The Adelaide suburbs where it’s become too noisy to build new homes due to increased airport noise
SOME of Adelaide’s most popular suburbs have been identified as unsuitable for new housing, due to increasing airport noise.
AIRPORT noise in parts of Brooklyn Park and West Richmond is at a level deemed “unacceptable” by Australian housing standards, casting doubt on development opportunities in the area.
A West Torrens Council-commissioned report, released last month, said the suburbs were within a noise “contour” where new houses should not be built.
The report, which is based on airport data, found parts of Glenelg North, Netley, Hilton and Mile End, should only be deemed suitable for new housing if developers agree to noise reduction measures, such as double glazed windows.
West Torrens is now considering changing its development guidelines in a bid to limit subdivisions in Brooklyn Park and West Richmond.
The airport’s increasing traffic — that has been fuelled by new international players such as Qatar Airlines — will accelerate further, according to the report by consultants AECOM.
It states plane traffic around the airport will increase by “more than 60 per cent” in the next 20 years, in line with other major airports in Australia.
The continuing growth and associated aircraft noise will throw the focus on local planning — especially if people are allowed to subdivide their land.
West Torrens’ development plan currently assesses developments against outdated airport noise maps, which the Westside Weekly understands are about 24 years old.
West Torrens councillors discussed the ramifications of the situation at their most recent meeting.
They also received advice from Norman Waterhouse Lawyers, urging them to approach Planning Minister John Rau about changing planning rules, given “the broader commercial implications for Adelaide Airport and the state”.
The lawyers noted there was a “potential for the community to be misled” on the issue, as the area affected by aircraft noise is “far more extensive” than the council’s current publicly available maps state.
The report, meanwhile notes the state and local planning policies currently allow infill development in areas of high airport noise.
This is despite the council last year changing its development policy to stipulate West Richmond and Brooklyn Park are only suitable for “low density” development, largely consisting of detached homes.
“Property owners believe they can and are encouraged to redevelop and intensify urban development on their properties,” the AECOM report states.
“The inconsistency in planning policy exacerbates this expectation.”
The report states the council has recently received “a number of development applications” in West Richmond and Brooklyn Park, which has resulted in “tensions in (its) planning process”.
“Battle-axe subdivision is discouraged,” the report states, but it also notes there are “insufficient policy directions” regarding infill in noise affected areas.
At their October 18 meeting, the council decided to seek approval from Planning Minister John Rau to allow amendments to its development plan to “improve clarity” of airport noise information.
Council minutes did not specify exactly how this would be done.
The council is also planning to make the information public on its website.
Mr Rau declined to comment on the issue until the council formally approached him about changing its development rules.
An Adelaide Airport spokesman said the city was benefiting from new, quieter planes.
“We work closely with regulatory agencies such as Airservices Australia (Commonwealth Government agency), which has a major role in managing aircraft noise and distributing information about aircraft noise management,” the spokesman said.
Airservices maintains a focus on safety and works closely with Adelaide Airport and airlines to ensure, wherever possible, that flight departures and arrivals avoid residential areas and that noise-abatement principles are implemented.”