Families near Essendon Airport are concerned about the health and safety impact of proposed curfew changes

PEOPLE living on the fringes of Essendon Airport­ have expressed concern about proposed changes to curfew regulations.

ANGRY  residents living on the fringes of Essendon Airport­ harbour fears for the health and safety of their families if proposed changes to curfew regulations at the airport are approved by the Federal Government.

Residents are concerned about the air quality in the vicinity of the airport, a perceived­ lack of enforcement of curfew regulations, and fears for the impact the proposed changes will have on the amenity of the area.

Gowanbrae Residents Group spokesman Shanaka Perera told a community meeting last week he believed an overnight noise limit of 90 decibels was too high.

“I can see the faces of the pilots­, they are that close (to my house),” Mr Perera said.

“Are we supposed to bear the health impacts of (a 90-decibel limit) just so business jets can land at convenient times for them?”

Essendon Airport has a 95-decibel limit for propeller-driven aircraft landing between 11pm and 6am (curfew) and 90-decibel limit for takeoff during the same time, but no noise limit on other aircraft at any time.

The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development’s proposed changes would see the weight limit for jet aircraft lifted from 45,000kg to 55,000kg during non-curfew hours and allow jet aircraft to land during the curfew.

Wills federal Labor MP Peter Khalil hosted the community meeting last Thursday and told the Moreland Leader he believed the Government should hold off on any changes until Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s report into the plane crash at nearby DFO Essendon earlier this year is completed.

“I was very concerned about the very short time frame that was thrust upon the residents,” he said.

Essendon Airport chief executive Chris Cowan said he supported the changes.

Mr Cowan said the airport would cap movements during curfew at 100 and would impose procedures such as continuous descent approach and a ban on reverse thrust upon landing.

Submissions on the changes can be made until October 10.

Details: infrastructure.gov.au