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That could require up to further $14 million, and the backing of the State Government via Regional Development Victoria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe runway can\u2019t be extended until Liberator Drive is built,\u201d Mr King said. \u201cLiberator Drive is a road that\u2019s been planned in BEWZ from its initial conception, but in order to extend the runway we need to cut off the current road in.<\/p>\n
\u201cDevelopment Victoria is going to build Liberator Drive, they always planned to build it, it\u2019s just when they were planning to build it. What we\u2019re asking for is that to be brought forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur conversations with Development Victoria have been incredibly positive and we feel like we\u2019ll get to the point we need to be able to do the runway extension.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peter Mackay, managing director of Field Air, is a tenant at Ballarat Airport.<\/p>\n
His company has a number of hangers used for aircraft maintenance and sales as well as aerial spraying and firefighting operations at the site.<\/p>\n
He said that a longer runway would help increase the capacity of his business.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re being held back in that we\u2019re planning to build new facilities to expand, and we need airside access to that runway,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOccasionally we have to go off-site to do maintenance because you can\u2019t land larger aircraft.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to see council take the running and continually spend money to improve the airport. The Federal Government\u2019s $5 million, matched with the council\u2019s $5 million gives us $10 million, which is a fabulous start to extending the runway.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust to get on with it is what we really need to see happening.\u201d<\/p>\n
A second issue up for decision by City of Ballarat councillors is the establishment of a committee of management for the airport site.<\/p>\n
That group would be \u201ccommercially focused\u201d although the municipality would keep ownership of the airport.<\/p>\n
Mr Mackay said he backed that move.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a great idea to have people managing an airport who have got knowledge of the airport and broader knowledge of all the benefits that a larger airport could bring to Ballarat,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The $10 million extension of the north-south runway, which does not include strengthening works, is part of an overall masterplan for the site currently projected to cost $31 million.<\/p>\n
While the masterplan could result in an overall increase is aircraft size and volume of movement, Mr King said he didn\u2019t see major commercial flights using the facility anytime soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt present interstate passenger flights probably aren\u2019t a priority,\u201d he said. \u201cBallarat\u2019s proximity to Tullamarine and Avalon puts it in a slightly different space to Bendigo Airport.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if passenger flights were ever to be considered then obviously an extended runway helps support that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next City of Ballarat regular council meeting is set for Wednesday, 23 June at 6.30pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CITY of Ballarat councillors are being asked to make a five-million-dollar call on extending the north-south runway at the airport in Mitchell Park at their next regular meeting. A decision on the project, which would see the take-off and landing strip lengthened by over 500 meters is needed after the Federal Government last year announced […]<\/p>\n