Max Hatzoglou
Melbourne Airport has responded, ensuring the community that extensive research has been conducted despite admitting that they were in early discussions with the state government in regards to minimising noise levels for local schools.
A Melbourne Airport spokesperson said: “Melbourne Airport has devoted extensive effort to exploring the health impacts of the new runway as part of the Major Development Plan process.
“The findings of major international studies into the effects of major road traffic and aircraft noise have been applied to the Melbourne proposal, and the conclusion reached that this runway’s operation will have a negligible impact on childhood health and educational outcomes.
‘Nevertheless Melbourne Airport understands the concerns of the community and is in early discussions with the State Government regarding potential noise attenuation measures for schools within the significant noise zones.
They assured that outdoor activities would not be affected by the noise from the third runway.
“It will absolutely be safe for people to exercise outdoors,” a Melbourne Airport spokesperson said.
The airport admitted more noise will come for local residents as a result of the third runway.
“Noise is very subjective, and what may annoy one person may not bother another, however the new runway will result in more noise in some areas to the south of the airport,” a spokesperson said.
“The third runway alignment has been in plans for more than three decades, and Melbourne Airport is being as upfront as possible about the likely impacts so that people can make an informed submission and decisions about what it might mean for them”.
The airport said that hearing damage as a result of the third runway would be almost non-existent.
“The potential for hearing damage as a result of living under the flight paths has been assessed as negligible in accordance with Australian health standards”.
Asked about the potential to introduce curfews to stop planes from waking up people the airport said: “Melbourne Airport was planned and built to operate 24 hours a day, curfew free as Victoria’s main international and domestic gateway.
“There are no plans to introduce a curfew at Melbourne Airport.”
A spokesperson from the department of education and training said they were working closely with schools to address any concerns.
“We’re working closely with the school and Melbourne Airport to understand the impact of the proposed third runway on the school site.
Overnewton College and Keilor Primary School were contacted to follow up this story. Visit: starweekly.com.au for more.
