Flight path rage: Dunalley, Dodges Ferry, Primrose Sands residents to meet with Airservices Australia

A battle is brewing over flight paths in southeast Tasmania with angry residents fed up with the “incredible” noise, disrupted sleep and lack of curfew for planes.

Sue Bailey

@suebailey25

2 min read

November 16, 2022 - 8:26AM

Public sessions will be held on flight paths in southeast Tasmania. Image: FlightAware

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A battle is brewing over flight paths in southeast Tasmania with angry residents fed up with the “incredible” noise, disrupted sleep and lack of curfew for planes.

Airservices Australia says it is committed to working with the Hobart community to minimise aircraft noise “where it is safe and operationally and environmentally efficient to do so”.

It is holding public meetings at Primrose Sands, Dodges Ferry and Dunalley next week but some residents are critical of a lack of options for noise abatement.

Sharon Fotheringham has lived at Forcett for 35 years wants a night curfew to be considered.

“The community has been well and truly screwed again by Air Services,” she said.

“Everyone has been given options to vote on re noise abatement procedures but we haven’t been given a say in the times they have given us.

First Tigerair plane direct from Gold Coast to Hobart comes into land at Hobart Airport. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

She says between 40 and 50 planes fly over her home every day, and up to 100 in peak times, between 6am and 11pm.

“They are so low, about 700m and the noise is incredible, the decibel readings are very high.

“You can only get a broken sleep, it’s wicked and your health suffers.”

If flights are delayed, she said, planes can fly over at 2am.

“There is no curfew in place and the airport is telling us that flights will increase drastically as more people are travelling.”

Cate Grant of Carlton River said it had taken three years of concerted lobbying before Airservices Australia would hold public meetings.

“Basically there was no consultation with residents in our area before the flight paths were changed to put planes directly over our homes in 2019,” Ms Grant said.

“We have up to three flights an hour directly above us at less than 2000m.

“It’s loud, I can be in the back yard with the grandkids, right next to them, and can’t hear what they’re saying when a plane goes overhead.

“They come in after 10pm and before 6am sometimes, and as a birth doula who works irregular and often long hours, it’s impossible to sleep when a plane is right above our bed.”

Ms Grant said Airservices Australia had admitted failing to consult Dunalley residents in 2017 and “here we are again with exactly the same problem”.

David Stafford, an accountant who works from home, moved to Primrose Sands in 2020 and said noise from flights was significantly worse than modelling done by Airservices Australia.

“The noise wakes you up at night. My wife who has a disability finds it hard to get back to sleep,” Mr Stafford said.

“I’ve spoken to other long term residents and while we don’t want other communities to suffer it is very disruptive.

“I don’t make work calls if the wind direction is a certain way because of the noise.”

An Airservices Australia spokesperson said as well as face-to-face consultations an online survey would seek community feedback.

“The proposed NAP for Runway 30 aircraft arrivals at Hobart Airport are subject to community consultation,” she said.

“Further changes to flight paths requested by the community and aviation industry are currently undergoing detailed safety, design and environmental assessments.

“We will engage the community on these proposed changes in 2023.”