A spokesperson for the Department of Infrastructure and Transport told Australian Flying this week that the Archerfield Airport Master Plan was still being considered for approval.
Archerfield Airport Corporation (AAC) submitted the plan last month after Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King called for a fresh draft master plan (FDMP) for Archerfield Airport in August 2023, among concerns that the original plan submitted in December 2022 did not establish a strategic direction.
"Archerfield Airport Corporation (AAC) submitted a fresh draft Master Plan to the Minister on 7 February 2025, for consideration under section 81(2) of the Airports Act 1996," the spokesperson said. "The Minister is considering whether to approve or refuse to approve this latest fresh draft Master Plan.
"If the Minister decides to approve the latest fresh draft Master Plan, AAC is required to publish the approved plan within 50 business days of that approval. Otherwise, the current Archerfield Airport Master Plan 2017 remains in place until a fresh draft Master Plan is approved by the Minister."
The statement comes amid growing concerns nationally about the federal leased airports and the short-term leasing conditions being offered to aviation companies as existing leases expire. Anecdotal evidence from Moorabbin indicates that leases as short as five years are being offered.
Australian Flying believes that Minister King has been asked to conduct lease reviews on the airport head leases as permitted under federal legislation, but the department spokesperson could not be drawn when asked if the minister would conduct reviews.
Last month, Mark Dreyfus, the federal members for Isaacs, attended a meeting with members of the Moorabbin Airport Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MACCI), where he was asked to address leasing concerns with Minister King. Dreyfus' office was able to confirm the meeting, but not the extent of any discussions held with the minister.
Archerfield, Bankstown, Camden, Essendon, Moorabbin, Parafield and Jandakot all operate as federal airports leased to third-party operators under the Airports Act 1996.