By Oliver Lees
Hume council will work to link residents with employment opportunities at Melbourne Airport as it expands, with the airport anticipating 37,000 additional positions will be created through the process.
On January 31, the airport released its two key planning documents for the next 20 years, which includes specifics on the development of a third runway.
This airport has chosen that once the plan goes passes federal government approval and a period of community consultation, the new runway will constructed with a north-south orientation.
As well as bringing more aircraft noise to the Bulla township which lies immediately north, the Melbourne Airport terminal anticipates receiving an additional 29 million international and 47 million domestic passengers per year by 2042.
The airport’s draft Master Plan states that this increased traffic will see thousands of more jobs created at the airport, particularly transport, postal and warehousing.
“The area generally has a higher unemployment rate than Greater Melbourne. The role of the airport as a local employment hub is therefore particularly important for the community,” the document stated.
“Many of the jobs in this region, either directly or indirectly, depend on the airport and its activities or benefit from being in the airport region. Around 44 per cent of people who live in the local region also work there.”
According to data from the National Skills Commission from June 2021, Hume had the highest rate of unemployment (12.1 per cent) of any local government area in the north-west of Victoria.
This jobless figure is more than two-times that of the state average, which is 4.1 per cent.
Hume council planning and development director Michael Sharp said council will provide a submission to the airport during the current consultation period.
“Melbourne Airport and the businesses around it are a major source of jobs for Hume residents. We anticipate that residents will continue to take up opportunities at the airport precinct as it grows, given its proximity, and demand for shift work as well as highly skilled staff,” Mr Sharp said.
“Securing employment for residents is a priority for council and we will continue to connect residents looking for jobs to the airport and businesses in the airport precinct as it expands, as part of our ongoing programs.”
