Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury is calling on the Federal Airports Minister Anthony Albanese to announce a curfew today when he makes a decision on the Canberra Airport Draft Master Plan.

“The question is will Minister Albanese move to protect Canberrans’ sleep and health by putting a curfew in place or will he ditch the proposal for the 24 hour freight hub?” said Mr Rattenbury.

“It’s a simple thing. Canberra Airport should have a curfew much the same as Sydney airport does, to ensure all Canberra and Jerrabomberra residents a good night’s sleep and good health. If no curfew is announced, plans for a 24 hour freight hub should be thrown out.”

“Minister Albanese would want nothing less for the people in his own constituency of Marrickville in Sydney, why would he consider it acceptable to foist overflow aircraft traffic onto Canberra.”

“Currently international freight flights have restricted access into Sydney because of their curfew, but there would be no such restrictions if freight operators were to use Canberra.”

“Freight operators would be gleeful at the curfew-free airport in Canberra. The Master Plan is a licence to go forth and develop – more trucks, an expansion of freight handling depots at the airport and potentially up the Majura Valley, more flights in and out of Canberra at night, and no one setting limits on when enough is enough.”

“A curfew would provide certainty to the freight sector about what is acceptable at Canberra Airport. Clearly industry can operate within the parameters of a curfew – just look at Sydney,” said Mr Rattenbury.

Greens MLA Amanda Bresnan has welcomed the ACT Government’s belated review into Canberra’s taxi services, but argues that it needs to aim high.

“This welcome decision to review our taxi services echoes the concerns of Canberra residents we heard at our taxis public forum earlier this year.” Ms Bresnan said today.

“This second positive announcement on transport in as many weeks shows the benefit of the Greens holding the crossbench and insisting on better transport outcomes for Canberra.”

“There are three things we need to see coming out of this review:

• Wheelchair Accessible Taxis (WAT) that really do deliver an adequate service for people who need them
• a commitment from the airport to put some money into making it work for people catching cabs when they arrive
• a connected system that links all the transport systems to make sure everyone can get around Canberra conveniently.”

“When I’ve raised these matters in the Assembly the Transport Minister has had very little to say. That is why this review is so important.”

“I trust that in looking at other WAT models the review will seriously consider the systems in Sydney and Adelaide. WAT users tell me we need something more profound than more tweaking with incentives.”

“I am pleased to see the Airport will be invited to participate in the review, however we all know that they will have to put their hands in their pocket if their end of the system is going to work.”

“If we are going to have a city designed for the future we need a connected public transport system that works for everyone; visitors, commuters and people who can’t drive or who don’t have cars.” Ms Bresnan said.

ACT Greens MLA for Molonglo, Shane Rattenbury, has called on the ACT Government to come clean on their position on the 24 hour freight hub proposal at the Canberra Airport, and make public their submission to the Draft Airport Master Plan.

“Unfortunately, the ACT Government has not made their submission to the Draft Airport Master Plan publicly available. Until they do, the people of Canberra can’t be sure that the ACT Government is looking after their interests.”

“The ACT Government should insist on a curfew to ensure the residents of Canberra are afforded the protection of a good night’s sleep uninterrupted by aircraft noise.” said Mr Rattenbury.

“The Chief Minister should also clearly reject comments made by Stephen Byron last week that the 24 hour freight hub was being built so as to relieve Sydney of aircraft noise.”

“The notion that Canberra residents should tolerate increasing numbers of aircraft coming in and out of the airport throughout the night to relieve Sydney of noise is senseless – surely even the Chief Minister can see that.”

“Canberrans should instead be offered the same curfew protection that is offered to Sydney residents. With the numbers of flights set to increase, putting a curfew in place will provide long-term certainty to Canberra residents.”

“To date, the Canberra International Airport has rejected a curfew out of hand, but welcomed 24 hour noise to Canberra with open arms. It’s no wonder that Canberra residents are wary of airport expansion.” said Mr Rattenbury.

ACT Greens Climate Change and Environment spokesperson, Shane Rattenbury MLA, has called for a higher level of scrutiny for Canberra Airport’s expansion plans in light of a range of concerns discussed at a community forum he hosted last night at the Legislative Assembly.

“There seem to be a number of unanswered questions about the exact noise impact on the suburbs of North Canberra, where the noise monitor in Hackett is currently located, and the airport’s noise projections outlined in the Master Plan”, said Mr Rattenbury today.

Last night’s forum was attended by representatives from the Canberra Airport and Curfew 4 Canberra, who both got a chance to speak and answer questions from the floor.

“There were questions raised at the forum last night about aircraft noise, road traffic increase, greenhouse gas emissions, grasslands, and the planning impact on the rest of Canberra’s town centres. Many of those concerns are shared by the Greens,” said Mr Rattenbury.

The Greens continue their support for an 11pm-6am curfew at the airport, similar to that which is currently in operation in Sydney, particularly in light of proposals for a 24-hour freight hub.

As well as this, the community raised valid concerns about the submission process that merely requires the Airport to collect submissions about its own development application, rather than the regulatory authority – in this case the Federal Government, as would normally occur.

“It seems odd that for what is the most significant piece of development in Canberra for a long time, that the proponent collects the public submissions, and that the public cannot then see what is submitted to the Federal Government,” said Mr Rattenbury.

“If the Federal government wants to be a responsible regulator, then Minister Albanese needs to reform the approvals process for airport development around the country. Clearly the risk here is that the Canberra community are easily ignored in this process.” Mr Rattenbury said.

ACT Greens Climate Change and Environment spokesperson, Shane Rattenbury MLA, will host a public forum at the Legislative Assembly this week to discuss the Canberra Airport’s Draft Preliminary Master Plan.

“Community concern about expansion at the airport has been significant, so this event is an opportunity for people to hear about plans for the Canberra Airport, and raise questions or concerns” said Mr Rattenbury.  “I am expecting there will be questions about a range of issues including aircraft noise, traffic at the airport, climate change, and impacts on surrounding grasslands raised at the meeting.”

Presentations will be given by the Canberra Airport and Curfew 4 Canberra, a community group that is campaigning for an 11pm-6am curfew for Canberra airport, similar to that which is currently in operation in Sydney. After the presentations, there will be time for a question and answer session.

“The Airport will be taking public submissions on the Draft Master Plan until the 8th of May. In the lead up to submissions closing, this is an opportunity for the community to get better informed about what is being proposed and what the likely impacts might be, and then make a submission if they wish.” said Mr Rattenbury.

The forum will be held at the ACT Legislative Assembly Reception Room on Thursday 30th April from 6-8pm. All welcome.

ACT Greens MLA Amanda Bresnan will present a forum on the transport problems that Canberra faces getting people to and from the airport, at the Legislative Assembly next Wednesday.

“Getting people to and from the Canberra Airport ought to be pretty simple. But it’s one clear example of public transport not working in Canberra ” Ms Bresnan said today.

“We can take the first steps towards becoming a healthy and sustainable city by coming up with simple and efficient transport options for this situation.”

“Everyone has an interest in solving the problem. We just need to get the players sitting around the table to work it out. That’s why I have invited the Canberra Airport and the Taxi Industry Association, in particular, to the symposium next Wednesday” Ms Bresnan said.

Agreed Speakers:

Peter Moore – International Association of Public Transport (Australia/New Zealand)

Stephen Byron – Canberra Airport

John McKeough – Canberra Taxi Industry Association

Klaus Pinkas – Transport Workers’ Union

Details:

‘Moving towards better transport for Canberra’  is a solution-focussed symposium on Canberra’s future transport needs, looking at getting people from Canberra Airport to the City and Parliament House.

Reception Room – ACT Legislative Assembly, Civic Square

12:15 – 1:45pm Wednesday 4 March

There will also be time for questions and comments from the floor.

For more information contact the office of Amanda Bresnan MLA on 6205 0130 or email roland.manderson@parliament.act.gov.au