Sound complaints soar as plane numbers set to double
THE inner west’s is still the leading hotspot for complaints about noisy aircraft as new figures show plane numbers at Sydney Airport are set to double over the next 20 years, but one suburb has overtaken the number top spot.
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LEICHHARDT has overtaken Marrickville as the inner west’s leading hotspot for complaints about noisy, low flying aircraft as new figures show plane numbers at Sydney Airport are set to soar over the next 20 years.
Night curfews and technology designed to make jumbo jets quieter has failed to curb the number of gripes about the sound of planes taking off or landing at the airport.
The airport’s latest operation report shows residents in Leichhardt lodged 12 complaints in the first quarter of this year, with Lilyfield, Annandale, Marrickville and Stanmore also ranked in the top 10 Sydney suburbs for objections about noise.
Debate surrounding the impact on residential areas resurfaced last week with the release of Sydney Airport’s long term masterplan, which forecast 33.7 per cent of aircraft will use northern flight paths above the inner west by 2039.
The long term plan also shows the total number of aircraft funnelling through the airport is projected to jump to 65.6 million, a 51 per cent increase from 2017.
Balmain state Greens MP Jamie Parker, whose electorate takes in Leichhardt, said the 33.7 per cent figure was “far in excess” of the airport’s 17 per cent target on northern aircraft movements outlined in previous operating plans.
“It’s no wonder aircraft noise complaints have increased in Leichhardt as people who have not been accustomed to noise are now starting to feel the impact,” Mr Parker said.
“At an absolutely minimum the master plan needs to meet the targets for noise sharing in the operating plan and protect residents from the noise with insulation.”
Despite the previous 17 per cent target, the airport’s latest operation report shows 33 per cent of planes used northern flight paths in the first six months of this year.
Noise monitoring stations picked up aircraft passing the 70 decibel mark up to 187 times (at Sydenham), 115 (at Leichhardt) and 109 (at St Peters) a day from April to June this year.
The noise from a domestic vacuum cleaner, busy traffic and alarm clocks have been measured at 70 decibels.
A Sydney Airport spokesman said the northern flights shared four routes above the inner west.
He said technology to make planes quieter and efforts to move aircraft above non-residential land would continue as part of the 2039 masterplan.
“We acknowledge that noise from aircraft operations continues to be one of the most significant environmental issues for people living around airports,” he said.
“Sydney Airport continues to work with airlines to attract newer and quieter aircraft.”
The masterplan is open for submissions at www.masterplan2039.com.au.