Current projects

About the forecourt redevelopment

Where is Melbourne Airport forecourt?
The area in front of the terminal building, which is used by a variety of ground transport operators and services, and the general public picking-up or dropping off passengers.

What is happening to the forecourt area?
The first stage of the Forecourt Redevelopment project will start easing congestion around the airport terminal.

To achieve this, designated lanes will separate authorized and smaller buses, and general public vehicles.

Vehicles using the current premium parking area at the front of the terminal building are being relocated. This area will re-open at the end of the year as one-minute pick up parking bays.

An additional 106m of kerbside parking will be available on Departures Drive for passenger drop-off.

Why are these changes being made?
Melbourne Airport is rapidly growing. In 2010/11 visitors to the airport grew by 8 percent to reach an average of 80,000 people per day using the airport roads, terminals and facilities.

Managing this growth is a high priority for Melbourne Airport and over the next five years $1 billion will be spent on improving access to the terminals, the road networks and other facilities.

Forecourt Redevelopment is one of many projects already underway to make it easier for passengers to arrive and depart, provide easier access to the forecourt and reduce congestion, particularly during busy peak periods.

What are the changes being made to the forecourt?
A number of changes will be made under stage 1 of the Forecourt Redevelopment project including:

• On accessing the forecourt, buses and private vehicles will be separated to ease road congestion
• The inner lane (i.e. closest to the terminal) will be a designated bus and taxi lane (painted red)
• The middle lane will be an authorized bus-only lane (painted red)
• The outer lane (ie road furthest from the terminal) will be a smaller bus and private vehicles’ lane
• Access to the current premium parking area outside the terminal building will change to one-minute parking bays, requiring some groups to be relocated.

Who will be affected by these changes?
A number of groups currently using the premium parking area outside the terminal building will be relocated from 8 November 2011. These include:

• Victorian Hire car Association (VHA) - relocated to the short-term parking area outside the Qantas Terminal (T1). A further 14 bays have been allocated in the Express parking area between Virgin Australia (T3) and Tiger Airways (T4).
• Accessible parking for disabled parking permit holders (currently located in the middle lane) – relocated to new outer lane area.
• Authorised buses – will use the red bus lane marked ‘buses only’ (inner lane and middle lanes).
• General public – will pick up passengers from the one-minute parking bays in the new outer lane parking area. Vehicles cannot be left unattended in this area. Private vehicles cannot access the inner or middle lanes to pick up or drop off passengers.
• Parkroyal visitors and guests – parking bays have been relocated to the short-term car park near the car rental companies.

How have decisions been made?
A multi disciplinary management team from with Melbourne Airport was responsible for the Forecourt Redevelopment plan in consultation with engineering firm SKM.

Will the public see a significant improvement to traffic flow once stage 1 is complete?
Congestion will start to ease once stage 1 is complete and further work on the forecourt is currently being designed.

Engineers are working on a traffic-modeling plan for an ultimate design of the forecourt that will alleviate congestion further.

About the changes

What construction work is required?
Enabling works will start on Tuesday 11 October 2011. The works will be done at night between 10pm-7am. Works will stop over the Melbourne Cup long weekend and at some other peak international arrival times.

Enabling works includes:

• Concrete works starting at T1 and progressing to T3. These works involve treatment of the inner road lane surface to improve traffic capacity and includes painting a ‘buses only’ lane red.
• Slab works at the entrance of Arrivals Drive. Sections of the road will be replaced to improve wear and tear. The chevron and sections of the garden bed will be removed to widen the road.

When does the relocation of vehicles take affect?
From Tuesday morning 8 November 2011, temporary fencing will be installed around the current premium parking area and vehicles will be relocated to their new allocated location.

What happens to the current premium parking area once vehicles are relocated?
From 8 November, further construction work will take place to prepare the new outer lane parking area to re-open as one-minute pick-up bays for general public vehicles. Accessible bays have also been allocated for people with a disabled parking permit.

When will the new outer lane area re-open?
This area is expected to re-open before the end of 2011.

STAKEHOLDERS

VHA

How much will it cost to park in the new VHA area?
The pricing structure for the first 59 minutes remains the same as current prices - $3 for the first 30 minutes and $6 for the first 59 minutes. Once the 60 minute mark is reached, VHA drivers will be charged at short term car parking rates.

VHA Pricing - effective 8 November 2011
$3 - up to 30 minutes
$6 - up to 59 minutes
The following short term car parking prices apply from 60 minutes
$20 - 1 to 2 hours
$28 - 2 to 3 hours
$26 - 3 to 4 hours

Do VHA drivers need a ticket?
No. You will need a PCDC ticket, which will be scanned at the entry point. Your PCDC card will automatically be deducted when leaving Melbourne Airport. It is important to remember that once you reach 60 minutes, you will be charged at short term car parking rates. This means, you will need to have enough credit on your PCDC to exit Melbourne Airport.

What if my client's flight is delayed?
If you know your client is delayed, we recommend exiting before 59 minutes to receive the VHA reduced rate. Melbourne Airport is not responsible for factors affecting VHA clients being delayed.

Will these changes affect passengers’ VHA service?
The only change to VHA services is the collection point. On arrival, passengers will be collected from the short-term car park outside the Qantas Terminal (T1) or the express parking area located between Virgin Australia (T3) and Tiger Airways (T4). Drivers will still be able to park their vehicle and meet passengers inside the terminal, causing no effect to the actual service.

TAXIS

Will these changes affect regular taxi services?
Taxis will still pick-up at the front of the Qantas Terminal (T1) and International Terminal (T2).

Are there plans to increase the number of taxi bays outside the Terminal?
Yes. Melbourne Airport is constructing two new taxi super ranks in the Inner Lane on Arrivals Drive, which will increase the number of current bays. These super ranks will be located at the entrance of the Qantas Terminals (T1) and the International Terminal (T2).

Where do booked taxis park?
Taxis that have been pre-booked can pick up passengers by parking in the short term car park for a reduced rate up to one hour. At 60 minutes and beyond, the rate charged will be at short term car parking schedule of fees. The rates are as follows:
$3 - up to 30 minutes
$6 - up to 59 minutes
The following short term car parking prices apply from 60 minutes
$20 - 1 to 2 hours
$28 - 2 to 3 hours
$26 - 3 to 4 hours

To receive the tax rate, drivers must show their VTD license at the customer service office.

COURIERS
Two courier zones have been allocated under the Forecourt Redevelopment project. Airline couriers (ie baggage handlers etc) have been allocated three spaced on the ground level of the short term car park. Retail couriers have been allocated three spaces near Tiger Airways (T4). Once these spaces are fully utilised, couriers will be required to park in the short term car park.

GENERAL PUBLIC
One-minute pick-up bays will be located in the new outer lane parking area when it re-opens at the end of 2011. Drivers will not be permitted to leave their cars while parking in this area. Private vehicles will not be permitted to stop in the bus lanes outside the terminal building.

PARKROYAL GUESTS
The Parkroyal has been re-allocated six parking bays inside the short-term car park near the car rental companies.

Pricing and ticketing for VHA Drivers

Pricing - effective 8 November 2011

$3 - up to 30 minutes
$6 - up to 59 minutes

The following Short term car parking prices apply after 59 minutes

$20 - 1 to 2 hours
$28 - 2 to 3 hours
$26 - 3 to 4 hours

How much will it cost to park in the new VHA area?
The pricing structure for the first 59 minutes remains the same as current prices - $3 for the first 30 minutes and $6 for the first 59 minutes. Once the 60 minute mark is reached, VHA drivers will be charged at short term car parking rates.

Do we need a ticket?
Your PCDC card will automatically be deducted when leaving Melbourne Airport. It is important to remember that once you reach 60 minutes, you will be charged at short term car parking rates.  This means, you will need to have enough credit on your PCDC to exit Melbourne Airport.

What if my client’s flight is delayed?
If you know your client is delayed, we recommend exiting before 59 minutes to receive the VHA reduced rate, and returning. Melbourne Airport is not responsible for factors affecting VHA clients being delayed.

Accessibility

Are changes being made to disability parking bays available?
Yes. Currently there are two parking bays available to drop of people with a disability at the shelter at the front of Terminal 2. These will be moved across the road to the one-minute parking bays. The amount of disability parking will not change and Melbourne Airport complies will all legislation and requirements around providing accessible parking for people with a disability.

What signage will be installed to assist drivers?
New overhead signs on Arrivals Drive will be unveiled when works have been completed. While construction is underway, signage including a map of the redeveloped forecourt will be installed on the temporary fencing.

Planning a journey

Do I need to add extra time to my journey during construction?
During enabling works, commencing 11 October, some delays may be experienced while night works are underway between 10pm-7am. If you are planning on using the forecourt area, you may need to factor in extra time while traffic is stopped and slowed at times. This can be avoided if you decide early to use the short-term carpark.

Communications

How will commuters know about the changes?
A Communications and Stakeholder Engagement plan has been developed, which includes a roll-out of activities including direct communication, traditional and social media channels, printed collateral, online information and signage.

What signage will be provided to assist commuters?
During construction Visual Management System units will assist traffic management at entry points to Arrivals Drive.

Safety and Security

Who will supervise the construction works?
A Melbourne Airport site supervisor will be available every night that construction works is happening as well as a contract manager.

Will the construction disrupt pedestrian movements?
Temporary fencing will be installed every night around the pedestrian zone.

How will traffic know to slow down?
Traffic will be warned of the construction works by VMS signs and a traffic controller who will stop-slow the traffic. Sections of up to 100 metres of one lane will be closed at any one time.