A vocal public gallery at Noosa Council’s Ordinary Meeting last Thursday and a petition signed by about 1000 residents calling for a review of proposed flight paths above Noosa provided encouragement to Councillors to make a submission to Airservices Australia.
Noosa Council has called for an enforced night-time curfew for Sunshine Coast Airport similar to that at other airports including Gold Coast and a month long extension to the consultation period. In addition it has requested Sunshine Coast Council conduct an independent Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Lake Weyba, Noosa National Park and the coastal dunes within the Castaways and Marcus Beach areas.
“We will be requesting a detailed explanation from Airservices Australia as to why the intensity of flight numbers over the coastal flight path versus hinterland flight path has changed,“ Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie said.
Cr Wilkie said while Noosa Council had no regulatory authority over the project, Councillors had an advocacy role and would call on Federal Members to support them.
The Sunshine Coast Council has taken exception to their requests saying the environmental impacts for the airport had been “rigorously assessed“ and that the community was “consulted extensively over a three year period from 2012 until late 2015.“
In a statement to ABC a Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said they would not be dictated to by Noosa Shire Council or support its proposals.“
It added that there was “minimal change in the proposed airspace and flight paths design“ and that “a feedback period of six weeks is more than adequate“.
The Sunshine Coast Council warned that any extension to the consultation period would result in the approvals from CASA being delayed by up to 6 months, which could cost the project at least $10 million.
Wide Bay Federal election candidates have weighed into the debate backing Noosa Council’s submission. Greens candidate Daniel Bryar said you should always ensure all the facts are considered when assessing applications that impact the harmonious existence of life in a community.
“Noosa Council has every right to request a reassessment of the EIS and EPBC approvals, regardless of the chances of success or not on things like enforced night time curfews now or in the future,“ he said.
