By Bonny Burrows
A Dandenong lawyer has emerged as a mover and shaker behind plans to build Melbourne’s third airport.
Gerard Kennedy, Special Counsel for Macpherson Kelley Lawyers, is also a director of Paragon Premier Investment Fund.
He and fund chairman Alande Mustafi Safi were due to present their plans for the $7 billion project at Kooweerup to the State Government last week.
Included in the proposal is a signed letter of intent from an undisclosed financer who promises to fund the development.
Mr Kennedy told the Journal that while the funds were there, the project was still subject to government support and that it would be a long process to secure the land and build the airport.
A south-east airport – as featured in the State Government’s 2013 population growth blueprint Plan Melbourne – would service more than 5 million domestic passenger movements annual and create more than 3000 ongoing jobs.
“I will need to talk to the State Government and the group of municipalities behind the south-east airport report.
“I’m sure they’ll have things they’ll want to put to me about timing, planning and land procurement,” Mr Kennedy said.
Landowners would also need to be engaged in the consultation process, which would take some time.
“There’s probably going to be some concerned conversations there. You need to be really considerate of the people you’re approaching and do things with the right attitude,” Mr Kennedy said.
An airport is also expected to open up international exportation to local businesses and opportunities for further development and economic investment in the way of supporting infrastructure.
While the identity of the backer has not been disclosed, it is understood the group, based in Europe and the Middle East, has built a number of airports, including two in Europe.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he was yet to see any plans for the project other than what was reported in the media.
The government’s priority, he said, was on “upgrading connections to Melbourne Airport”.
