The new runway will be 1.6 kilometres long and 30 metres wide and will be constructed beside the existing runway which is 1.1 kilometres long and 18 metres wide. 

Council bought extra land for the new runaway and has applied for it to be re-zoned from rural living to an airport business zone. 

Director of City Futures Stan Liacos said the new runway would enable aircraft with capacity of 60 people to land at Bendigo Airport - a vast improvement, he said, on the current aircraft that can barely carry nine passengers. 

The new runway will extend further towards the suburb of Ascot, meaning the flight path will come over some homes.

Ascot residents Murray Luxford and Ron Chibnall said they were concerned about noise as a result of increased air traffic once the new runway was in use.

Mr Chibnall said the noise pollution might become such that he might sell his house in the future. 

Cr Williams said the men were right in thinking there would be an increase in traffic, but that it was necessary to benefit Bendigo's economic development.

Bendigo Flying Club member Frank Hill said people complaining about noise from the airport should not have bought a house close to it.

"If you know planes are there, you've got to be au fait with the idea that planes are going to use it," Mr Hill said. 

"An airport is an airport."

Flying club member Mike Bridges said Bendigo Airport was "backwards" compared to other regional airports.

Business owner Glenn Twitt came to the meeting to see if vegetation near his property would be removed, and upon finding that it would not be, said he was "satisfied" with the new runway plan. 

"I think it's high time that we had this for Bendigo," Mr Twitt said.

The City of Greater Bendigo is seeking federal funding for the project and in the meantime is working on having new land rezoned.

Mr Liacos said the new runway was vital for business, tourism and emergency services. Cr Williams said the new runway would strengthen fire fighting services.