On July 13, a major commercial development at Melbourne Airport was given the green light by Australia's Minister for Transport & Regional Services, the Hon. Mark Vaile.

To be located on the corner of Mercer Drive and the Tullamarine Freeway, the new 48,000 sq. m development will serve the greater northern region of Melbourne with retail and trade services including bulky goods retailers, a supermarket and other key services. It is expected to create over 1,100 ongoing jobs and a further 700 during construction, making a significant contribution to the Ctiy of Hume.

Melbourne Airport's General Manager of Property, Gerard Neylan said that Melbourne's north and north-west was currently under-served for these types of shopping and amenity options, with residents of these areas currently having to travel significant distances to access large-scale centres of this nature.

"This approval by the Minister will ensure that residents of the north and north-west are better served by greater options for their retail and key service needs," said Mr Neylan.

"Furthermore, this development will serve the fast growing population of more than 12,000 staff working onsite at Melbourne Airport - providing key public services including a petrol station, fitness centre, supermarket and childcare centre," he said.

Melbourne Airport also acknowledged the Minister's conditions of approval, which include major ground transport and environmental management plans.

Operators are currently being sought for the development, the first stages of which are set to open in late 2008.