2020-10-12 GC Agenda - Item 9 - Attachment 1 - Aircraft Noise Ombudsman Report - Investigation

7 Consultation in practice
Website information

7.1       Airservices used its website as a mechanism for communicating publicly about
          its proposed flight path changes. This was an effective tool for
          communications, which was updated regularly and provided a range of
          relevant information and resources, including general and community specific
          Fact Sheets and Frequently Asked Questions during the consultation period.

7.2       The 20 March update included a copy of the Fact Sheet titled “Sunshine Coast
          Airport Proposed Airspace Change Runway 13-31”, which identified that:

                  In 2014, Sunshine Coast Council consulted with the community on early design
                  concepts, which included an Environmental Impact Statement approved by the State
                  Government. To support operation of Runway 13/31 in 2020, Airservices proposed
                  design has been modelled on the flight path design concept in the Environmental
                  Impact Statement.

                  To improve environmental impacts, Airservices proposed flight path design variations
                  from the design concept.

        However, there was no reference in any material at this time that the
        consultation was limited to only these variations or clear advice that the new
        flight path design was necessarily constrained by the flight path design concept
        in the EIS. Indeed, the fact sheet said:
                  Airservices Australia is proposing airspace changes at Sunshine Coast Airport to
                  support the operation of a new runway, known as Runway 13/31, which will be
                  operational in 2020.

                  These proposed designs use modern technology and aircraft capability to be as safe
                  and efficient as possible. Wherever possible, changes to the flight paths that would
                  deliver safety enhancements have been identified and these have been balanced with
                  minimising the effects of aircraft noise on the community, as far as practical.

                  Airservices is seeking feedback on the proposed flight path design to be considered as
                  part of the final airspace design.

7.3       On 4 April, Airservices released a “Frequently Asked Questions” document
          which it committed to updating:

                  …as we progress consultation on the proposed airspace and flight path changes to
                  support operation of Runway 13/31 at the Sunshine Coast Airport

7.4       On 8 April, Airservices announced on its website the commencement of its
          series of four consultation drop-in sessions and at the same time was specific
          about the limited scope of the consultation. Almost mid-way through the
          consultation period, this announcement was the first public indication that
          Airservices’ consultation would be limited to the target area:
                  Airservices has designed proposed airspace and flight paths to support operation of the
                  new runway and these are modelled on the flight path design concept in the
                  Environmental Impact Statement. These designs include variations to improve
                  environmental impacts. Airservices is consulting on the variations to the flight paths
                  from the approved Environmental Impact Statement.

Aircraft Noise Ombudsman
Investigation into complaints about the introduction of new flight paths in the Sunshine Coast (April 2020)   Page 18