Trevor Evans MP challenged over aircraft noise

Trevor Evans (LNP): I’ve 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:

1. Conduct a new EIS that examines the second runway in a realistic way – as a large piece of public infrastructure that doesn’t only impact residents in the immediate vicinity, but under all flight paths.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

Trevor Evans (LNP): I’m 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 aren’t 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.

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 I’m 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, I’ll 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 don’t. This isn’t 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.

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 hasn’t 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. 

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). London’s 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 London’s 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.

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.

I’m 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 won’t 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 Government’s 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.