KEILOR residents hope an expansion of Avalon Airport will ease noise pollution in Brimbank skies after dark.
With Avalon’s recently released masterplan revealing the “possible commencement of international services” by the end of June 2014, Keilor Residents Association presi- dent Susan Jennison is hoping the level of local late-night air traffic will be reduced.
She said residents were extremely frustrated at up to 43 flights every night between 11pm and 6am.
“We want the federal government to realise there is an alternative for night-time traffic,” Mrs Jennison said. “Aeroplanes are still departing from Melbourne Airport [at 12.12am].”
The Weekly reported last month more than 150 residents attended a meeting with the Community Aviation Consultation Group in Keilor, amid concerns about Melbourne Airport’s plans for a third runway.
Avalon’s masterplan predicts domestic passenger numbers will increase from 830,000 next financial year to 7.25 million by 2030-31. International passenger numbers will jump from 197,000 to 2.1 million over the same period. The plan also predicts “significant growth” in Melbourne air traffic in the next 20 years, growing 3.9 per cent annually.
Avalon hopes to attract at least one major operator or new integrated freight airline. The state government has committed to build a rail link to the airport.
