Melbourne Airport has welcomed the Federal Government’s approval of its third runway, which will deliver much needed aviation infrastructure capacity for Victoria and help support thousands of new jobs.

The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government approved the Major Development Plan for the project, which paves the way for detailed design and construction to start.

The approval follows a lengthy community consultation period and robust assessment of the project’s environmental and social impacts.

The 3,000-metre-long runway will be built parallel and 1.3 kilometres to the west of the existing north-south runway, along with new taxiways and other enabling infrastructure.

When it opens in 2031, the parallel runway system will significantly increase Melbourne Airport’s capacity by allowing for simultaneous take-offs and landings, which will help reduce delays and give existing airlines and new entrants the infrastructure they need to grow.

The length of the existing east-west runway will be restored to maximise opportunities for noise sharing.

Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer Lorie Argus said the new runway would benefit Australian travellers and exporters for decades to come.

“Australia’s vast distances and Melbourne’s position on the globe mean demand for air access will continue to grow as our population increases,” she said.

“The new north-south runway will ensure Victoria’s primary international gateway has adequate capacity to serve the state’s needs for future generations.

“Sydney and Brisbane already operate parallel runway systems, so this will ensure that Melbourne does not become a handbrake on the national air network or the national economy.

“The new runway will require new flight paths, and as part of this project we will be facilitating noise attenuation for dwellings in the most impacted areas.

“The runway project will support 51,000 jobs in Victoria’s tourism, agriculture, education and other export industries, and will help add an additional $6 billion a year to the state economy.”