Shane Rattenbury, Greens MLA for Molonglo, invites members of the public to attend a community forum to hear about the recently released 2009 Preliminary Draft Master Plan for the airport and discuss issues raised by the community about the plan.

Canberra International Airport has recently released its 2009 Master Plan which outlines the vision for the airport, which includes a more than doubling of passenger numbers over the next 20 years, as well as a proposal for a 24-hour freight hub and the possible use of Canberra Airport as a second airport for Sydney.

Community group Curfew 4 Canberra have proposed an 11pm-6am curfew be implemented at Canberra Airport.

The draft Master Plan released by the Canberra Airport is open to public comment until 8th May 2009. An earlier version of the Master Plan in 2008 was not approved by the Federal Minister, due in part to community concerns not being adequately addressed.

If you would like to find out more about the future plans for the Airport and its impacts, we would encourage you to attend and put questions directly to the speakers.

Speakers:

• Noel McCann – Canberra International Airport
• Jenni Savigny and Geoff Willans – Curfew 4 Canberra

When: 6-8pm, Thursday 30 April

Where: Reception Room, ACT Legislative Assembly, Civic Square

If you are unable to attend, but would like to make a submission on the Preliminary Draft Master Plan, visit here.

Comments must be submitted in writing to Canberra Airport, Brindabella Business Park, Canberra Airport, 2609 or by email.

Visit the Curfew 4 Canberra website here.

The Greens have moved a motion in the Senate seeking support for a night time curfew for Canberra Airport, candidate for Molonglo Shane Rattenbury announced today.

“This motion seeks to establish a night time curfew from 11pm until 6am, to ensure that residents of north Canberra and Gungahlin can have an uninterrupted night’s sleep,” said Rattenbury.

“Forecasts for the future growth of Canberra airport show a worst case scenario of up to 20 aircraft movements per hour between midnight and 5am. The Greens believe that is an unacceptable potential impact on residents lives.”

“The ACT Greens are working with our Federal counterparts in the Senate to seek to address this problem. Whilst the Government is arguing that the current number of aircraft does not justify a curfew, it is better to act now than create a problem and then have a dispute about how to fix it.”

“Canberra airport should be provided with certainty about the future environment in which they can operate, so setting the parameters now is the fairest way to do that.”

“The ACT Greens are calling on ACT Labor and Liberals to make the case for a curfew to their Federal colleagues in the interest of Canberra residents.”

The text of the motion introduced by Senator Bob Brown is:

That the Senate notes :

a) the community opposition to 24 hour operations at Canberra airport;

b) the current effective operation of curfews in Sydney, Coolangatta, Essendon and Adelaide; and

c) Calls on the Government to implement a curfew at Canberra airport.

The motion will be debated in the Senate on 13 October.

As a matter of public importance today, Greens MLA Deb Foskey will put before the Assembly the benefits of a more orderly approach to development of the Canberra Airport, including a curfew.

“Ever since the Canberra airport was privatised and its expansion plans became obvious the ALP and the Liberal Party have been silent on airport noise” Dr Foskey said today.

“And while we all agree that the Canberra Airport’s economic contribution to our local economy is significant, no Party in the Assembly has been pleased with the unconstrained development that has been allowed to occur there.”

“The Canberra Airport’s Draft Masterplan allows for more than 30 aircraft movements an hour, 24 hours a day. It includes massive retail, office and eventually residential development. While this proposal does technically conform to the National Capital Plan the Airport is not bound by that plan nor by the ACT’s Territory Plan.”

“More importantly, there is nothing in the Airport’s Masterplan that ties it into a sustainable transport plan for the Canberra region, or more widely; and there is no Greenhouse Gas impact analysis – simply a plan to grower bigger and busier.”

“Untrammelled airport development and increasing residential development in Queanbeyan and the ACT is likely to result in noise sharing across Canberra. That will mean airport noise for many suburbs throughout the night, unless the Federal Government applies a curfew.”

“I believe it would make a difference if our Chief Minister lobbied the Labor Federal Minister for Transport, Mr Albanese.”

“These are the reasons that residents’ groups and community councils from Gungahlin to Jerrabomberra have joined forces to campaign for an airport curfew in the lead up to local elections.”

“We are yet to see Mr Stanhope or Mr Seselja stand up for the right of local people to a good night’s sleep” Dr Foskey said.