Western Sydney has not been consulted properly on its own airport proposal. But submissions are still open.
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From: [YOUR NAME]
[SUBURB]
Dear Minister King,
I write to you as a resident of Western Sydney to submit my concerns regarding the new Western Sydney International Airport draft flight paths and their environmental impacts.
Over the past decade public consultation has not sufficiently addressed noise issues and flight paths. The airport will be completed in the next 2 years and only recently have the flightpaths been released. Western Sydney residents been told the good-news stories but only a gloss over of the challenges resulting from the airport.
Western Sydney residents need real immediate solutions to the quality of life issues we will face from the beginning, rather than being forced to have constant battles with successive governments to address increasing noise and associated problems as the airport grows to 80 million passenger movements.
I request the government urgently consider the following:
1. A curfew on all flights between the hours of 1 and 3AM.
Surely, we deserve a few hours of uninterrupted sleep?
Mascot has a curfew from 11pm-5am (with minor exceptions) with restricted flights from 10pm-11am and 5-6am. There are also restrictions to the maximum number of flights per 15 minutes. Why are Western Sydney residents seen less valued to those living in the east?
Extensive international studies demonstrate airport noise impacts on sleep patterns. Some restrictions need to be considered to support the Western Sydney population.
2. A noise abatement program for houses in the flight paths including double glazed windows and other noise insulation.
This ought to be made mandatory within any future changes to flight paths. Similar programs have been put in place for Mascot and other airports.
This will also help address the urban heat effect produced when the increased commercial, residential, industrial, and supporting infrastructure such as roads and airports replace trees.
3. A program to upgrade local schools with double glazed windows and other noise reducing insulation.
Previous Badgerys Creek Airport EIS studies concluded that studying under flightpaths will impact students’ academic achievements. Schools’ must be supported by improved infrastructure that will protect the academic environment from flight paths.
4. A program to provide local businesses with double glazed windows and other noise insulation where flightpath noise will impact on service delivery.
Consideration must be given to aged care facilities, childcare centres, and NDIS service providers for example, as additional noise can impact on clients who may be less tolerant to intermittent noise generated by flights.
5. Address fuel transport by either rail or pipeline to alleviate the growing challenges presented by fuel tanker movements.
Deloitte’s report presents the view that by 2051 there will be 21,810 aircraft movements per annum using approximately 2,820ML of fuel. This would result in at least 70,000 fuel tanker movements per annum unless a clear plan is presented to use alternatives such as rail or pipeline. This report indicates trucking would be cheaper, suggesting it may be a preferred option without any considering the increased traffic or greenhouse gas emissions which would further deteriorate the quality of life for Western Sydney Residents.
6. Transparency and monitoring of the airport by establishing an independent monitoring committee to report to residents.
Establishing a committee of community representatives would be the best way to provide timely feedback to the Federal Government and airport authority on behalf of the western Sydney residents. The committee ought to have independent thinkers rather than lobbyists and proponents of the airport so as to provide a real transparent independent think tank of ideas for future consideration.
