11-28-2024, 07:14 PM
Impact and mitigation of aircraft noise inquiry - report tabled?? 
Via the RRAT webpages: Impact and mitigation of aircraft noise
REPORT - November 2024
Hmm...a bit like being slapped with a wet lettuce...
Guess what will happen next??
And then...
...
MTF...P2
Via the RRAT webpages: Impact and mitigation of aircraft noise
REPORT - November 2024
Quote:Recommendations
Recommendation 1
2.80 The committee recommends that the conditions for approval of the Western Sydney Airport include a requirement for the Western Sydney Airport Corporation to study the impact of its flights on Australian native species.
Recommendation 2
2.116 The committee recommends that the Australian Government researches the impacts of aircraft noise exposure on human health, including sleep, and associated economic impacts.
Recommendation 3
3.63 The committee recommends that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority urgently investigates the implementation of higher tailwind take-off thresholds for aircraft that are capable of doing so safely.
Recommendation 4
3.64 The committee recommends that Airservices Australia supports maximum possible use, within weather and operational constraints, of simultaneous opposite direction parallel runway operations (SODPROPs) at Brisbane Airport.
Recommendation 5
3.66 The committee recommends that Airservices Australia prioritises work to standardise the use of continuous descent operations and continuous climb operations as the preferential mode for landing and take-off at major airports, including Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, where it is safe to do so.
Recommendation 6
3.106 The committee recommends that the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts changes the rules for Brisbane airport such that aircraft operating at night must meet the requirements of the ICAO Chapter 14—Balanced Approach to Aircraft Noise Management rules. After an appropriate time of this rule's use, the Government should review whether the same standard could apply to other airports.
Recommendation 7
3.107 The committee recommends that the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts develops guidelines for 'noise envelopes' at Australian airports, against which airports should provide transparent reporting. The Government should review the record of airports in meeting certain noise thresholds once an appropriate amount of comparable data has been collected.
Recommendation 8
3.140 The committee recommends that the Australian Government amends the Airports Act 1996, and associated Regulations, to require airport Master Plans and Major Development Plans (where applicable) to address the issue of compensation for residents affected by the additional noise generated by the airport.
Recommendation 9
3.141 As part of the approval process for airport Master Plans, and Major Development Plans which significantly alter or add new runways, the committee recommends that the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government considers whether an airport should be declared a leviable airport under the Aircraft Noise Levy Act 1995.
3.142 Any decision to designate an airport as leviable should be based on a threshold set by the Australian Government in consultation with industry and other stakeholders to ensure that the Commonwealth's interests are protected under the arrangements.
Recommendation 10
4.64 The committee recommends that the Australian Government moves Australia's flight path design principles towards an altitude based priorities approach—with a view to prioritising minimising noise for communities, and for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and National Parks (below a certain altitude). The Government should conduct an expert review to establish what altitudes should be set for Australian conditions.
Recommendation 11
4.68 The committee recommends the Federal Minister for Transport issues a direction stating that Airservices must respond to Flight Path Change Requests within a reasonable and clearly articulated timeframe, and publicly explain any delays.
Recommendation 12
4.70 The committee recommends that changes to flight paths and airspace management that result in significant community impacts should be subject to referral for review by the new, independent Aircraft Noise Ombudsman.
Recommendation 13
4.72 The committee recommends that, in cases where an airport in a metropolitan area adds a new or expanded runway, Airservices considers conducting a full-scale review of the broader airspace in the greater metropolitan area.
Recommendation 14
5.112 The committee recommends that the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government directs departmental representatives to participate fully in Community Aviation Consultation Group meetings, preferably attending in person.
Recommendation 15
5.114 The committee recommends that the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts facilitates the provision, through the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman or Airservices Australia, of appropriate technical support for noise related issues to community representatives, including access to technical experts, where necessary.
Recommendation 16
5.122 The committee recommends that Airservices Australia builds upon work already undertaken to improve its community engagement framework by urgently developing robust processes for considering, responding to, and—where applicable—implementing outcomes of consultation processes.
Recommendation 17
5.129 The committee recommends that the Australian Government investigates international approaches to the provision of public information about aircraft and noise and flight movements, and alternative models for noise complaint handling services. The Noise Complaints and Information Service function should be removed from Airservices Australia. A replacement service should aim to provide a more effective service for community members and allow Airservices to concentrate on its core functions. The Government should consult with affected communities about what alternative body should handle complaints and what oversight should be provided to the complaints handling service.
Recommendation 18
6.74 The committee recommends that, as part of its review of the Airports Act 1996 and associated regulations, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts seeks to modernise the process and requirements for Airport Master Plans and Major Development Plans (MDPs), including by:
- increasing the threshold for MDPs to an amount that appropriately reflects increases in construction costs since the existing threshold was set;
- requiring all future Master Plans (and MDPs, where relevant) to include easily-understood noise mapping, such as N65 and N60 contours, while maintaining the requirement for an Australian Noise Exposure Forecast;
- requiring Master Plans and MDPs to demonstrate consistency with the National Airports Safeguarding Framework;
- including clearer guidelines for assessing noise impacts as part of the environmental assessment process;
- including a requirement for airports to outline noise mitigation strategies in their Master Plans and MDPs; and
- introducing a requirement that, for major projects with the highest noise and environmental impacts (such as new runways), airports must conduct a comprehensive review of the accuracy of predicted noise outcomes within five years of operation and report their findings publicly and to government.
Recommendation 19
6.143 The committee recommends the that the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government of Australia issues a revised Statement of Expectations for Airservices Australia within six months which outlines the Government's expectation that Airservices will:
- abide by statutory noise sharing arrangements, including those outlined in the Long Term Operating Plan (LTOP) for Sydney Airport;
- adequately staff and support air traffic control, including to ensure noise mitigation procedures can be operationalised;
- adequately staff and support the organisation's engagement and operational areas to ensure the timely consideration of its Post Implementation Reviews, other consultations, and the timely implementation of noise mitigation strategies; and
- prioritise the urgent recruitment, retention and training of air traffic controllers to return its air traffic control service to pre-pandemic levels within 12 months.
Recommendation 20
6.148 The committee recommends that the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts works with Airservices Australia, the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman and aviation industry stakeholders to create a modern, user-friendly website that provides a 'single source of truth' for the community. This process should include comprehensive community consultation.
Recommendation 21
6.156 The committee recommends that the National Airports Safeguarding Advisory Group considers adopting a mechanism to require planning authorities to proactively notify airport corporations of significant proposed new developments close to airports.
Hmm...a bit like being slapped with a wet lettuce...
Guess what will happen next??
And then...
...
MTF...P2