Interesting FB "it is still there" but for how long. Here's something to ponder over.
The Gov't allocated $150K to carry out a study for the possible development and location of a new Geelong Airport with the miinister releasing his finding early December 2011, and surprise. surprise they are going to spend many millions develop Avalon East, you know the temporary strip used for the airshow which goes under water following heavy rain.
Geelong Airport at Grovedale closed down on 31/12/11, with Geelong Flying School having to relocate to a NSW border town. This alone is a farce as here we have the Geelong region with a population of around 300K without a GA flying school. RAA is catered for at Barwon Heads, and Lethbridge 37kms from Geelong, is to be given an upgrade with sealed runways.
Back to Essendon. A few months back it was mentioned by an operator from Essendon that he has been advised that Mr Fox was planning to shorten the main runway to 1000m in April/May 2012. which would cause problems for the private jet operaotrs based there who require a safe 1200m.
Will they go to Avalon along with the other Essendon aviation industries, with Essendon being used by rotary only.
Another wisper, the SAS have been conducting some activities at Point Cook, with the suggestion they may be relocating a training facility to the base. If this happens it could see all private operations being banned or transfered to Avalon East.
Another wisper, the location for the aviation training facility has still not been allocated by the Government, and the strong rumor is that it will also be located at Avalon/Avalon East and tied in with the Gordon TAFE in Geelong. We may see the RMIT operation transfered.
Oh,tobz92_ymen, Mr Fox operates both and will benefit enormously with the closure of Essendon with land value along with govt financing heavily the development of Avalon East.
Just somethiing to ponder over but it could stack up and we unfortunately see the end of Essendon as a GA facility, while aviation in the Geelong region gets a kick in the guts by not developing Barwon Heads, Torquay or a greenfield site in closer proximity to Geelong.