Henry Pike (Bowman, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Over the past three years my community has witnessed Brisbane Airport flight paths increasingly shifted over the Redlands and ongoing consultation on a range of proposals to continue this pattern. This is unacceptable and is something I've been working with my bayside community to oppose. Those who choose to live close to the city and the airport do so with an expectation of aircraft noise. By contrast, families move to the Redlands for its peaceful lifestyle, aware that this means they are further away from the amenity of the city. It's a fair trade-off.

Airservices Australia have been reviewing flight paths for the past three years and have now released phase 6 of package 3 as part of their noise action plan for Brisbane. Sadly, yet again, the new proposals have significant implications for Redland City residents. While earlier stages made some progress in response to my community advocacy, the latest proposals would see aircraft noise pushed onto new areas of our community. Because of strong local voices, we've won commitments to higher altitudes and more overwater routes, yet this newest part of the noise action plan seeks only to shift the problem to the Bay Islands in my electorate and over residents of Sheldon and Mount Cotton.

The solution I and hundreds of other locals are pushing for is an over-the-ocean flight path that will push southbound traffic east over North Stradbroke Island and will cross the mainland at a higher altitude in an area of fewer built-up areas. Airservices Australia is calling their latest changes 'fair'. They are not fair and cannot be justified, and I'll continue to fight against them.

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