Call for Redland residents to speak up on flight paths ahead of Airservices Australia final report

A southside community has been asked to voice concerns on plans to redirect flights over bayside suburbs before a final Airservices Australia report next month.

Redland residents have been asked to sign a petition opposing plans to reroute flights over bayside suburbs ahead of a final report on changes to flight paths, due next month.

The petition called for further consultation with Redland residents about the impact of the proposed flight path changes befoe any decisions were made.

Airservices Australia was expected to release options for further flight path design and analysis next month.

The petition followed an Airservices Australia consultation workshop in Capalaba last week.

The workshop was originally scheduled to be held at Bribie Island, but was moved to allow bayside residents to have their say.

Bowman MP Henry Pike said he launched the petition in an effort to gauge the level of local opposition ahead of Airservices Australia releasing its options report in October.

He said he had already received complaints from Redland residents about increases in aircraft noise following the adoption of “simultaneous opposite direction parallel runway operations” in February.

That had resulted in more planes flying over bayside suburbs.

Last month Airservices Australia released findings from a report by international consultants Trax which recommended, among other options, redirecting existing departure routes over Redland suburbs.

The Airservices Australia review revealed complaints and concerns from 169 suburbs, including in Redland and on the bay islands.

Mr Pike said despite the late notice, the workshop was one of the best attended across southeast Queensland, demonstrating a growing concern in the community about the proposed changes.

“It is critical for the Redlands community to mobilise against these proposals now, rather than waiting for decisions to be made over the next 12 months when it might be too late,” he said.

“The flight path review process will be ongoing and there will be an array of consultation to come.

“But I need the community’s help to send the clear message that we will not accept any erosion in the amenity of the Redlands.

“Redland residents chose to live here for a quieter lifestyle, while inner-city residents chose to live close to the city for more convenience and the hustle-and-bustle.

“Shifting the problem of aircraft noise away from the inner-city and over our bayside community is not an equitable or evidence-based solution and we need to collectively raise our voices in opposing it.”

An Airport Services Australia spokewoman said no decisions on changes to flight paths had been made or would proceed without community consultation.

“We are committed to considering all opportunities for improved noise outcomes for the Brisbane community, which are assessed as safe and feasible, whether they come from the Trax International Final Report or other proponents,” she said.

A Brisbane Airport Corporation spokesman said the airport wanted to minimise the noise impacts on local communities and would work with all partners including government, airlines and local residents.

Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance acting chair Marcus Foth said Mr Pike was unnecessarily driving a wedge between communities.

“This is a problem that everyone has to face — and we can’t move it from one area to another because no area should take priority over another area,” he said.