That’s A Wrap for 2024! A Message From Our CEO
As we near the end of the year, I want to take a moment to thank you, our valued customers, for your continued support throughout 2024.
On behalf of the Essendon Fields Owners, Directors, and wider team, I’m pleased to provide a snapshot of the many achievements of our customers and community in the email below. Your hard work is greatly appreciated.
As has become an annual tradition, Essendon Fields is also pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Christmas donation, made in the spirit of giving on behalf of our valued customers and stakeholders.
Helping Hands Mission
We’re proud to once again make a donation to the Helping Hands Mission in Airport West, who play a critical role in supporting vulnerable people in our local community.
After helping with their big move to new facilities last year, this year a $5,000 donation has been made towards keeping the shelves of the Helping Hands Community Pantry stocked. This emergency food service helps feed hundreds of local families each week, and the support of local businesses to keep the service running is vital. Click here to find out more about Helping Hands important work and how you can help.
TLC for Kids
In 2021, Essendon Fields were introduced to TLC for Kids, one of Australia’s leading children’s charities helping sick kids and their families cope with the challenges of everyday life with illness.
As an ongoing supporter of TLC’s work, we were thrilled to have them join us as a tenant in 7 English Street this year. In 2024 we are pleased to provide TLC for Kids with a $5,000 donation on behalf of our community to support programs including the TLC Ambulance. We are also supporting TLC with a Christmas Toy Drive, and encourage you to drop off a gift before 20 December. Find out how here.
Read on for more updates on the year that was, and please have a safe and happy festive season.
I wish you every success in 2025.
Brendan Pihan
CEO, Essendon Fields
SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS
Safety is at the forefront of everything we do at Essendon Fields, and we are pleased to acknowledge another safe year across our airport, work sites and general operations.
Implemented this year, our Three Golden Rules of Safe Operations, Protecting Self and Others and Protecting the Environment underpin our approach to keeping the Essendon Fields community safe and healthy every day.
Recognising the critical part our onsite contractors play in safe operations, as part of our Safety Management System we implemented a new Contractor Management Framework this year, and also enhanced our Hazard and Incident Reporting tools, and commenced a range of verification activities including Safety Observations and Audits.
Our community keeping active in support of RFDS during Health and Safety Month
A HOME FOR GENERAL AVIATION
As Victoria’s pre-eminent general aviation airport, there were almost 50,000 aircraft movements in and out of the airport this year.
As the proud home of Victoria’s Emergency Services air wings, over 30% of these flights were emergency related, alongside aircraft maintenance, charter operations, private business operations and regional passenger services.
Future focused
In 2024 we continued our focus on delivering safe airport infrastructure to facilitate these operations, investing in our airfield maintenance program and meeting regularly with aviation users to discuss matters affecting their businesses.
In FY24 Essendon Fields delivered a significant Airfield Pavement Management Program and FY25 is on track to be even more extensive. Since July over 5,000 lineal meters of concrete joint sealing and 9,000 lineal metres of runway crack sealing have been completed, alongside new drainage lines and pits to improve the subbase for our pavements and reduce the wildlife hazards of standing water.
Upgrades to key aviation supporting infrastructure were also delivered, including the upgrade and relocation of the Aerodrome Weather Information System (AWIS) and Automatic Terminal Information System (ATIS) from the decommissioned NDB hut to a more centrally located position within the Airport Lighting and Equipment Room (ALER). Following this enhancement, we have received several reports from operators on the improved signal quality for both the AWIS and ATIS.
We also continued to work closely with stakeholders to manage and protect the impact of off-airport planning on our airspace. This included an ongoing focus on ensuring the operations of Essendon Fields Airport users are considered in Melbourne’s Third Runway plans, and in planning schemes for new buildings and developments in our local area.
Essendon Fields further contributed to and welcomed the Aviation White Paper, advocating for the protection, sustainability and growth of the general aviation sectors in which our Airport operates.
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
Essendon Fields continues to develop as both a general aviation base and a major commercial centre for Melbourne’s Northwest.
Several important developments were completed this year, including the third and final stage of our heritage Airport Terminal refurbishment, which has created a new home for Ambulance Victoria’s Adult Retrieval Victoria (ARV) and the Victorian Stroke Telemedicine (VST), which work closely with the Air Ambulance team at 12 Global Avenue.
In the business precinct, the refurbishment of One Five Vaughan commenced, with lobby works completed and a major lease transaction negotiated with Westpac Business Banking Centre to move into new ground floor office space. New aviation training space is also being created in the building, alongside commercial office opportunities on level 1 and 2, available Q1, 2025.
Essendon Fields Auto also continued its incredible growth this year, with Essendon Fields completing construction of a new dealership for Dutton One mid-year, commencing construction on a new Audi and CUPRA dealership for Zagame in March and breaking ground on a new site to expand Airport Toyota’s footprint in October.
In the growing Hart Precinct, Melbourne’s only greenfield light industrial site within 15 minutes of the CBD, a major investment in new roads, infrastructure, landscaping and commercial facilities continued.
Stage 1 of the Hart Precinct now covers over 13 hectares and is over 50% leased, with Essendon Fields completing a purpose-built, 20,000 sqm manufacturing facility for leading modular builders Modscape this year, and breaking ground on a 10,600 sqm new facility for Autex Acoustics, who will open in mid 2025 where they will commence manufacturing and sales of acoustic panels and associated products.
In an ongoing commitment, Dutton Wholesale leased Essendon Fields first speculatively built office/warehouse development, moving into a new facility adjacent to Modscape. This development represents over 5,600 sqm and 29 new jobs.
It’s been a big year and it’s not over yet, we are hopeful to formally announce a new aviation development prior to Christmas.
SUSTAINABILITY & FACILITIES
15,000 trees the next goal
In 2021 Essendon Fields planted its 10,000th new tree on site, and with that ambitious target achieved, we set a new goal of 15,000 trees on site as soon as practically achievable. As of today, we’re pleased to advise 11,450 trees are in the ground, improving air quality and reducing the heat island effect of our airport.
Throughout 2024 some of these trees were dedicated to special friends of the airport that have made an indelible contribution to our community. This includes an ash tree that stands tall outside Hyatt Place Melbourne, Essendon Fields in memory of Peter Sullivan, our hotel General Manager that sadly passed away this year. On English Street outside LaManna, a pear tree will ensure the memory of the much-loved LaManna family member Joe Alagona lives on.
First step in airport carbon accreditation achieved
Essendon Fields is committed to improving environmental outcomes at the precinct and reducing our carbon footprint.
In 2024 we took a step forward on our journey, achieving Level 1: Mapping as part of the internationally recognised Airport Carbon Accreditation program.
This undertaking helps benchmark Essendon Fields against other airports of our size, and measures the impact of tree-planting and other sustainability and energy-saving initiatives on our carbon footprint.
Another significant public art piece unveiled
Earlier this year another major public artwork by Eolo Paul Bottaro was unveiled, which celebrates Daphne, a female goddess with origins in Greek mythology. The large bronze sculpture is located within the English Street Green, taking pride of place during the various outdoor events held throughout the year.
WHERE BUSINESS MEETS LIFESTYLE
As our precinct continues to grow, it’s been fantastic to see 18 current customers renew their leases or expand their footprint in the Fields this year, representing 14,055 sqm of lettable area.
Too numerous to mention here, we’d like to thank those businesses that have secured ongoing tenure at Essendon Fields, ensuring 409 jobs remain on site over the coming years.
Alongside these existing customers, we welcomed 8 new businesses into new or existing premises within the precinct since 1 January 2024, representing 105 new jobs on site over 6,443 sqm of lettable area.
And we continue to invest in top rating amenity for those that work or visit Essendon Fields regularly. Our precinct continues to be a place people want to visit and want to spend time – whether it’s for business or leisure.
DFO Essendon sales increased by 4.3% in the last financial year, and foot traffic is also up on the prior year. EF Auto remains Australia’s largest single site dealership destination, on track to sell over 20,000 cars for the third year in a row, worth an estimated $1 billion.
At Hyatt Place Melbourne, Essendon Fields demand for room and event bookings remain strong, as is the popularity of their new dining offer, The Landing Place.
And our customer and community events continue to build each year, from our one-off Leap Day event held in February, to our annual NAIDOC week Little Long Walk in July, Business Building Breakfast in August and Health and Safety Month activities in October. We hope you enjoy spending time with your friends and neighbours as much as we enjoy delivering these activations for our community.
SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY
In the wider local community, Essendon Fields continues to support those organisations that make the Northwest an incredible place to live, work and play.
In addition to our Christmas giving program, this year we continued our long-term sponsorship of the Airport West Football Club Junior Eagles and the Essendon Baseball Club, supporting grass-roots local sport.
Earlier this year we also awarded 24 local community groups with funding under our Friends of the Fields Community Grants program, and recently opened a new Fundraising Support Program in October 2024 which has already provided over $10,000 to local groups by way of vouchers from onsite business.
This support sits alongside annual community events that have collectively raised over $37,350 this year for Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Long Walk Foundation and RFDS Victoria.
We look forward to working together with you in the coming year, and wish all of you, your teams and your families a very merry Christmas, and all the success for the coming year.
Essendon Fields respectfully acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land – the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, their spirits, ancestors, elders and community members past and present.