Following is some background into our input into the future aviation landscape.
2024 Inquiry into aircraft noise
The Australian Senate report into the impact and mitigation of aircraft noise in Australia was released in late November 2024.
The report can be found here.
Our group was part of this inquiry, presenting at a public hearing of the Senate’s Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee which was responsible for the inquiry and report.
We presented alongside Community Aviation Alliance Australia (CAAA), of which we are a member.
Initial feedback from community groups around Australia is that the inquiry recommendations fall short of what many hoped for/expected with reactions such as those from neighbouring Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance.
Our group highlighted that forecast expansion of noise event zones under Gold Coast Airport’s Draft Master Plan 2024 will significantly affect existing and future residential dwellings, but with no additional noise mitigation measures proposed by the Gold Coast Airport, nor required under current legislation.
The Inquiry heard nationwide submissions about the impacts of aircraft noise on residents and business’ amenity and physical and mental wellbeing, and any proposals / barriers limiting aircraft noise such as curfews and changes to flight paths.
Its report made 21 recommendations on a variety of topics, with all 21 recommendations found at this following link here.
The Aircraft Noise Ombudsman summarised the recommendations as follows:
Investigation of operational changes to limit noise impacts, including higher tailwind take-off thresholds, maximum possible use of simultaneous opposite direction parallel runway operations (SODPROPS) and standardisation of continuous descent operations and continuous climb operations at major airports. All recommendations to be supported by adequate air traffic control staffing.
Research into the impacts of aircraft noise exposure on human health.
A study on the impact of flights on native species at Western Sydney International airport.
Greater consideration of aircraft noise impacts in the flight path design process.
Reviews of major airspace changes by the new independent Aircraft Noise Ombudsman and broader airspace reviews when a metropolitan airport adds a new or expanded runway.
Tightened timeframes for dealing with flight path change requests and public explanation of delays.
Improvements to Airservices’ community engagement processes.
Removal of the Noise Complaints and Information Service from Airservices.
Master Plans and Major Development Plans (where applicable) be required to address compensation for residents affected by additional aircraft noise generated by airports; to better identify potential noise impacts and to monitor and report on them.
Consideration of the use of government levies under the Aircraft Noise Levy Act 1995.
Increased availability of technical information and support regarding aircraft noise related issues including a comprehensive user-friendly website.
Stronger government participation in airport community meetings.
Consideration of mechanisms to ensure planning authorities notify airports of significant proposed developments near them.
These recommendations will add to changes in aircraft noise management proposed in the Aviation White Paper published in August 2024.
2024 aviation white paper
In 2023, the Australian Government released Terms of Reference calling for submissions on the Aviation White Paper which will outline the Government's desired outcomes for aviation in terms of safety, competitiveness, sustainability, and efficiency, to ensure that the industry is suitably equipped to provide aviation services to the Australian public up to 2050.
The Terms of Reference explored various matters within the aviation sector, including four specific areas identified by the Government:
“how to maximise the aviation sector's contribution to achieving net zero carbon emissions, including through sustainable aviation fuel and emerging technologies
the economic reforms needed to improve productivity across the sector, including addressing skills shortages, competition between airports and airlines, and charting a course out of the pandemic
how to support and regenerate Australia's general aviation sector
better mechanisms for consultation on and management of issues like aircraft noise, airport development planning and changing security requirements”
Stop Flight Path Impacts (Gold Coast Lifestyle Association Inc) made a submission identifying clear deficiencies in the current regulatory framework, which doesn’t adequately provide appropriate protection of community interests. These interests for example, include:
the well overdue articulation of regulations governing the use of airspace (where currently there are none)
the requirement for public consultation on proposed changes to flight paths
the requirements for the adoption of noise abatement procedures or noise amelioration programs as conditions to proposed substantial increases in aircraft movement.
Our Terms of Reference submission can be found here.
The Terms of Reference submissions were used in the development of a Green Paper published in September 2023. The Green Paper served as the basis for more detailed consultation in which we were involved due to our membership of Gold Coast Airport’s Community Aviation Consultation Group.
We again provided a submission to the Aviation Green Paper consultation which closed in November 2023.
Visit our submission to the Green Paper of November 2023 here.
2024 white paper released
The White Paper was released on 26 August 2024. Read the paper and its fact sheets at the following link: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/publications/aviation-white-paper-towards-2050
*Green papers include proposals or solutions to feedback received in response to a proposed white paper. Green papers are often released to generate discussion and feedback.
*A white paper is a published statement of government policy or strategy which often includes details of, and the reasons for, planned legislative changes
