Sibanengi Dube
A coalition of stakeholders against the establishment of Melbourne Airport’s third runaway is pressing ahead with a string of community engagements to drum up support for its cause.
Residents, operating under the banner of No3rdtullarunway Coalition, have scheduled a meeting for Saturday, April 15 at Old Shire Hall in Keilor, to map the way forward over the contentious issue which has also placed Australia Pacific Airports (APAM), owners of Melbourne Airport, at logger-heads with Brimbank council.
The residents are enjoying the tacit support of Brimbank council which made submissions to APAM vehemently opposing the third runway as a source of noise and air pollution.
Responding to APAM’s 2022 Master Plan that mooted the third runway proposal, the council accused Melbourne Airport of subjecting residents to levels of aircraft noise beyond World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations. The stakeholders are calling upon the federal government to force APAM to lower down level of aircraft noise and compensate people impacted by the noise.
No3rdtullarunway Coalition spokesman Frank Rivoli, fired a final warning shot to APAM this week, urging residents to take immediate action.
“Now is the time for action. The federal transport minister is currently assessing the third runway proposal,” Mr Rivoli said.
APAM requires approval from the infrastructure, transport, regional development and communications minister for the master plan and the MDP, which must comply with relevant Commonwealth legislation which include the Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 1997 and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Council wants APAM to consider the off-site impacts of Melbourne Airport’s operations on surrounding communities.
“Support the Brimbank council’s call for an independent third runway health impacts assessment,” reads part of a public meeting invitation poster being circulated by Mr Rivoli.
Since 2019, council has been vocal about the potential health and education impacts on the Brimbank community from a third runway in a north south orientation. Letters have been flying back and forth between council and government offices, Aviation Noise Ombudsman, the Commonwealth chief medical officer, the Victorian chief health officer and local MPs . The same applies to APAM which is equally fending off resistance to the implementation of its master plan.
Both sides are not budging, as APAM still expects to be given a green light by the Federal government to proceed with the construction of the $1.9 billion third runway.
