Page 3636 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 26 August 2008
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that the Canberra airport would become the hub and the main arrival point for most people who travel to Canberra if we had a VFT. It makes sense that that would become the transport hub, using the Majura-Monaro corridor as the main transport corridor in and out of Canberra. But that is a matter for some planning
I want to put on the record that the Canberra Liberals are not supportive of the introduction of a curfew. There are issues in relation to noise abatement which the minister has alluded to. I am pleased to see that there has been some communication and some progress towards some analysis of the noise abatement zone, because a careful review and careful monitoring of the operation of noise abatement zones are a very important issue in ensuring that there is useful coexistence between residents and the airport. We are not at this stage in favour of a curfew and do not see the evidence there at this stage, but we do welcome the review of the noise abatement zones and look forward to working with all concerned to ensure that the noise abatement zones are effectively implemented for the benefit of residents so that their sleep and peaceful enjoyment of their homes is not interrupted by unnecessary aircraft noise.
The airport looms very large in the ACT—probably more so than in other cities simply because of the size of the economy, the size of the city and the prominence and perhaps colourful nature of the Canberra International Airport company and its principals. It is easy for people to take pot shots and to be overly critical of the work that it has done. I do not think that there is anyone in this Assembly who agrees entirely with all of the actions and statements of the members of the executive of the Canberra International Airport group, but we do recognise the substantial development and growth in the ACT economy that has come off the back of development at the airport over the last 10 or so years.
We also recognise the contribution that has been made by the Canberra International Airport group to the quality of office building in the ACT. It is quite reasonable to say that the changes and quality of the buildings that we have seen at the airport have led other developers to go down that path and provide high-quality buildings. We are now starting to see, as a regular event, four-star and five-star—and I hope soon six-star—green energy-rated buildings. We need to pay testament to the leadership of the Canberra International Airport group, who were the first people to innovate in that area in the ACT.
The Canberra Liberals recognise the importance of the work done by the airport—the economic contribution, the social contribution and the employment contribution that it has made. But there are problems. There are problems in relation to the road. Dr Foskey seems to want to blame the international airport for the congestion—saying that somehow, because the Canberra International Airport provides the means by which people can travel in and out of Canberra, it is their fault somehow—
Dr Foskey: It is all those office buildings.
MRS DUNNE: that people want to travel in and out of Canberra using aeroplanes. I think that there is a slightly Luddite approach by the Greens.
Dr Foskey: No, it is the office buildings, Vicki.
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