Is $5 million for airport funding really Ballarat's most pressing need?
GREATEST NEED: Should a $10 million airport runway, upgrades to freight, roads or health be Ballarat's top priority going forward? Pictures: Adam Trafford/supplied
OPINION
News that the City of Ballarat will apply for $5 million from the federal government to fund an airport runway extension has predictably been welcomed with open arms by the city's politicians.
And while any new funding into the city is always welcome, the question has to be asked: is this really Ballarat's most pressing need?
Since last year's Victorian election, the state government has thrown millions at the city - particularly in health, education and road maintenance. Meanwhile, infrastructure spending - the domain of the federal government - has been severely lacking.
So when the Morrison government announced it was offering $100 million to regional airports, it was predictably met with the joy akin to a child opening presents on Christmas morning.
Our federal MP Catherine King was quick to welcome the council's move to apply for funding, while others, including Wendouree state MP Juliana Addison have signed letters of support backing the plan.
"This investment would have a major impact on Ballarat, delivering a significant, long-term infrastructure asset for our city," Ms King said.
"If completed, these upgrades will open up future development opportunities and allow larger aircraft to fly in and out of Ballarat, encouraging further economic development across our western Victorian region."
Catherine King.
In fairness to Ms King and her state Labor colleagues, a Ballarat Airport upgrade has long been federal Labor's policy.
So much so, now-opposition leader Anthony Albanese made a flying visit (pardon the pun) to the city during this year's election campaign promising $14 million should Labor have won May's federal election.
But that did not happen, and on a recent visit to the city, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg offered nothing in the way of new federal assistance to the city.
What seems to have been overlooked with this application is the City of Ballarat has agreed to match any federal funding.
So if the city is successful in gaining funding - and that is a huge if - Ballarat will be out of pocket to the tune of $5 million.
If there's $5 million in the bank, at the end of the day is this really the most pressing need in the city?
A couple of councillors made their thoughts clear at last Wednesday's council meeting. Cr Amy Johnson and Cr Daniel Moloney expressed "big concerns" and said the business case was still lacking.
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To make a case for the upgrade, neither of Ballarat Airport's two asphalt runways are long enough to serve larger aircraft such as the Dash-8 and SAAB-340, which are the most common regional passenger aircraft used in Australia.
Both aircraft require runways of around 1600m to operate, but Ballarat's runways are only 1245m. Freight aircraft operations also require longer runways. The plan is to build a runway almost 2km in length.
Any expansion could open the door for commercial flights to Sydney, Canberra and other destinations, with QantasLink currently operating a fleet of Dash-8 aircraft and Regional Express using SAAB-340s.
But what would future demand for passenger aircraft be? Airport pundits will certainly be watching Bendigo closely given it received its first QantasLink services this year. Regional Express has also signalled it will move its pilot training to Ballarat - could Rex be a future player?
Looking at fare prices from Bendigo to Sydney, the cheapest one-way fare is around $200 - is a similar service from Ballarat even feasible, especially with fast rail to Melbourne and an airport rail link promised in coming years?
The other thing supporting the airport upgrade is freight. The Ballarat West Employment Zone will need an intermodal freight hub as construction continues, according to industry players. BWEZ is one project the federal government has assisted with to the tune of $9.1 million.
The freight hub will mean trains and trucks carrying containers to and from the Port of Melbourne will have a direct contact point, with potentially the Ballarat airport included as well.
But if freight is an issue, then what about the development of the Link Road which we're promised will see trucks move out of the city? What should come first?
To residents of Ballarat what's more important, a new runway at the airport or getting trucks out of suburban streets?
At the end of the day if there's $5 million floating around the City of Ballarat is looking to spend, what is the most pressing need?
Could $5 million be placed into the development of green spaces? Could $5 million be used on fixing up potholes? Could the council perhaps develop a men's health clinic?
Or speaking of health, could we finally see the last bit of funding the Ballarat Innovation and Research Collaboration for Health (BIRCH)?
The BIRCH project is one that would see the city become a world leader in health research and is another project which has so far lacked federal support.
So yes, let's welcome any possibility of funding in any form to the city, but let's also look at the most pressing issues of what is required, where and when first before flying in.