for that Melbourne Airport management plan to ensure that local people can have an expectation that they will get a result very, very soon.