Overview
The Melbourne Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group (CACG) works collaboratively on airport planning, development and operations, and their impacts and opportunities. CACG meetings provide a forum for open discussion between members, representatives from key participating agencies and Melbourne Airport.
In particular, CACG facilitates an opportunity for:
- Melbourne Airport to disseminate information regarding the planning, development and operations of the airport
- community members and representatives from agencies to raise issues and questions, and express opinions regarding Melbourne Airport
- stimulating the interest of local communities in the planning, development and operations of the airport
- reviewing and discussing any community-related issues, and engaging the appropriate organisations regarding these as needed
- identifying and analysing current and emerging opinions, discussions and any feedback within the community relating to Melbourne Airport
- reporting and providing recommendations to Melbourne Airport regarding community concerns, discussion and perceptions relating to Melbourne Airport.
The CACG has no authority to direct others. Its function does not replace statutory or established communication and consultation mechanisms employed by the various parties it works with.
Meet our CACG Members
Chair
Kim Jordan
Kim has been the CACG chair since 2019. She works as a consultant in community engagement, social research and organisational change, and is a member of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2). Prior to that, Kim was an air traffic controller and first Vice President Communication of the controllers’ union. She believes people want the best for their community, and with that as a starting point, potential change or conflict becomes an opportunity, not a challenge.
CACG Members
Fred Ackerman
Fred lives in Taylors Lakes and has served on the CACG since 2017. His career in education has included being a teacher, school principal, president of the Victorian Principals Association and Education Department senior manager. Fred has extensive experience on committees and as a company director. Living close to Melbourne Airport, Fred has a keen interest in airport planning, environment, noise, traffic, passenger experience and employment. Fred believes Melbourne Airport must always strive to be a good neighbour and the work of CACG is criticality important to this goal.
Maggie Baron
Maggie is a highly experienced consultant working in the areas of infrastructure planning, sustainability and environmental management, risk and governance. She enjoys collaborative workspaces with teams looking to build value for community success. You won’t find her ego taking up space—her deep understanding of how government works, along with her measured approach to complex problem-solving, underpin her valued reputation.
Petrus Barry, Moonee Valley City Council
Petrus is a Manager, Planning and Building (Moonee Valley City Council) with 30+ years Local Government experience in Australia and abroad. He has extensive experience in statutory planning, policy, enforcement, tribunal advisory services and governance. Mr Barry holds a Bachelor’s degree in Town and Regional Planning, Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Honours degree in Demography and is a full member of the Planning Institute of Australia and the Planning & Environmental Law Association. Petrus has been a member of CACG and the previous Noise Abatement Committee since 2016.
Liz Beattie, Victorian Trades Hall Council
A former Member of the Legislative Assembly in the Victorian Parliament, Liz was elected to the seat of Tullamarine, which included Melbourne Airport. In 2000, Liz was appointed Steering Committee Chair to refresh the Melbourne Airport Environs Strategy plan. An outcome of this plan was the Melbourne Airport Environs Overlay. In 2007, legislation was introduced to enshrine the MAEO into the statutes and was supported by all parties. Liz has an active interest in aviation and the future of airports.
Justin Burgess, Brimbank City Council
Justin is an experienced town planner with over 15 years experience in local government. His role at Brimbank City Council is to coordinate the strategic planning team to ensure the Brimbank Planning Scheme is up to date and consistent with the Planning Policy Framework, Community Health and Wellbeing Plan and Council Plan. Justin holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Planning) and Postgraduate Diploma in Urban Design. Justin is passionate about the west, particularly Brimbank and its exciting transformation.
Michael Canny
Michael grew up in a hospitality family that owned and operated a hotel/motel in Ballarat. Throughout his career, Michael has worked for the largest hotel groups in the world, both domestically and internationally. In 2017 Michael embedded himself in the Melbourne Airport community by becoming the owner and manager of Quest Melbourne Airport. In 2022 Michael also took ownership of Quest Wangaratta.
David Cleland
David is a Mechanical Engineer who has spent most of his working life as Chief Executive of large enterprises including road safety, water products, electronics, building and automotive glass and electric motors. More recently David has had Non-Executive Director roles including ASX listed companies. David has a strong interest in the aviation industry and is President of the Beaufort Gliding Club and a member of the Greenvale Facebook community group.
Matt Faubel
Matt is actively involved in several inner-Melbourne community groups that focus on maintaining and enhancing residents’ quality of life. His extensive career in public policy and urban development has seen him hold senior government positions, work on the public/private sector interface and deliver major development projects. Matt has consulted internationally, worked as a global NGO executive to advise governments on urban and strategic policy and development, and assists several not-for-profit organisations in Australia and Asia.
Margaret Giudice
Margaret is a former Brimbank councillor and still lives in the area. She also has extremely strong connections with the Italian community across wider Melbourne and is currently on the Italo-Australian Social Club Board. She is also President of Club Italia in St Albans.
Susan Jennison
Susan has been a member of the Melbourne Airport CACG committee since it was formed. She is actively involved with Keilor-based community groups. Her career has been as a professional in media, covering topics such as Computer Assisted Reporting. Susan has also worked in a University Library looking over archives and special collections. Her Masters in History has generated a love of this topic and further increased her knowledge of all topics that cover heritage sites and the history of people in our area.
Victor Ng
Victor hopes to give a regional voice at CACG, having worked in regional and growth area municipalities. With a career in urban planning for the last 15 years and being a regular airport user, Victor has a keen interest in intercultural communication, infrastructure planning, economics, and amenity matters. Victor holds a Bachelor of Arts (Computer Science / Environmental Studies), Master of Social Science (Environment & Planning), and Postgraduate Diploma in Translation and Interpreting.
Stephen Pykett, Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Stephen is Manager, Economic Development and Visitor Economy at Macedon Ranges Shire Council and has worked across Local, State and Federal Government in a variety of tourism, economic and telecommunications roles. Prior to moving to Australia Stephen worked in the construction industry as a Technical Manager, overseeing twelve asphalt plants throughout Northern England, a quarry installation in Norway producing for the German road industry, and offshore oil pipeline and telecommunications cable laying.
Jane Waldock
Jane Waldock lives in Montmorency and is a civil engineer with experience in local government, consulting, and construction. She is currently the Executive Office for the Metropolitan Transport Forum. Previously her roles have included being Assistant Director Planning and Placemaking, and Manager Sustainability and Strategic Transport at the City of Yarra. Jane wants to see high quality, respectful community engagement, and multiple practical options for transport to the airport.
Fonda Zahopoulos
Fonda consults as a project manager, delivering commercial and social infrastructure projects across Victoria. He volunteers on the board of Overnewton Anglican Community College, including as chair on their Capital Projects Committee. Over his career, Fonda has worked with the airport on projects across the airport precinct during the design, master planning and construction phases. Fonda also has strong connections with both the Greek and Egyptian Orthodox Communities and has helped deliver various projects. His connections through these networks provide a base to encourage involvement in airport planning.
CACG participating agencies
Department of Transport and Planning
Airservices Australia
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Rail Projects Victoria
CACG Documents
CACG Terms of Reference
CACG Code of Conduct
CACG Guidelines
CACG Minutes
2023
August 2023
May 2023
February 2023
2022
November 2022
August 2022
May 2022
February 2022
2021
December 2021
May 2021
February 2021
2020
November 2020
August 2020
2019
November 2019
August 2019
June 2019
April 2019
2018
November 2018
August 2018
May 2018
February 2018
2017
November 2017
Pre-meeting minutes
November 2017
Open meeting minutes
August 2017
Pre-meeting minutes
August 2017
Open meeting minutes
May 2017
Pre-meeting minutes
May 2017
Open meeting minutes
February 2017
Pre-meeting minutes
February 2017
Open meeting minutes
2016
November 2016
Pre-meeting minutes
November 2016
Open meeting minutes
August 2016
Pre-meeting minutes
August 2016
Open meeting minutes
May 2016
Pre-meeting minutes
May 2016
Open meeting minutes
February 2016
Pre-meeting minutes
February 2016
Open meeting minutes