2020-10-12 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                  12 OCTOBER 2020


           general as well as the target areas. However, Airservices’ decision to only consider
           varying its final design from its proposed design where suggested alternatives were
           aligned to the EIS concept paths meant that “consultation” with those in the general area
           was effectively consultation in name only. The complaints to the ANO demonstrate that
           public anger continued to grow through the process and remained after the consultation
           period had closed.

           9.8 There was never any realistic prospect that residents in the general area, despite the
           chance to provide their feedback, had any significant opportunity to influence the
           proposed flight paths. This quickly became apparent to them during the process and was
           the fundamental basis of the complaints to the ANO”.9 (my emphasis)

      The Aircraft Noise Ombudsman made two recommendations to the ASA board, namely:

      Recommendation 1
      Airservices should develop a framework for third party proposed changes that:
      (a) provides robust and dependable governance arrangements to manage its early and
            ongoing engagement with third parties
      (b) establishes clear lines of accountability and documents these arrangements as they
            evolve
      (c) ensures an effective consultative process, which includes monitoring the adequacy of
            any third party consultations being relied on.

      Recommendation 2
      Airservices should, as soon as practicable, design an effective post-implementation review
      (PIR) process for the Sunshine Coast flight path designs, that does not perpetuate design
      constraints requiring alignment with EIS concepts, and which encompasses:
      (a) consideration of identified community-suggested alternatives
      (b) a community engagement process that provides for genuine opportunities for
            community contributions to influence decisions
      (c) application of the latest version of Airservices’ National Operating Standard (NOS)
            Environmental Management of Changes to Aircraft Operations (AA-NOS-ENV-2.100).

      On 25 June 2020, the ASA board announced that it accepted the two recommendations.

      The first of the recommendations focuses on arrangements between ASA and its client
      airports about roles and responsibilities for future reviews of this nature. This is not something
      that will impact upon the current flight paths for Sunshine Coast but, if properly implemented,
      could reduce confusion for future reviews undertaken at other airports.

      Of more interest is recommendation two which is discussed further below.

      3.     Proposed post-implementation review and next steps for Council

      ASA have committed to undertaking a post-implementation review (PIR) in response to the
      ANO recommendations.

      The scope and process to be used in the PIR will be the subject of a terms of reference. This
      is the key to ensuring that the PIR is undertaken in a fair and proper manner.




9 refer to paragraphs 9.6 and 9.8 of the ANO report – pages 28 and 29


                                                                                        Page 81 of 84