‘Strangle the goose’: Shock at curfew push for Ballina airport

A Ballina councillor’s push for a late night curfew on flights to and from the regional airport saw plenty of debate, with one opponent calling the idea “just bizarre”.

A controversial proposal to impose curfews on Ballina’s airport has been knocked back with some councillors labelling it a way to strangle the city’s “crown jewel”.

Councillor Kiri Dicker brought the notice of motion to Thursday’s (August 25) meeting, suggesting a broad range of recommendations to alleviate noise from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport.

These included that council impose a 10.30pm-6am curfew on flights, establish a Ballina Community Aviation Consultation Group and write to Airservices Australia requesting an independent airspace review of the airport area.

She said flights over Lennox Head and Skennars Head had been an increasing issue for residents for two years, according to regular B Ward committee meetings.

“Residents have never asked that aircraft numbers at the Ballina airport be reduced, only that the adverse impact of noise resulting from aircraft approach and departure procedures is minimised and the amenity of residents is considered,” she wrote.

“For many years, despite the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BBGA) being in operation, Skennars Head and Lennox Head residents have had the quiet enjoyment of their neighbourhood without being subjected to excessive and unmitigated aircraft noise.

“While there are constraints which limit what council can do, there are a number of practical actions council can take within its jurisdiction to advocate for residents regarding aircraft noise abatement, to enable better land use planning with regard to aircraft noise, and provide greater transparency to residents.”

Councillor Rod Bruem saidairport brings in $60 million in operating revenue for and was council’s “most outstanding asset”

Councillor Phil Meehan said he had lived in Cumbalum for 20 years, adjacent to the flight path, and only noted sounds from training aircraft.

He moved to a motion to amend the motion, deleting recommendations to impose a curfew, review the 2028 Australian Noise Exposure Forecast, and establish a Ballina Community Aviation Consultation Group.

“I also have a view that the voicing of concerns around the airport … is not necessarily supported by the broader community,” Mr Meehan said.

Councillor Rod Bruem opposed the full motion, noting the airport brings in $60 million in operating revenue and is council’s “most outstanding asset”.

“It’s our crown jewel, not just for Ballina, but for the wider region,” Mr Bruem said.

“150,000 tourists a year come in, injecting millions into our economy.

“It is the goose that laid the golden egg and it keeps on laying, and what these restrictions would seek to do is basically strangle the goose.”

Councillor Kiri Dicker said flights over Lennox Head and Skennars Head were a growing issue of concern for residents.

He said creating a pre-emptive Sydney airport style curfew was “just bizarre”.

“When planes are taking off and landing, that is the most dangerous time in the passage of an aircraft,” Mr Bruem said.

“We’re going to write to the airlines and give the pilots instructions on what they should be doing at that critical time? I think it’s not feasible. It’s not sensible.

“I think we should be doing more to encourage the airport’s growth and continued support for our region, not trying to lumber it up with regulations.”

Ms Dicker said she was “a bit disappointed to hear people manipulate the facts”.

“I was pretty clear that none of these recommendations were going to constrain the growth of the airport,” she said.

Jeff Johnson said he found the sound of aircraft “quite deafening” at times.

Councillor Jeff Johnson was in support of Ms Dicker’s “well-researched motion”. 

“I’ve also been at many people’s houses and the kind of noise can be quite deafening and they’ve expressed views that they never used to fly in these areas,” he said.

“I think a key issue here is when they’re doing sharp turns, either to the left or right ... now, not every plane, is going over the Lennox hill village and also Skennars Head and they never used to.”

Mayor Sharon Cadwallader said council had previously written to Jetstar about flight paths and had no money to look into this motion with lighting and runway upgrades needed.

Mr Meehan’s amendment to the motion was carried through unanimously.