News - Airport

CANBERRA AIRPORT EXPANSION:  A PRICE TOO HIGH?
A public meeting hosted by ACT Greens MLA, Deb Foskey 

When:  Thursday, February 7, 2008, 6.00pm for 6.30 pm until 8.30pm
Where:  Reception Room, ACT Legislative Assembly, Civic Square

Speakers     

• Mr Mick Gentleman MLA, for the ACT Government
• Mr Frank Pangallo MBE, Mayor Of Queanbeyan
• Mr Andrew McIntosh, author of The Australia Institute’s recent research paper, ‘Aviation and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the ACT’
• Other speakers to be confirmed

When:  Thursday, February 7, 2008, 6.00pm for 6.30 pm until 8.30pm
Where:  Reception Room, ACT Legislative Assembly, Civic Square

Background
Canberra International Airport is planning massive expansion under its latest draft Master Plan. It wants to become Sydney’s second airport, including a 24-hour airfreight hub.  Unlike Sydney, Canberra does not have a night time curfew. There will be bigger planes with much greater frequency – up to 1 plane movement every 2 minutes.  There are significant social & environmental costs to the Canberra & Queanbeyan communities. The Airport draft Master Plan is open for public comment until 27/2/2008.

Gungahlin Community Council Involvement:

The Gungahlin Community Council is a member of a newly formed peak community group: "Curfew for Canberra Inc". This group is comprised of a number of community groups that have come together sharing a common concern about what Canberra Airport is proposing under its draft Master Plan 2008.

The objectives of the association are to:

• secure a night time curfew at Canberra Airport
• oppose Canberra Airport becoming a 24-hour national & international freight hub
• oppose Canberra Airport becoming the second Sydney Airport
• oppose the construction of a parallel main runway
• oppose light aircraft engaged in training activities from transiting or over flying residential areas
• pursue appropriate amendments to the Canberra Noise Abatement Area
• inform the Canberra, Queanbeyan and surrounding communities about the consequences of aviation expansion that impact on residents' quality of life, and
• represent the concerns of residents and members to government and authorities.

The Gungahlin Community Council's involvement is a proactive attempt to ensure that the areas of Gungahlin (especially those to the Northeast of the District) that are currently not within the Canberra Noise Abatement Area, are not negatively impacted by the proposed agressive expansion of the Canberra Airport. The impacts in Gungahlin will be mainly from significantly increased air traffic noise and overflight - especially if operations becomes 24/7.