Page 6014 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 8 December 2010
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review ways to minimise the impact of aircraft noise. Indeed, he instructed Airservices Australia to conduct a review of noise abatement for Canberra airport during 2010.
The first stage of the Airservices review into aircraft noise emanating at Canberra airport, an investigation of the current situation, is underway. I am advised that a report will be submitted to the federal minister by the end of this month. These issues are being addressed. The federal minister has responded. Airservices Australia, I am advised, are currently finalising a report to the minister on the very issue.
The next part of the process will be to look at how effective the current system is and what steps need to be taken to make improvements. I understand that this will include public consultation in 2011.
In response to aircraft noise concerns raised by the community, the ACT government engaged an independent noise expert from the University of New South Wales to undertake a review of six months of data produced as part of an Airservices Australia aircraft noise monitoring study in Hackett. It was to provide an independent analysis, a second voice—an outside, objective point of reference for residents who had concerns about the Airservices Australia monitoring. The report was released in July 2010. I am sure that members of this place who have an interest in this issue have studied that report and will acknowledge the findings by an eminent, acknowledged expert from the University of New South Wales—that, while a major concern of the residents is sleep disturbance, aircraft noise over north Canberra is significantly below guidance on night time aircraft noise.
In addition, the Canberra airport is very active in relation to addressing aircraft noise issues and convenes the Canberra airport consultative forum on a quarterly basis to discuss issues related to the airport’s operations, including aircraft noise. The forum includes representatives from industry, community and government. The ACT government and Queanbeyan City Council are represented on the forum, as are the various ACT and Queanbeyan community councils.
The ACT government will continue to monitor the impact of aircraft noise on residents through our active involvement in the Canberra airport community aviation consultation group. The ACT government will also take an active role in the Airservices Australia review of the noise abatement for Canberra airport as that work progresses.
That brings me to the considerable work that the ACT government and its officials undertake to develop and sustain good relationships with our local government neighbours and the New South Wales and Australian governments. It is these relationships which are critical in the development of good policy and outcomes for the ACT community and our region.
The ACT government has a long history of regular engagement with local governments throughout the capital region. The most notable example of this is the Regional Leaders Forum co-chaired by the New South Wales minister for regional development and me. The Regional Leaders Forum meets twice each year and brings
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