60 Reasons to Protest: Reason #55 – The limited scope of the PIR
Not only are Airservices masters of “engagement theatre,” they also have made sure all the essential net noise reduction measures are excluded from scope. Why?
“The long-term benefits of Brisbane’s parallel runway system will only be realised if operational restrictions such as movement caps and curfews are avoided.”
Airservices Key Messages document, 2022
The Post-Implementation Review (PIR) process started in 2021 with Terms of Reference that excluded legislated and in-force instruments readily available to reduce noise. The community demands a total cap on flight movements and a federally legislated night-time curfew for Brisbane Airport (as operating at Sydney and other airports). What was Airservices’ response?
“Movement caps and curfews are not within Airservices remit as an air navigation service provider and cannot be added to our PIR scope.”
Airservices PIR feedback
While Ministers and Members of Parliament still regularly yet erroneously refer to Airservices as a “regulator,” they are a corporatised service provider owned by the government to do the bidding for the national aviation industry.
The community continues to be asked to participate in a dragged out engagement process over many years but the scope excludes the real game changers right from the start. Why?
Did you know that Section 195 of the Airports Act 1996 enables the Minister to make a written declaration setting out the capacity of any Australian airport – in essence capping aircraft movements to a reasonable maximum number.
Since the Airports Act’s date of assent on the 9th Oct 1996, how many times has any Minister issued an Airport Capacity Declaration anywhere in Australia? – Answer: NEVER.
In force legislation not applied to Brisbane:
- Airports Act 1996 – §195 Airport capacity declarations
- Sydney Airport Curfew Act 1995
- Adelaide Airport Curfew Act 2000
- Air Navigation (Gold Coast Airport Curfew) Regulations 2018
- Sydney Airport Demand Management Act 1997
- Aircraft Noise Levy Act 1995
- Aircraft Noise Levy Collection Act 1995
Join us at the BFPCA protest to force the Minister to apply these existing, readily available legislative instruments to Brisbane.
Register for the BFPCA protest:
Discuss this in the BFPCA Facebook group:
