Launch of the Melbourne Airport Economic Impact Study
Hilton Hotel Melbourne Airport
Wednesday 2 April, 10am
Ms Maria Vamvakinou MP
Federal Member for Calwell
To my Parliamentary colleague Liz Beattie, State Member for Yuroke; Chris Woodruff, Chief Executive Officer of Melbourne Airport, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to be with you today to help launch the Melbourne Airport Economic Impact Study.
Melbourne Airport has long played a significant role in the economic development of Melbourne’s North West region.
This is especially the case in my own electorate of Calwell in which Melbourne Airport is located.
Melbourne Airport is a major employer of local jobs. It continues to drive investment in local infrastructure. And it provides local business and industry with an important competitive advantage when it comes to capitalising on interstate and overseas export opportunities.
As this Economic Impact Study shows, over 12 and a half thousand people are currently employed at Melbourne Airport across a wide range of different industries.
This figure represents a 22% growth in employment at the airport over a five year period. This is almost double the state growth of 12.3% and national growth of 12.7% over a similar period of time. These figures are impressive in themselves, and they represent great opportunities for employment both in our region and in Victoria. But of equal importance is the greater diversity of jobs now generated by Melbourne Airport. While aviation activities and the industries that support them continue to account for the bulk of employment at the Airport, thoughtfully planned non-aviation developments in recent years have paved the way for a greater variety of employment opportunities, particularly in areas such as retail, hospitality and childcare.
The allied businesses that choose to establish a presence at Melbourne Airport are also in a position to create long term career prospects for locals. The Hilton Hotel for example provides excellent hospitality training in a busy and high pressure environment but also opens doors for career advancement in an international chain.
The development of commercial and retail properties on airport land does, of course, have the potential to cause community division. However handled correctly, it can and does provide enormous opportunities and benefits both on an individual and regional scale. And I know from my own frequent meetings with Melbourne Airport Management that they clearly understand the importance of early and open engagement with key local stakeholders when it comes to the development of Melbourne Airport land. Careful planning and a willingness to openly engage with the local community and key local stakeholders is precisely why my office receives almost no negative feedback from constituents about the airport and its operations. This demonstrates the successful relationship that Airport management has built with its residential and community neighbours. Though today’s Study focuses on the strong economic contribution Melbourne Airport has made to the local, state and national economies over the past five years it also provides us with a projection of the growth ahead. Before the end of the year Melbourne Airport intends to commence construction on a new office development on Melrose Drive. This development is planned to provide approximately 17,000 square metres of office space and will go some way to responding to the lack of office accommodation in Melbourne’s north as highlighted by Northlink in their 2007 Report Northern Exposure. At present only 8% of total office space in Melbourne can be found in the north, which is clearly out of step with the size and pace of economic growth and development in the region, as well as with the favourable infrastructure and human resources that are available here. This Development will include retail and trade services such as bulky goods retailers, a supermarket, a fitness centre, a childcare centre and licensed premises and it will generate a total of almost 2,000 new jobs. While I encourage Melbourne Airport to expand, in equal measure I encourage them to do so responsibly. And from my perspective – so far, so good. I am proud to join with my colleague Liz Beattie today in launching the Melbourne Airport Economic Impact Study. Sound decision making that remains sensitive to the interests of the local community is the reason why Melbourne Airport enjoys a strong reputation. I look forward to continuing to work with Melbourne Airport into the future to ensure that sensible and sustainable decisions continue to be made as they drive development and growth in both Calwell and across Melbourne’s North West region in general.