Change Runway 30:  Save Our Communities of Primrose Sands, Forcett, Carlton and Carlton River

It’s Our Last Chance To Take a Stand! 

Airservices (AS) review of the Hobart flight path change implementation[i] found that they totally underestimated[ii] the impact these changes would have on our communities. Many homes that were never flown over previously like ours.

• They underestimated the volume of planes. They said runway 30 was not the main path.

The Reality: it has become more used for small jets and larger freight planes as per their review report. They also added Air NZ flights - which the community was told this wasn’t going to happen.

•  Incorrect height – altitude of the planes. They said 1km, the planes are flying under 700 m when reaching Primrose Sand houses.

Due to proximity of the runway when the planes reach Primrose Sands and Carlton - they are lower and undertaking their first phase of landing, this means landing gear down, first stage of flaps engaged.  It is commonly known and well documented in air services industry that Noise is louder when planes are in the preparation phase[iii].  

• They downplayed the noise impact. They said to expect 60db but their own report shows they are frequently in excess of 70db.

The World Health Organisation[iv] outlines noise threshold of 55db for community noise like airplanes.  As research has shown over decades, [v] noise above this threshold can be a problem for physical and mental health, sleep, education performance and work productivity. 

The noise is already impacting so many people – and AS received over 1000 complaints. Read about residents’ concerns and Air Services Reponses in the design review report[vi].

The Airservices Implementation Review report recommended alternative options to be explored due to the reported impacts on communities like Primrose Sands, Forcett, Carlton.[vii]

However, Airservices haven’t decided if they will follow through on their recommendations.  So we need you to demand they action the recommendation options 4, 6, 5 identified for RWY 30:

1.    Recommendation Action 4: Moving RWY-30 AR STAR 2-3 km to the east to “Redhill”. This will significantly reduce the impacts on communities to unpopulated area.

2.    Recommend Action 6: Moving RWY-30 to the East Coast. The planes are much higher compared to rwy 30 being over Primrose/Carlton/Forcett due to distance/proximity to runway– and is also over water.

3.    Recommend Action 5: Setting a Curfew on preferred runway over houses – no fly zone from 6pm to 7am. 

What we can expect if we don’t fight this and demand change

• More flights - over double (105 – 123 % increase expected advised at a CAGS meeting November 2021)
• Earlier and Later flights
• Larger planes - more noise
• Potentially widening area
• Negative impact on property 
• Impact negatively on threatened white bellied sea eagles that live on Carlton Bluff

Demand They Take Action - Implement Alterative Options

What you need to do:

1.    Sign this petition demanding the recommendations to options 4-6 from the review are actioned. You can add a note on why you are signing it.

2.    You can also Submit an individual complaint to air services via:

Online  https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/community/environment/aircraft-noise/about-making-a-complaint/

Phone: 1800 802 584 (freecall)

Mail: Noise Complaints and Information Service, PO Box 211, Mascot NSW 1460

In the complaint tell them the impact and demand they enact on their own Recommendations – You can state which option you prefer -  Recommendation Action 4, 6 or 5.

The effect on our communities are significant and will get worse.

It doesn’t have to be this way - there are alternative safe options over non-populated areas!

Together we can stand up, demand fairness for communities.

Community over Profit   - Thank you for your support

Sharon – Forcett resident and Lisa – Primrose Sands residents 

 

References 
[i] Final report for the Post Implementation Review (PIR) of the Hobart Airspace Design Review 5 April 2022
[ii] Hobart Airspace Design Review – Primrose Sands Community (Updated 19 December 2018)
[iii] E.g. https://corporate.aucklandairport.co.nz/sustainability/managing-aircraft-noise/understanding-aircraft-noise/causes-of-aircraft-noise#:~:text=Generally%2C%20the%20faster%20the%20aircraft,more%20resistance%20is%20being%20created
[iv] Berglund B, Lindvall T, Schwelt DA. Guidelines for community noise. Geneva: World Health Organisation; 1999.
[v] https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0418-6#citeas .
[vi] [vi] : POST IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW OF THE HOBART AIRSPACE DESIGN REVIEW, Consideration of Feedback on the Draft PIR Report April 2022 Reports found:   https://engage.airservicesaustralia.com/hobart
[vii] : POST IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW OF THE HOBART AIRSPACE DESIGN REVIEW, Consideration of Feedback on the Draft PIR Report April 2022 Reports found:   https://engage.airservicesaustralia.com/hobart