A meeting to discuss the new masterplan for Essendon Airport drew a crowd of more than 150 irate residents and sparked a heated debate between airport officials, the council, traders and locals.
Emotions ran high at the information session at Strathmore Bowls Club last Wednesday night, with residents demanding that Essendon Airport chief executive Chris Cowan and operations manager Graeme Ware outline what impacts the 20-year masterplan would have on residents.
Strathmore resident Rob Moore called for a buffer to protect nearby homes after revealing his house had been flooded with polluted air last summer when he used the air-conditioner on a warm day.
Strathmore resident Elvira Vacirca also criticised the masterplan for its lack of health impact assessment on residents, the absence of an air quality assessment or traffic impact statement, and the economic impacts it will have, including devaluation of nearby properties. “The masterplan brings to sharp focus the airport’s objective to try to increase productivity and profit,” she said.
“But it disregards what the impact will be on residents who live here. The community needs to be more informed and able to be heard before any decisions on the future of the airport are made.”
Earlier this year, The Weekly Review reported that the expansion of mining fly-in and fly-out operations and construction of a hotel and hospital are canvassed in the Essendon Airport 2013-2033 Preliminary Draft Master Plan. The 80-page document sets out a framework for development of the airport and the Essendon Fields commercial precinct over the next 20 years.
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Key features of the aviation plan include the continued operation of a two-runway system, refurbishment of the existing passenger terminal and construction of new hangars.
Residents also voiced concerns about low-flying aircraft, noise levels, aircraft breaching the 11pm-6am curfew, increased aircraft traffic and the devaluation of properties surrounding the airport.
Mr Cowan told the meeting there would be no changes to the 11pm-6am curfew times, excluding emergency services.
He also revealed that only 19 of 39 Essendon Airport operators using the Essendon Fields site had so far signed the voluntary Fly Neighborly Agreement, a document created to minimise flight disturbance to residents.
Mr Cowan vowed to survey air operators on the issue and encourage them to sign the document. The airport would undertake a comprehensive study, looking at noise and safety before any plans to shorten the north-south runaway were undertaken.
He added that Essendon Fields provided
12 per cent of the total employment in Moonee Valley, with more than 500 jobs forecast for the site over the next five years.
The next public meeting to discuss the airport will be from 7.30 to 9pm on November 6 at the Strathmore Heights Community Hall at 1 Boeing Road, Strathmore Heights.
