‘Jet super highway’: The flashpoint which could turn Griffith Green

Airport noise has become a flashpoint issue for a marginal Labor seat, with some residents considering leaving the major parties to vote Greens for the first time.

Airport noise from Brisbane’s second runway has become a flashpoint issue for the marginal Labor seat of Griffith, leading some inner-city residents toying with leaving the major parties to vote Greens for the first time.

Pundits still predict it will be retained by Labor, but the sleeper issue is set to make it a seat to watch on election night.

Held by Labor’s Terri Butler with a 2.9 per cent margin, the Greens would need at least four per cent of Labor voters to switch their primary vote to secure a shock win.

Some major party voters in Griffith turning to the Greens over airport noise. Residents pictured, Dianne McLay and Andy McLay. Photo: Patrick Woods.

The Coalition has committed to a trial to see more planes diverted over Moreton Bay, aircraft having to hit higher altitudes at departure and stricter flight path rules, while Labor is promising an independent forum to review runway usage with the power to direct Airservices Australia to minimise noise.

Greens candidate Max Chandler-Mather has pledged a curfew and cap on flight numbers, which has won over some residents.

Bulimba resident Dianne McLay, 57, said she was usually a Labor voter, but the curfew promise meant she would vote Greens for the first time.

“I’ll be woken up at 1.30am with a big freight plane going over,” she said.

“We need sleep, we can’t have 24-hour flights going over our heads.”

Swing voter and Balmoral resident Freya Hildonen, 50, said flights went by every three minutes during peak times in the morning and evening.

“We seem to be sitting under a jet superhighway,” she said.

Greens candidate for Griffith Max Chandler-Mather during a rally outside Brisbane Airport Corporation against fight noise. Picture: Tara Croser.

“Reviews are all very nice, but we need empathy and we need action.”

Brisbane Airport Corporation spokesman Stephen Beckett said a curfew could lead to worse outcomes and that they were working with Airservices Australia on a range of ways to get more flight over the bay.

“It would mean aircraft coming in much quicker, much more regularly and much more intensely over a shorter period of time,” he said.

“We absolutely want to make aviation impacts on the community as light a touch as possible.”

Mr Chandler Mather said he realised the significance of the air noise issue while doorknocking in March last year and having difficulty hearing residents as planes flew overhead.

“Flight noise is symbolic of the way major parties are increasingly ignoring people’s basic material interests,” he said.

Labor’s Terri Butler currently holds the seat with a 2.9 per cent margin. Picture Martin Ollman

A Labor spokeswoman said their policy was a responsible way to minimise flight noise.

“While the Greens Party make empty promises they know they will never have to deliver, Labor will do the hard work of resolving difficult issues,” she said.