Federal Member for Grayndler and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese today introduced legislation into the Parliament to give local communities a greater voice and better information about planning and development at the nation’s major airports.

The reforms in the Airports Amendment Bill 2010 will:

• Strengthen the requirements for airport Master Plans and Major Development Plans to undertake community consultation;


• Better align airport development and planning with State and local planning;


• Require Master Plans to outline ground transport linkages and detailed information on proposed non-aeronautical developments and the likely effect of developments on jobs at airports);


• Increase the triggers requiring airports to lodge Major Development Plans to include any developments that are likely to have a significant impact on the local or regional community;


• Require public consultation on significant changes to airport runways, including those that are likely to alter flight paths or aircraft noise arrangements through a Major Development Plan process;


• Prohibit types of developments which are incompatible with the operation of an airport site, such as residential, aged or community care facilities, hospitals and schools unless there are exceptional circumstances; and


• Integrate airports’ environmental plan into their Master Plan to give comprehensive information to the public through a unified consultation period.

“The previous Government was not serious about genuinely consulting with Inner West residents about the future of Sydney Airport,” said Mr Albanese.

“This legislation will give local residents more chance to have their say on planning developments put forward at the Airport.”

These reforms continue the implementation of the Government’s Aviation White Paper, Flight Path to the Future, which included over 130 policies and measures as part of a road map to help secure the industry’s future, uphold the highest safety and security standards and address community needs.

“We have already substantially implemented about half of the measures, and the successful passage of this bill will further the reform process,” said Mr Albanese.