By Holly McGuinness
A new community campaign will call on the federal government to conduct an independent health impact assessment of Melbourne Airport’s proposed third runway.
It comes after an independent health report conducted by Brimbank council found the development of the third runway would result in significant ongoing health impacts for residents.
External experts sourced by council found risks associated with the runway could include impact sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, heart disease, and cognitive impairment, as well as poorer educational outcomes in children.
Council said that the educational impacts have the potential to delay reading and oral comprehension in children in impacted areas by up to five months.
The proposed runway is expected to open between 2027 and 2029, with community members and councillors continuously voicing concerns about the health impacts.
Speaking at the Tuesday, August 16 council meeting, councillor Virginia Tachos said advocacy for the opposition of the third runway has been strong but isn’t enough.
“We need other state representatives to actually stand up and express concerns about the impact this will have, we’re not talking about small impacts, these are learning development impacts on children in Brimbank,” Cr Tachos said.
