Invitation to comment: Draft Terms of Reference for Review of Canberra Airport Noise Abatement Procedures (closing 28 February 2010)

Airservices Australia has published the draft Terms of Reference for the Airservices Australia review of Canberra Airport Noise Abatement Procedures. As noted in the attached document, please forward any additional comments or suggestions in writing to Ms Linda Thane at Airservices Australia by email linda.thane@airservicesaustralia.com by the end of February 2010 at the latest. Please address any specific questions you may have on the draft Terms of Reference or the Review more generally to Airservices Australia at the email address above. The document has been reproduced below:

ABC News: Canberra Airport to 'shoulder Sydney overload' (Aircraft Noise)

ABC News is reporting that the Canberra Airport is extolling  its curfew free status to become the defacto second airport for Sydney as well as indicating an almost obscene willingness to take excess air traffic from Newcastle, Bankstown and Richmond. The North Canberra Community Council has consistently campaigned for the introduction of a night-time curfew at Canberra Airport to protect the amenity of residents. The airports eagerness to accept additional air traffic simply confirms the Council’s fears that Canberra Airport will use its curfew free status for dumping night-time aircraft movements in to Canberra. These aircraft movements would not be …

Public Meeting: Canberra Airport – 2010 Preliminary Draft Environment Strategy (20 October 2009)

A preliminary version of the 2010 Canberra Airport Draft Environment Strategy has been prepared by Canberra Airport Pty Ltd. The commencement of the public consultation period was advertised in the Canberra Times and Chronicles on the 29 September 2009. Canberra Airport now advise that a public meeting will be held to discuss the Preliminary Draft Environment Strategy. When: Tuesday 20 October 2009 Time: commencing 6:30pm Where: Alastair Swayn Theatre, Brindabella Conference Centre, 35 Brindabella Circuit, Brindabella Business Park, Canberra Airport. All interested parties are welcome to attend.

ABC News: Curfew only solution to airport noise: residents

ABC News is reporting that the Canberra Airport is reacting defensively knowing that it has issues regarding noise from its proposed 24 hour freight hub. Whilst the Canberra Airport has published selective information regarding the effects of aircraft noise on a number of areas affecting Canberra and local region, the information is deliberately misleading as it is for newer passenger aircraft and not older, noisier aircraft that are most commonly used for actual freight operations. Aircraft used for freight operations, for the most part, are older aircraft that are converted after they have served out their useful life in passenger …

WIN News: Wildfire Welfare

On Tuesday 06 October 2009, WIN News ran a story confirming separate concerns held by the Friends of Grasslands (reported in the news story from the ABC) that proposed expansion of the Airport would have a detrimental effect on local endangered and threatened grasslands and fauna. In this story the ACT Commissioner for the Environment – Maxine Cooper also confirms that she holds grave concerns about the proposed expansion of the Airport and a proposed northern road. The Canberra Airport claims it has “approval with conditions” for the road in their Draft Environmental Strategy for this road when in reality …

The Chronicle: Terminal underway as master plan ticked off

The September 1 2009  edition of the  Chronicle ran a story written by Rebecca Thisleton reporting on the approval of the master plan for Canberra Airport and the serious concerns that residents have as the Airport evolves. Curfew4Canberra was critical of the decision-making process, as Ms Savigny said there had never been any health assessment to measure the level of sleep disturbance that would occur with jet freighters generating noise throughout the night. “If Airservices Australia believes that they can find ways to minimise aircraft noise at night then this should have been part of the community consultation, not something …

ACT Government aware of negative impacts from Airport freight hub development

The ABC News is reporting that ACT Government expressed strong concerns in its submission to the Canberra Airport Draft Masterplan about the impact that a 24/7 freight hub would have in terms of impact on the community. Submission outlines ACT Govt’s airport fears The ACT Government says it is unclear how Canberra Airport’s role as a 24-hour freight hub will affect the quality of life in nearby suburbs.