Mayor’s Message - Friday 1 March 2024

Last week I received a great update on the mountain of work being undertaken on the Ballarat Airport Strategic Master Plan, following the community’s feedback in late 2023.  

The plan being developed will help ensure Ballarat Airport meets its full potential in the future.

The feedback is in support of Ballarat being connected to the other major population centres throughout Australia, and commercial flights are generally wanted by the community.  

Three quarters of those responding said a commercial airport would be beneficial to Ballarat. Saving money and time instead of driving to Avalon or Tullamarine.  

Not only did the community note how much easier it would be to visit family and friends or head off on holidays, but the feedback also noted that it would be a benefit to Ballarat’s economy, with visitors easily able to access the city from interstate.

City of Ballarat’s Airport and Economic Development teams have been working alongside experts to delve into a comprehensive passenger catchment study to measure how many Ballarat and Western Victorian residents travel by air and what airport they use.  

The demand for air travel is strong, and this study showed on average more than 1000 people travel daily from our region to Melbourne Airport.  

We hold an important role as the regional centre for Western Victoria, and the access to transport we can provide.  

The Ballarat Airport Strategic Masterplan will be completed by mid-2024 and will be available for the community to review.

You can read more about the work being done on the masterplan in the latest edition of ourballarat. Copies are available for collection at City of Ballarat facilities, online ballarat.vic.gov.au/ourballarat or arriving in your letterbox shortly.

- Mayor Cr Des Hudson