Petition launched: Richmond MP Justine Elliot joins resident’s fight to maintain Gold Coast Airport curfew
Gold Coast and Tweed residents are up in arms about a controversial plan for earlier flights at Gold Coast Airport.
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A Federal MP has launched a petition to support locals fighting to keep the curfew at the Gold Coast Airport.
Richmond MP Justine Elliot launched a petition on Friday to stop the Morrison Government’s plan to change the airport curfew, which would see a permanent arrangement for freight services from about 5am, four days a week.
Planes are not allowed to take off and land except in limited exceptional circumstances between 11pm and 6am Queensland time – or 12 midnight and 7am NSW time.
A Bulletin report on Monday exposed plans sought by Qantas to get Commonwealth approval to extend their current freight arrangement – introduced during Covid – from when the contract ends in April.
“The Morrison Government wants to change this curfew to allow planes to take off and land later and earlier,” Ms Elliot said.
“Locals are outraged by these plans. Our curfew is sacred, and I will fight this every step of the way.
“Allowing routine flights during curfew will drastically affect the quality of life of our community.
“If the Morrison Government gets away with this, it’s the thin edge of the wedge and this will lead to 24-7 flights over our homes.
“Join me in signing the petition to send the Liberals and Nationals a message — Stop the Morrison Government changing our curfew,” the MP added.
The link to the MP’s Facebook page and petition is www.facebook.com/JustineElliotMP
Residents fighting to protect a curfew on flights at the airport predict the number will double under a new future arrangement with airlines and smaller operators.
Community leaders who attended Monday’s briefing with Federal Government officers and airport officials were given data on potential future use of the airport between the curfew times of 11pm and 6am.
Qantas has reaffirmed that its only intention was to seek four freight services a week — just after 5am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday — extending an existing and allowable operation given during Covid to deliver e-commerce items.
Gold Coast Lifestyle Association spokesperson John Hicks who was at the meeting has crunched the numbers on data given.
He said the Qantas application, if approved in next few weeks, would result in a doubling of flights when those by smaller operators on lighter planes were considered.
“It will be 100 per cent increase in the number of in-curfew flights, from the current average of about 15 per month to 31 per month,” he said.
“This is no trivial adjustment. Currently the in-curfew flight movement situation at GC Airport is under control — with the Qantas application we have four in-curfew arrivals per week, Monday to Thursday added onto the existing in-curfew flights for various other reasons. That gives us 31 per month or one per day on average. Clearly the intent of the curfew is completely undermined when we set up a permanent arrangement as is proposed.”
Qantas admits “as the Gold Coast continues to grow the need for airfreight is increasing” but maintains it is only asking for four extra flights a week.
Gold Coast Airport has strongly rejected there will be any change to the curfew.
Community leaders are also furious about the late call for the meeting where apologies were sent by Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, Currumbin MP Laura Gerber and McPherson MP Karen Andrews who had Greg Betts attend as her observer.
“To be fair, the meeting was called at short notice.
But it is disappointing that representatives of the GCC Council and the State MP were not in
attendance for this important issue,” Mr Hicks said.
“What is clear is that local representatives from all levels of government, but particularly
Federal MPs Karen Andrews and Justine Elliott must make their positions clear as a matter
of public interest.
The Gold Coast Lifestyle Association and Friends of Currumbin along with six other community groups have made a submission with several recommendations to protect the curfew.
They only want four flights a week during the curfew to only be available for exceptional and limited circumstances and not for commercial enterprises such as Qantas or Australia Post.
The groups have requested the Federal Department to refuse any application by Qantas or any other operator for a long-term permit.
Gold Coast residents vow to fight Airport curfew change
Earlier: Residents vow to fight a push to “water down” curfew times for permanent early morning flights at Gold Coast Airport – as Qantas admits the “need for freight flights is increasing”.
Government officials, airline representatives and community leaders met on Wednesday to discuss the plan.
The Gold Coast Airport curfew prevents flights between 11pm-6am, emergency circumstances aside.
The airport strongly rejects there will be a change to the curfew, but several stakeholders say the airlines are pushing for alterations to long-term timetables.
However, a Qantas spokesperson told the Bulletin: “Flying critical freight services just outside of airport curfew times is not uncommon in larger cities around Australia, and as the Gold Coast continues to grow, the need for airfreight is increasing.
“The four flights a week Qantas Freight operates outside of regular landing times are delivering essential items for people living in and around the Gold Coast.”
The flights transport a range of items on behalf of the Australia Post Group, including medical supplies and other essential goods and have been operating since October 2020.
The permit is provided under the Air Navigation (Gold Coast Airport Curfew) Regulations 2018.
The four services per week arrive just after 5am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The agreement finishes on April 1. Community groups involved in talks say the airline is seeking an extension to at least December, allowing for more flights.
The airport is involved in the discussions, but the decision to allow Qantas Freight more early morning access will be made by the federal Department of Infrastructure.
Former state MP Jann Stuckey, who represented the Friends of Currumbin at the meeting, said the community and businesses did not support permanent freight operations during the curfew and wanted a return to pre-Covid freight scheduling.
“Our curfew is sacred and should be protected, not watered down,” Ms Stuckey said as a member of the Airport Noise Abatement Consultative Committee.
Residents contacted the Bulletin at the time to complain about the federal government approval, saying they were not told.
Ms Stuckey told the meeting: “The goodwill of local residents is being sorely tested.
“To bend rules for exceptional circumstances like border closures and lockdowns is one thing. A move to secure a permanent relaxation of current curfew regulations is just not on, especially as our NSW border is open and likely to stay that way.
“Just who do you think will be affected most? The local residents of course, then visitors and tourists and small businesses,” she said.
“It’s their sleep and rest time, a mere seven hours, that you are proposing to interrupt.”
Earlier: Flights into the Gold Coast Airport that break its early morning flight curfew and allow permanent freight arrivals before dawn are being considered in what’s being described as a “sneaky” move by some.
The Airport strongly rejects there will be a change to the curfew but several stakeholders are convinced the airlines are pushing for a move which will alter timetables in the longer term.
The Bulletin can reveal senior government officials and airline representatives are to meet on Wednesday for a marathon session to discuss the plan.
Some stakeholders describe the move as “sneaky” and admit it will cause a backlash from the community.
The request is from the airlines and the federal government will make the call, but it will require some feedback for the community.
“There is some disturbing news of a sneaky move to break airport curfews,” a community source said. “A meeting is to be held with very limited invitees and not going through established committees.”
A document on airline routes is pushing the case for more freight services to assist Northern Rivers NSW.
The community source says chambers of commerce, yet to meet for the year, have been blindsided by the plans.
“A three-month extension has been given to Qantas and Australia Post until April to fly about four flights a week during the curfew. The curfew is sacred to the community,” the source said.
Another airport insider said Qantas was seeking more permanency to the early flights after gaining some concessions on freight runs during Covid.
The Gold Coast Airport curfew prevents flights, aside from in emergency circumstances, between 11pm-6am.
Coolangatta, Tugun and Bilinga residents support the current operating times, and community relationships with the airport during the decades have remained positive.
Gold Coast Airport COO Marion Charlton told the Bulletin: “No change to the Gold Coast Airport curfew is being sought by the airport or other parties.”
But it has been confirmed a further permit is being considered for a Qantas Freight services which currently lands during the curfew period just after 5am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday four times per week.
The Bulletin understands that arrangement is within the current regulations, and the airport and airlines can argue there will be a provision for that to continue for eligible freight jet aircraft during curfew periods in a week.
But some stakeholders are strongly opposed, particularly about a more permanent arrangement.
“The issue is when is a curfew a curfew,” the airport insider said.
“This will give someone a long-term permission to fly in four days a week, an hour earlier. The targeted arrival time is 5.05am,” the source added.
In October 2020, residents claim late-night flights at the airport had been approved before they were told.
Today’s Zoom meeting, to be conducted by senior bureaucrats from the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Communication, is due to start around 9am.
The Bulletin is seeking comment from the airport and airlines.
Qantas had been allowed to land four freight planes between established flight curfew hours each week, as a result of increased demand for e-commerce.
While many residents at the time said they were okay to see some business for the decimated airport after the Covid-19 downturn, some question the need to land the planes late at night, given a drop in passenger flight numbers.
Airport flights have slumped from an average 420 a week to at times just a handful during Covid-19.
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