Mike O’Connor, the editor of My Village News, asked Federal Member for Brisbane Trevor Evans MP seven questions in the June 2021 issue (page 9) in the article, “Trevor Evans MP grilled over airport noise.” BFPCA put the same questions to two of Evans’ key challengers for the seat of Brisbane in the upcoming federal election: Madonna Jarrett ā the Labor candidate, and Stephen Bates ā the Greens candidate.
(Madonna Jarrett’s team acknowledged BFPCA’s request on 8 June 2021, but haven’t yet supplied any responses. Once received, we will add them below. EDIT: On 23 Oct 2021, we have received answers from Madonna Jarrett’s team, which we have added below.)
“Excessive noise levels from new flight paths which direct low-flying aircraft over New Farm and Teneriffe continue to affect the quality of life for readers of My Village News. Their concerns have been widely publicised in this magazine and elsewhere yet to date there has been little indication that they are being seriously considered and that the State and Federal governments and the regulators ā Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Airservices Australia ā are inclined to do anything to resolve the issue.”
My Village News, June 2021, page 9
1. What can you do to get CASA to agree to the adjustment of the allowable wind speed?
Trevor Evans (LNP): Iāve strongly supported the collaboration between Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC), airlines, Airservices Australia, and experts to prepare and submit a technical case to lobby CASA to reinstate the practice of an allowable tailwind tolerance of 10 knots for Brisbane Airport.
A change to this rule will increase the proportion of planes able to operate over the bay, rather than over the suburbs, with a corresponding reduction in aircraft noise for residents.
That technical case is currently under consideration by CASA.
Madonna Jarrett (Labor): I have called for a broad review of the aviation industry as well as the appointment of a strong, independent, and cross-party permanent Airport Community Forum for Brisbane residents. This would be funded and supported by the Federal Government and follows a similar model to what has been adopted in south-west Sydney.
Allowable wind speeds and other technical matters that impact flight paths are exactly what this body, with appropriate experts, would consider. A robust Community Forum with teeth that reports directly into the Minister is a good way to come up with a community-minded solution to aircraft noise.
Stephen Bates (Greens): The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) can make recommendations to CASA for allowable wind speeds however the final decision rests with CASA. While I do not expect CASA to return to the 10 knots that was previously allowed, changing the allowable wind speed from 5 to 7 knots is really just putting a bandaid on the problem. The real solutions to the flight path noise are:
- Conduct a new EIS that examines the second runway in a realistic way – as a large piece of public infrastructure that doesnāt only impact residents in the immediate vicinity, but under all flight paths.
- Investigate the introduction of a curfew or, at a minimum, ensure all arriving and departing flights are directed over-the-bay unless it is absolutely unsafe to do so.
- Expansion of noise-monitoring devices in areas under the flight path to provide real-time data on flight noise that can be compared to forecasts used to inform decision-making.
- The introduction of a federal anti-corruption commission and banning corporate donations to political parties so that we can remove undue influence over our political system.
2. Will you insist Airservices Australia sends all flights off over the bay unless it is unsafe to do so?
Trevor Evans (LNP): My expectation remains that the independent regulators will work together with the airport to use every available means to mitigate excessive and unnecessary noise for residents.
As well as supporting the technical case thatās currently under consideration by CASA, I also welcome the recent announcement by Airservices Australia that the post-implementation review of the operation of Brisbaneās new runway has been brought forward, rather than typically occurring up to two years after a new runway begins operations.
Madonna Jarrett (Labor): Common sense would say that suggestion may make a lot of sense given there are no houses on the bay that could be affected by the aircraft noise. I understand however that flight path identification is impacted by a number of factors. This is precisely the issue that a well-funded and resourced Airport Community Forum that reports directly to the Minister would look into and offer recommendations.
Stephen Bates (Greens): There is international precedent for this type of operation. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) imposes over-the-ocean flights between midnight and 6:30am as a method of noise abatement for residents living in areas close to the airport. If LAX is able to operate with over-the-ocean flights, what is BACās reasoning for not doing the same? I also understand there are international examples of airports using their parallel runways to alternate landing and take offs (LAX, Londonās Heathrow). This helps to abate noise further when all flights cannot be sent off over the bay. It would appear that these major international airports are able to achieve a high volume of traffic while also enforcing rules protecting the health and lifestyle of people living under flight paths or near the airport itself. It should be noted however that Airservices Australia (AA) is a service provider. If AA wishes to collect as much revenue as it can from its airline levies, it is arguably more inclined to optimise flight paths which favour the customers that line its pockets. So, flight paths are designed with profit in mind, not communities.
3. Will you insist that the BAC put noise-monitoring devices in place under flight paths in the affected areas?
Trevor Evans (LNP): Iām supportive of any action that is practical and helps lead to improvements that reduce the impact aircraft noise is having on Brisbane residents.
If locals and BAC believe that the current noise-monitoring infrastructure is not sufficient to measure this impact, then more needs to be done.
Madonna Jarrett (Labor): Noise monitoring is clearly part of what is needed to come up with a community-focussed solution for residents. Any such solution requires facts, and in this case, noise monitoring is a pretty basic fact gathering activity.
There are noise monitors over Brisbane, but we need to make sure there arenāt any gaps and if there are, that these are addressed. This may mean adding additional permanent monitors under flight paths at elevated locations as needed.
Stephen Bates (Greens): There are currently already noise-monitoring devices in place under flight paths in Brisbane. These operate 24/7. While this sounds good, Airservices Australia note on their website that there is no maximum aircraft noise regulation in Australia. The tools are in our community for measuring noise but there is no legislation in place to defend us. Further, noise forecasts and the real-time data from noise-monitoring devices should be compared. Discrepancies should be analysed and then acted upon so that promises made to the affected communities can be held to account. Again, this would require Airservices Australia to be given powers to regulate, not just exist as a service provider.
4. Do you think it is reasonable to expect that residents under the new flight paths be expected to live with the negative impact on their life quality that has been a consequence of the opening of the second runway?
Trevor Evans (LNP): This continues to be a very genuine and legitimate issue for the many local residents who have raised it with me, and on whose behalf Iām advocating.
I believe it is important to stay true to the letter and the spirit of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that was developed and the consultation that was undertaken in the lead-up to the second runway opening, which did not predict the impacts some local residents are experiencing.
Madonna Jarrett (Labor): As an inner-Brisbane local, like others I hear the noise from the planes. Our airport convenience should not come at a cost where our community lives in conditions that are intolerable. I have identified a way forward and if I become the local member for Brisbane, Iāll be as noisy as I can be in taking this fight to Canberra.
To be clear, I support a broad review of the aviation industry as well as the appointment of a strong, independent, and cross-party permanent Airport Community Forum for Brisbane residents. This would be funded and supported by the Federal Government and follows a similar model to what we see in south-west Sydney.
Stephen Bates (Greens): No, I donāt. This isnāt something that will just go away. This was a major change to public infrastructure that did not engage with communities under the proposed flight paths or in community consultation more broadly. There are so many examples of communities being impacted by a lack of consultation across Brisbane. The Enoggera Creek precinct, Roma Street Parklands development, and the second runway at Brisbane airport are all examples of each level of government thinking it can steamroll decisions through to appease developers and corporations without taking into consideration the impacts on the local residents. I used to live under the flight path of Archerfield Airport in Oxley for years. I know there is only so much noise you can take.
5. Other than you, to whom can residents turn for help?
Trevor Evans (LNP): I encourage affected residents to continue working with all their local representatives, to share their lived experience with us, and to keep logging issues with the relevant regulators and Brisbane Airport to ensure their voices are clearly heard on this important issue.
Residents should also have their say as part of the post-implementation review now being undertaken by Airservices Australia, whose review can lead to recommendations for change.
Madonna Jarrett (Labor): Collective voice has always been a path to change. The Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance is a strong community voice and concerned residents should continue to engage with them. In addition, residents should reach out to Trevor Evans, the local member. The Federal LNP Government has the authority to do something about this. To date there hasnāt been much political will, but if elected the local Federal member, I will take this issue to Canberra.
Stephen Bates (Greens): I believe one of the most important elements of a healthy democracy is community solidarity and advocacy. Groups like the Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance (BFPCA) represent an opportunity for a united voice of residents across political leanings and suburbs. Community action groups also represent a more powerful way of interacting with the government. Many voices are much harder to ignore than just one! While it is still extremely important to contact your local representatives for assistance and to voice your concerns, joining community organisations can remind us that we are not alone and create a more powerful way of influencing decision-makers.
6. Would you support the introduction of a curfew?
Trevor Evans (LNP): The stories that residents have shared with me highlight the significant impacts that flights late at night or early in the morning have on their wellbeing and that of their families.
All options should be on the table as we work with the regulators towards a solution that mitigates excessive and unnecessary noise for Brisbane residents.
Madonna Jarrett (Labor): Some residents think curfews will work and they should be considered as part of a possible solution. Curfews are used in airports all over the world as a means to manage noise and improve community liveability. Having said that this is precisely the issue that a well-funded and resourced Airport Community Forum that reports directly to the Minister would look into and offer recommendations.
Stephen Bates (Greens): I support the introduction of a curfew or, at the minimum, ensuring arriving and departing flights between 10pm and 6am take off and land over-the-bay (unless it is absolutely not safe to do so). Londonās Heathrow airport is the second busiest in the world (by international traffic) and enforces a curfew from 11pm to 6am, with financial penalties for airlines who consistently arrive late and break the curfew. It would be difficult to suggest that this curfew has impacted airline traffic or the ability for Londonās economy to grow. Until technology improves enough that aircraft noise can be reduced further, a curfew represents a solution that already exists at an international level, can be implemented in the short-term, and addresses the issues communities face while a new EIS is undertaken.
7. Given the significant investment that the Queensland Government has in BAC, do you believe it should be engaged in addressing flight-path problems?
Trevor Evans (LNP): All levels of government and their representatives need to work together to address the concerns many local residents are experiencing in relation to aircraft noise.
Iām looking for long-term solutions that are in the best interests of the Brisbane community and am working with representatives from all levels of government, and local community groups such as the Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance, to help make that happen.
Madonna Jarrett (Labor): Residents of Brisbane have raised legitimate concerns about the consultation process and the noise level. It is clear our community is suffering. I believe we need all community stakeholders to participate in a review of the current problem, and that this process must include the appointment of a strong, independent, and cross-party permanent Airport Community Forum for Brisbane residents. This has to be funded and supported by the Federal Government otherwise it wonāt have the teeth and resources to be effective. In addition, we need a broad review of the aviation industry and how it is regulated.
Stephen Bates (Greens): Brisbane Airport is a huge piece of infrastructure and should be accountable to the public. The Queensland Governmentās 25% stake in BAC through QIC means it has a duty to ensure the infrastructure it has partial ownership of is being used appropriately and not to the detriment of the citizens the government is accountable to. I personally believe Brisbane Airport should be brought back into public ownership so that our elected governments can be held directly accountable and not just pass the buck to the private sector.
