AVIATION GREEN PAPER

ACT NOW TO HAVE YOUR SAY

Submissions close 30 November 2023

Why this matters

Are you affected by aircraft noise?

Do you consider there are adequate protections from aircraft noise?

Are you satisfied with the way aircraft noise complaints are handled?

Are you consulted on airport development plans and flightpath changes in a meaningful and constructive way?

If you hold concerns, then have your say now on the Australian Government’s recently published Aviation Green Paper that will be used to finalise an Aviation White Paper, which will set the policy direction for the aviation sector to 2050.

Don’t miss this opportunity to tell the Government what you expect from airports and the statutory agencies that have responsibility for airspace management and airport regulation. Use our example submission to have your say.

WE HAVE MADE LODGING A SUBMISSION QUICK AND EASY

1.       COMPLETE YOUR NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS IN THE BOX ON THIS PAGE (COMPULSORY)

2.       CLICK THE “START WRITING” BUTTON

3.       READ THE EXAMPLE SUBMISSION LETTER YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEND

4.       EDIT OR ADD TO THE LETTER IF YOU WISH

5.       CLICK THE “SEND LETTER” BUTTON, AND YOU ARE DONE

THANK YOU FOR LODGING YOUR SUBMISSION AND MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD.

YOUR SUBMISSION WILL BE EMAILED TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION WHITE PAPER TEAM.

(Note: The Action Network is an open technology platform we use to streamline the submission process. You do not need to become a member of Action Network to lodge your submission using our example letter, which you can also edit before hitting the Send Letter button.)

Our example submission makes six specific recommendations to government

1.         Make new regulations that define CASA’s responsibility with respect to the regulation, approval, and administration of airspace and the design and designation of airways and air routes, including the need for public consultation to be undertaken in relation to any proposed change to flight paths that significantly changes the patterns or levels of aircraft noise.

2.         Make altering a flight path in any way that significantly changes the patterns or levels of aircraft noise an action that requires a publicly consulted Major Development Plan under the Airports Act 1996.

3.         Amend the Airports Act 1996 to require all public submissions on draft airport Master Plans and proposed Major Development Plans to be provided directly to the Department. Currently there is a conflict-of-interest situation where all public submissions go to the Airport, which is both the applicant for a major permission and the adjudicator on public submissions.

4.         Amend the Airports Act 1996 to enable the Minister to approve a Master Plan with conditions. The Minister has no power at present to impose binding conditions on a Master Plan approval.

5.       Ensure the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman becomes part of the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman, rather than being appointed by and reporting to the Board of Airservices Australia. The Aircraft Noise Ombudsman must be a fully independent office.

6.         Amend the Air Navigation (Gold Coast Airport Curfew) Regulations 2018 so that no air freighter movements are permitted within the curfew period.

The Aviation Green Paper can be found here.

Submissions close 30 November 2023.