[Peetwo]

Moorabbin on the chopping block with latest DRAFT Master Plan - 

To follow on from this post...

Joining dots and dashes on the Hooded Canary's last HURRAH!!?? 

With the return of BJ (no longer obligated to Mick Mack) maybe now would be a good time to suggest that Senator MacDonald uphold her previous promise of instigating an inquiry into non-aviation development around airports...  
Ref: https://www.smh.com.au/business/companie...55zmf.html & https://auntypru.com/forum/showthread.ph...0#pid11550

The chair of the Senate transport committee is chasing a sweeping inquiry into commercial developments around Australia's airports amid concerns that new office blocks, retail developments and hotels are jeopardising the safety of critical transport infrastructure...

..."We can’t risk aviation safety over commerce," Ms McDonald said. "We need to shine a spotlight on the decision making for infrastructure within air spaces and ensure that there is a clear understanding that maintaining airspace is a priority."

  

...I note the following (OP post) from Ben Morgan CEO of AOPA Oz, via Facebook:

MOORABBIN AIRPORT
PRELIMINARY DRAFT 2021 MASTER PLAN
AOPA AUSTRALIA CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS TO REJECT

AOPA Australia CEO Benjamin Morgan calls for industry submissions opposing the Moorabbin Airport Corporation's Preliminary Draft 2021 Master Plan, in support of local aviation businesses, aircraft owners and pilots.

Local aviation businesses, aircraft owners and pilots are calling for help at Moorabbin Airport (YMMB) in Victoria, following the release of the Preliminary Draft 2021 Master Plan, that signals even greater losses of aviation land at the site.

Since privatisation some 118 hectares of airport land have been developed for non-aviation use at the airport, with Moorabbin Airport Corporation now seeking approval for a further 44 hectares of land for more industrial, commercial and retail developments, bringing the total of non-aviation development to 162 hectares.

Non-aviation development at Moorabbin Airport has become so prolific, that the airfield’s runways are now almost entirely land-locked by large-scale commercial and industrial structures, with virtually no useful land remaining for aviation expansion.

AOPA Australia has long regarded the non-aviation developments as inconsistent with maintaining aviation safety, with pilots operating into and out of the airport provided degraded and limited options in emergency situations.  We need only look back at the fatal King Air accident at Essendon Airport in February of 2017, to understand the risks of allowing such incompatible development at airports.  A concern we have advocated to the Senate Rural Regional Affairs Transport Committee.

The non-aviation development has also introduced a range dangerous turbulence and strong wind rotor events, caused as a result of the large structures in close proximity to the runways, creating risks for pilots of all experience levels.

Then there is the issue of aviation land leasehold, with aviation businesses unable to obtain long-term lease tenures, forced into accepting short-term leasing or being told there is no available space to build aviation structures.  Meanwhile, some 162 hectares of land has been converted into non-aviation development...

Added to the above, the nearly two decades of serious complaints regarding unsustainable leasehold rentals, user fees and charges, have all conspiring to force aviation business at the airport into serious decline or closure.

At privatised airports, aviation businesses have been forced to absorb staggering increases in leasehold rentals and rates, with the airport operators arguing their non-aviation developments have made aviation more valuable.  Non-aviation development has artificially increased and manipulated airport leasehold values to unsustainable levels, and is a major and significant driver of general aviation decline at Australia’s capital city airports.

Whilst there has been some investment into certain aviation facilities on the airport site, very little to no investment has been made into the vast majority of the aviation structures at Moorabbin Airport.  A simple drive around the airport site makes clear the obvious.

Meanwhile, it is evident that hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested into state of the art industrial, commercial and retail warehouses, all to encourage high-net worth non-aviation tenancy.

Capital expenditures of this magnitude are not being made for little to no return, which begs the question - where is all the income going?  Because it certainly isn’t finding it’s way into aviation related airport infrastructure, neither is it being used to subsidise aviation use at the airport site.

The reality is, that Moorabbin Airport has become an extremely fat cash-cow for Moorabbin Airport Corporation’s owners, Goodman.  A multinational  business with 51.6b in property assets under its management and an operating profit of approximately $1billion annually, according to their annual report.

It’s obvious that Goodman are pulling handsome returns from Moorabbin Airport each year and they’re giving very little in return for it.  They’ve played the government for fools and have been laughing all the way to the bank, ever since they paid a pittance for its lease.

Given the current trajectory of non-aviation development at the airport, a drastic realignment of government policy is needed.  Clear and concise policy that stipulates both the protection and fostering of aviation infrastructure and user access at privatised airports must be implemented.

Should the government allow the status quo, then it is not too difficult to imagine that the next master plan will deliver a knock-out blow, with two prospective runways in the cross hairs for closure and further non-aviation development encroaching the site.  All justified, by the argument that there is just not enough aviation business and activity to warrant all the runways.

Or was this the plan all along?

AOPA Australia members and industry supporters are being urged to make a submission of opposition, with public consultation set to close on the 12th July.

DOWNLOAD THE 2021 MASTERPLAN:
https://www.moorabbinairport.com.au/about-us/planning

TIPS FOR YOUR RESPONSE:
AOPA Australia is encouraging aircraft owners, pilots, aviation businesses and industry participants to send an individual letter, opposing the Preliminary Draft 2021 Master Plan for Moorabbin Airport.

Your response should be polite and respectful and refrain from using abusive language or leveling any personal attack.  Focus on the key issues of concern you feel are important.

When responding, please ensure you have included a copy of your response to AOPA Australia.  We will be packaging up all responses received and ensuring that they are distributed to the;
- Deputy Prime Minister
- Department of Infrastructure
- Moorabbin Airport's Local Member of Parliament

EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR YOUR SUBMISSION:
Moorabbin Airport Corporation:  mac_mp2021@moorabbinairport.com.au
AOPA Australia:
ben.morgan@aopa.com.au

SUBMIT BY AUSTRALIA POST:
Moorabbin Airport Corporation Pty Limited
Airport Management Centre
66 Bundora Parade, Moorabbin Airport, VIC 3194, Australia.

Bring on a full blown Parliamentary Inquiry now and rewrite the Airports Act NOW! #ChangetheAviationActs 


MTF...P2