Airport wants to widen its runway

Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au

PENINSULA Aero Club wants to widen the north/south runway at Tyabb Airport.

In a planning application to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council PAC asks permission to add three metre wide constructed shoulders to either side of the 10 metre wide runway.

Long time airport watcher Brewis Atkinson believes the widened and strengthened runway will lead to more commercial and training aircraft using the airport.

Atkinson wants objectors to the plan to urge the shire to impose curfews on the use of the airport by non-emergency flights; set an annual cap of 18,000 take-offs and landings (with touch-and-go counting as two movements); and limit the use of noisy aircraft (exceeding 70 decibels on take-off).

He said objections should also be sent to Watson Ward councillor Kate Roper.

Roper told The News that residents should ask council’s planning department for “accurate information” about the airport’s request.

“This planning application will be dealt with in line with the normal planning process,” she said. The News was unable to contact PAC president Stephen Braim. The club will hold its annual general meeting on 12 October.

Picture: Gary Sissons