Aircraft noise is an issue for the Leichhardt local community because when new the new third runway opened at Sydney Airport in 1995 it resulted in an increase in aircraft movements over the area. This is an ongoing issues with the levels of aircraft movements promised increasing.
In 1995, the 3rd runway of Sydney Airport was officially opened for use resulting in a massive increase in aircraft movements over the suburbs to the north of the Airport, particularly the suburbs of Annandale, Lilyfield and Leichhardt. As the Leichhardt Local Government Area is located close to Sydney Airport, the residents of the Leichhardt Municipality have suffered ever increasing aircraft noise as a result of a significant increase in aircraft passenger numbers and traffic since 1995 which is projected to get worse over the next two decades.
The Sydney Airport Community Forum (SACF) was established in 1996 by the Howard Liberal Government as the main consultation forum for the implementation of the Sydney Airport Long Term Operating Plan. The Forum includes representatives from the general community, Local Councillors, aircraft industry as well as State and Federal Parliamentarians from electorates surrounding the Airport.
Following the election of the Rudd Labor Government in November 2007, the newly appointed Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP reconstituted the Sydney Airport Community Forum to make it more representative and more effective in advocating on behalf of the community.
For more information, go to the Sydney Airport Community Forum website
The Sydney Airport Corporation Ltd is the company that owns and operates the Sydney Airport. For more information about the operations of the airport, the Preliminary Draft Master Plan 2029 or the Runway End Safety Area construction (causing limited operation of the East West Runway), go to the Sydney Airport Corporation Ltd website
If you have an aircraft noise enquiry or complaint, please call the Airservices Australia on 1300 302 240 (cost of local call from anywhere in Australia) or 1800 802 584 (free call from anywhere in Australia) or by email at community.relations@airservicesaustralia.com
On 16 December 2009 the Australian Government released the National Aviation Policy White Paper. This represents the first comprehensive aviation policy statement issued by an Australian government, bringing together all strands of aviation policy into a single, forward-looking document providing planning, regulatory and investment certainty for the aviation industry out to 2020 and beyond.
The White Paper commits to continuing Australia’s excellent aviation safety record and to strengthen aviation security systems, while providing a policy framework for the development of the aviation industry at all levels—international, domestic, regional and general aviation—including through skills and productivity improvements. It sets out initiatives to ensure better planning and integrated development on and around airports and to lessen the adverse effects of aviation activity on the environment and communities.
For more information or to access the National Aviation Policy Green Paper, visit the Department of Infrastructure and Transport website