Bendigo airport reno underway
Bendigo Airport’s $9.9 million dollar reno is underway. Already the largest capacity airport in north-central Victoria, the new re-developed airport, due to be completed in the second half of 2023, will accommodate further routes and destinations, larger planes, and invite a whole realm of new investment.
Planned to take place in two stages, the first will see the construction of an entirely new terminal building. It will feature a departure lounge, cafe, security screening area, restroom facilities, office space and equipment shed.
The original terminal will then be demolished in Stage Two making way for a new entry foyer, baggage check-in and claims area and more restroom facilities.
In addition, the project will also establish an adjacent business park with 21 lots connected to drainage, sewer and water services. There’ll be new connecting roads, a new car park and improved lighting; and, Dja Dja Wurrung Traditional Owners will play a crucial role in the landscape assessment and design to ensure caring for country protocols are respected.
In terms of investment, the airport redevelopment creates opportunity across industries. Improved access, especially from outside of Victoria, will open doors for travel and tourism operators; businesses will be able to reach clients, partners, and suppliers faster and more easily, which will be just one more reason for investors to consider regional expansion.
Mildura named a key destination
Mildura Airport is already Victoria’s busiest regional airport but by April 2023 it’s set to get even busier. New Australian low-cost airline Bonza, with its catchphrase “Here for Allstralia” has been set up to serve less common routes, and usually involving regional airports.
The Sunshine Coast-based Bonza is introducing a $79 fare between the Sunshine coast and Mildura. It’s one of 17 routes that the new and independent airline will be launching with. Within a few months a second Bonza route will also be established between Mildura and Melbourne to further enhance Mildura’s connectivity with the State’s capital city, followed by a third (new) route to a yet to be confirmed destination.
For Mildura and the wider Mallee region, it’s evidence of a growing interest in the area as a tourist destination, which, in turn, has flow-on growth effects across a range of industries. In the 12 months from launch, Bonza’s presence is expected to bring 772,000 additional visitors, generating more than $86 million in expenditure.
Loddon Mallee airports increase accessibility to the region
In a geographically expansive country like Oz, airports are crucial to connection. And, in regional areas like Loddon Mallee they offset the disadvantage of distance for both business activity and living. They enable a region to become part of a larger network of trade and commerce; in turn, increasing investment opportunities and driving economic growth. They play a key role in tourism, with all its trickle-down effects across industries. And they represent an improved quality of life for residents, reducing the need to travel long distances and the feeling of isolation.
In this context, Loddon Mallee is especially fortunate because the region has not one but two significant airports chartering large-capacity and commercial flights to a variety of destinations at affordable rates. And, current development will see those offerings expand even further in the coming years.
Investment into Bendigo and Mildura airports reflects a regional economy that’s thinking big-picture – that’s acknowledging its place in an increasingly globalised world and working to take it.
