2020-10-12 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                           12 OCTOBER 2020


   to and from the Sunshine Coast Airport and people living underneath those flight paths will
   be impacted. The question is - what are the flight paths that have the least impact but are
   also safe?

   Secondly, during the COVID-19 period, although the airport has been open, there have not
   been as many flights as normal. Even so, there have been quite a number of complaints
   lodged by Noosa residents with the Sunshine Coast Airport and ASA about noise impacts of
   flights. These include complaints from areas where there was no expectation that there would
   be flights/noise impacts.

   Thirdly, flight path design is a complex issue. Obviously, safety is paramount and must be
   taken into account as the primary design element. Nevertheless, there are a range of other
   variables which can impact upon flight paths including topography, efficiency of routes
   (shortest path), environmental constraints, other regulated airspace etc.

   Previous Council Consideration
   Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 16 May 2019, Item 1, Page 13
   That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Ordinary Meeting dated 16
   May 2019 in relation to the proposed flight path changes for the Sunshine Coast Airport and:
   A.   Note the update from the Chief Executive Officer on actions taken as a result of the
        Council decision in April 2019 on this issue; and
   B.   Support the Statement of Intent proposed by Flight Path Forum Inc. as set out in
        Attachment 1 to the report and request the Chief Executive Officer to take the
        necessary action to pursue that outcome including making submissions to Airservices
        Australia and the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman.

   Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 18 April 2019, Item 1, Page 15
   That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Ordinary Meeting dated 18
   April 2019 and request the Chief Executive Officer to make a submission in relation to the
   proposed changes to flight paths for the Sunshine Coast Airport with such submission:
   A.   To focus on the establishment of a curfew similar to Gold Coast Airport (enforced by
        legislation) to minimise the impact of noise from flights on the amenity of residents in
        order to protect and maintain the Noosa lifestyle and environment;
   B.   To request from Airservices Australia a detailed explanation as to why the intensity of
        flight numbers over the coastal flight path versus hinterland flight path has changed;
   C.   To request Airservices Australia to extend their community consultation process by 1
        month to provide more time for Noosa residents to lodge submissions in relation to the
        proposal;
   D.   Request Sunshine Coast Regional Council to conduct an independent EIS for Lake
        Weyba, plus Noosa National Park and the coastal dunes within the Castaways and
        Marcus Beach area;
   E.   And request Federal Members Llew O’Brien and Ted O’Brien to support Council’s
        position on this matter.

   Finance
   It is proposed to contribute $5,000 to Flight Path Forum Inc towards the cost of engaging an
   independent flight path consultant to develop a number of alternatives to the current flight
   path so that those alternatives can be considered by ASA via the post-implementation review
   process. This will be funded from the existing budget in the CEO’s office for consulting
   services.


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