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Melbourne Airport has capitulated on the proposed rail link, saying it will support plans for an above-ground station.
The airport, which had insisted an underground station was the best solution, has bowed to pressure after the federal government’s mediator, Neil Scales, sided with the state government. It now says it would welcome the immediate resumption of talks with government over the station.
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In a press release, Lorie Argus, CEO of Melbourne Airport, said the airport recognised the need to get on with the rail link and that Victorians had “waited long enough”.
“With an estimated 45 million travellers a year predicted to be using our airport when the third runway opens, the rail link will support a massive increase in passenger numbers and billions of dollars in additional economic activity for Victoria,” she said.
“While Melbourne Airport has consistently advocated for an underground station, we are prepared to compromise on our position to ensure we have more transport options in place for the millions of new passengers that will visit Victoria and the airport precinct’s expanding workforce.
“The third runway project will allow for the growth of our existing airlines as well as attracting new carriers. There will be fewer delays with an additional runway and more flight options for travellers, putting downward pressure on air fares.”
The Transport Workers’ Union, which had criticised the mounting delays on the rail link, welcomed the airport’s decision. Mem Suleyman, branch secretary for Victoria and Tasmania, said an affordable connection between the city and the airport is “a critical piece in the puzzle to get workers back into aviation and operations running smoothly”.
“The airport has always had a responsibility to the workers that keep it running and get planes safely into the air. These are workers that need good, secure jobs and affordable, efficient means of getting to work,” he said.
“We reminded the airport of this obligation recently and are pleased to see the corporation has agreed to stop standing in the way of this critical infrastructure.
“This is a major project that will provide more jobs, including drivers in construction and passenger transport who will be moving workers to neighbouring jobs around the airport. With the airport’s commitment to cooperate and the billions being invested by governments, we must now get straight on the tools and in the trucks to build the rail link.”
The offices of Victorian Transport Minister Danny Pearson and Federal Transport Minister Catherine King have been contacted for comment.
