Avalon plan proposes bringing airport to the rail line

AVALON Airport is pursuing an innovative solution to its long search for a rail link with plans to combine an arrival terminal at a proposed new station on the GeelongMelbourne line.

The idea to “bring the airport to the rail line” comes as the Federal Government pledged up to $5 billion to build a rail link to Tullamarine airport.

The new Avalon solution has the benefit of requiring no new heavy rail infrastructure and would take a fraction of the time and cost of what is being planned for Melbourne.

The concept spruiked by Airport boss Justin Giddings is being discussed with government and appears to scuttle previous bids for a costly direct line or a connecting spur to the airport.

Travellers would check-in at a terminal at a new Avalon Airport station between Lara and Little River and at boarding time be swiftly ferried the 4km to a departure lounge by an automated bus or light rail service.

Mr Giddings, who outlined the concept at a Geelong Business Network forum yesterday, described the Melbourne rail link, which could cost up to $15 billion and take more than 10 years to build, as an “expensive way of getting people from Melbourne’s CBD”.

He said a rail link would be a “huge winner” for Avalon which is gearing up for the launch of international flights, starting with AirAsiaX flights to Kuala Lumpur.

“It is something we are talking to government about, and that’s something I would like to see as the future for the airport,” Mr Giddings said.

“It would be a myki fare to go straight there to the terminal,” Mr Giddings said.

“There you would check in and drop off your bags ... the airport experience would be there.”

Rail is the missing link at Avalon Airport, which is keen to build its competitive advantage over Tullamarine of easier and more efficient access and cheaper car parking.

Mr Giddings said not all rail services would have to stop at the Avalon station and the option could be built “within the term of a government”.

In pledging funds to a Melbourne line, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull flagged that construction could start after 2020.

“This is $5 billion to bust congestion. The time for putting this in the too-hard basket is over,’ Mr Turnbull said.

The Federal Government wants the Victorian Government to get on board with a 50-50 funding split.

Corio MP Richard Marles said it was concerning that many options put forward by the government would mean no fast rail link between Geelong and Melbourne. GATEWAY TO EXPORTERS: Page 35