Page 1433 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 11 May 1994
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rather than pursue that line. Their concern was environmental. They live near an international airport. The difference - the Chief Minister raised this point yesterday - is that they live with an international airport that has a curfew. Our airport has no curfew. I realise that there are some who might say, "That is lucky because the aeroplanes can come and go when everybody is asleep and you will not notice". There may well be some truth in that. There is also the fact that aeroplanes are becoming quieter. They are having to meet international standards on noise. Nevertheless, those matters must be considered.
Mr Lamont said in his speech a short while ago that he had visited the Cairns Airport and was conscious of the environmental sensitivities. Madam Speaker, I wonder whether he was fortunate enough to look at the mangrove swamp that surrounds the Cairns Airport. I recommend this to members, as a matter of interest. Half-way along the public road that leads to the airport there is a boardwalk that takes you out among the mangroves. It is about a kilometre out and back. It takes you over those mud-flats, and you can see mudskippers there. It is a breeding ground for prawns and so forth. Of course, any expansion of that airport is likely to interfere with those mangroves. The airport, according to my understanding, was built on that mangrove swamp.
Whenever we talk about an expansion of a facility like an airport we have to be particularly conscious of the environmental issues involved. People who live in North Canberra, as the Chief Minister mentioned yesterday, and people living in Queanbeyan, Tuggeranong and Woden are under flight paths currently. No doubt they would be particularly concerned about jumbos using those same flight paths, not only because of the noise perspective but also because of the amount of avgas they use and the burnt out gas that would wind up falling onto our fair city.
Madam Speaker, the notion that we should strongly support Canberra as an international airline destination needs much more careful consideration than saying, "Let's support it; let's go for it". We have to consider the ramifications for the people who live in our city. Madam Speaker, in most of my speech I have been pouring cold water on the idea. I have been doing that because I heard such enthusiasm from other members who have not taken those issues into account.
MADAM SPEAKER: The time for the discussion has expired. The discussion is concluded.
FINANCIAL AGREEMENT BILL 1994
Debate resumed from 10 May 1994, on motion by Ms Follett:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (4.14), in reply: In concluding the debate on the in-principle agreement to the Bill, Madam Speaker, I would like to pick up some of the points that were made by members in the debate on the matter yesterday. I thank members for their comments.
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