Liam McNally
The Bacchus Marsh Aerodrome will have capacity for air traffic to grow by almost 50 per cent in the next 20 years , following Moorabool council’s approval of a masterplan for the aerodrome.
The Bacchus Marsh Aerodrome was constructed in the 1940s and it was originally used for military training.
The aerodrome currently hosts three gliding clubs, the Australian Gliding Museum, two flight training schools, two aircraft maintenance businesses, and is used for private flying and aerial firefighting.
The facility recorded 30,000 air-traffic movements in 2022 and is projected to increase to 44,600 movements by 2042.
The master plan aims to oversee the growth over the facility over the next 20 years by improving facilities and accommodating for demand increase.
Items to be actioned in the plan by 2025 include developing business cases for runway lighting installation and terminal facilities, investigating opportunities for the installation of a helicopter landing site, JET A1 fuel facilities, and parallel gliding strips, as well as installing public toilets.
By 2027, it is hoped the runway and taxiway can be widened, while there are also plans to construct a common user terminal facility, investigate a turning lane into the facility and sealing internal roads.
Mayor Rod Ward said the plan was developed after consultation with stakeholders and the community.
“It is an important document that details use of the land, and ensures long term viability of the aerodrome whilst providing an exciting blueprint for future development and opportunities to further enhancement of the Bacchus Marsh Aerodrome,” he said.
“It will also protect the aerodrome from surrounding growth and inappropriate activities.”
The plan comes a week after the state government announced a grant of over $450,000 for the aerodrome, which Bacchus Marsh Aerodrome management chairman Trevor Oliver said would go towards taxiway surface treatment works and the installation of a lighting system.
Details: meltonmoorabool.starweekly.com.au/news/more-than-450000-to-make-moorabool-fly/
