State public transport minister and member for Polwarth Terry Mulder said on Saturday that the project had entered the next phase and had been referred to planning minister Matthew Guy.

“The environmental planning requirements of major public transport projects, like the Avalon rail link, are an important part of getting the project right and getting it ready to go,” Mr Mulder said.

Once Mr Guy had made his determination, the project would go to the federal government for further environmental analysis, he said. 

But Mr Mulder added that he expected things to move quickly.

“The Victorian Coalition government has already acted speedily to secure the future of Avalon Airport,” he said.

“We have been heavily engaged with the airport and have had ongoing discussions for months.”

The project would create a 6.5km link between the existing Geelong line and the Avalon Airport passenger terminal. 

At least 1km of that would be on Commonwealth-owned land. Three potential routes are being examined for the line. 

“The aim of the Victorian Coalition government’s Avalon Airport rail link is both to improve options for people travelling from Geelong and Melbourne and to secure the airport’s future as our (state’s) second international airport,” Mr Mulder said.

“Avalon has handled more than four million passengers. It is a vital link to the east coast of Australia for Geelong, Surf Coast, western and south-western Victorian residents as well as Melburnians living in the western suburbs.

“Victoria must continue to have two curfew-free major airports, compared with Sydney’s sole curfew-affected major airport.”

mneal@fairfaxmedia.com.au