Overview

Wellington Shire Council owns and operates West Sale Airport. Suitably experienced consultants are invited to submit proposals to undertake a new master plan.

Objectives

Develop a contemporary Master Plan for West Sale Airport that responds to current interest, forms the basis for all future development including expansion and highlights the airport's potential.

The master plan process and content should generally follow the Australia Airports Association Regional Airports Master Plan Practice Note (Guideline).

An updated Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF) is also required to be completed.

Context

West Sale Airport is owned and managed by Wellington Shire Council and benefits from its position and status having one of the longest runways in regional Victoria.

Wellington Shire is home to Victoria’s largest Royal Australian Air Force training base – RAAF Base East Sale. It is also the location of West Sale Airport - a key asset in the Wellington Shire community, strategically located and currently serving domestic aeronautical users and enabling RAAF training and defence capability.

The airport has experienced significant increases in aircraft movements since the commencement of the RAAF Pilot Training System (AIR 5428) in 2019.

Wellington Shire is also the location for Australia’s first and largest offshore wind development with over 25GW of capacity. Based on land availability and quality infrastructure, it has the opportunity to serve both domestic users, defence operators and open up Gippsland to domestic and wider/international markets.

The airport is well placed to provide easy access to the Gippsland Renewable Energy Zone and now adjoins 55 hectares of industrial zoned land.

West Sale Airport’s recent runway expansion to 1,803m, infrastructure and ample vacant land provides an environment where the airport is primed for development and expansion.

Master Plan Engagement

Proposals should ensure that best practice approaches are adopted regarding engagement and be detailed in the methodology.

The engagement approach should align with the International Association for Public Participation Framework and spectrum, Wellington Shire Council’s Community Engagement Strategy (available online) and utilise the Your Wellington Your Say platform.

Onsite workshops and presentations should be incorporated to complete internal engagement with staff, management and Councillors. This will be important in gleaning knowledge of the airport and surrounding context and capture issues, opportunities, and future directions.

Allowances are to be included to engage with a range of stakeholders including:

• Department of Defence (RAAF)
• Planning consultant completing a Development Plan for the West Sale Industrial Land
• Adjoining airports
• Australia Airports Association - staff and relevant directors including for small regional airports.
• Wellington Defence Network
• Business Tourism Associations
• Organisers of the West Sale Airport airshow
• Fuel facility operator
• Local aviation organisations and existing occupiers of property, neighbouring property owners
• Renewables Sector organisations including offshore wind
• Native Vegetation Consultant
• Relevant government departments and agencies including transport and planning.

Background Documents

These are all available on line:

• Strategies and Plans (wellington.vic.gov.au) West Sale Airport Master Plan Update 2017
• Airports (wellington.vic.gov.au) West Sale Airport information booklet and Vegetation Reports
• Council Plan (wellington.vic.gov.au) Council Plan 2021-2025
• Wellington 2031 Wellington 2031
• Wellington Planning Scheme Wellington Planning Scheme include Incorporated Documents

Deliverables

1. Undertake best practice engagement so all stakeholders provide input into and endorse or have good understanding of the plan.
2. Produce a Master Plan that is professionally formatted and of suitable presentation quality:
3. ANEF updated and endorsed by Air Services Australia.

Timeframe (and Staging)

Budget to commence the master plan is available from April 2025 with remaining budget to be adopted and approved by Council in June 2025.

A financial table must be provided setting out key milestones and associated costs. Milestones that can be completed by June 2025 should be clearly itemised.

Evaluation Criteria

• Experience in developing high quality Regional Airport Master Plans (40%)
• Methodology addresses all objectives and deliverables and is based on best practice (25%)
• Price (25%)
• Timeframe (10%)

The successful consultant will be required to register with Council's contractor safety system and hold current insurances.

Details on price should be clear and itemised. Rates for additional onsite meetings along with hourly rates for key staff should be specified.

For further information please contact 1300 366 244 and request to speak with either Theo Christopher (Coordinator Aerodromes) or Daniel Gall (Coordinator Commercial Property).