Delay locks in Hobart airport flight paths

RESIDENTS in the state’s South East unhappy about Hobart airport’s current flight paths have a long wait ahead of them before any changes are made.

A jet takes off at Hobart airport. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

RESIDENTS in the state’s South East unhappy about Hobart airport’s current flight paths, will have to wait another year before any changes are made.

The organisation behind flight path changes Airservices Australia will spend about 12 months reviewing the alterations following anger among Forestier Peninsula residents when the changes were made in September last year.

The changes would have meant aircraft were moved on to standard routes — rather than the previous system of each aircraft being given an individual route by air traffic control.

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The changes would have resulted in up to 50 planes a day flying directly over Boomer Bay, Dunalley and other Forestier Peninsula towns. Residents appealed to Federal Transport Minister Darren Chester and the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman Narelle Bell.

A subsequent review and public consultation saw an alternative, but similar, route near Connellys Marsh, Dunalley and Sloping Main announced in November. The changes became effective on March 1.

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Airservices is undertaking a further review of arrival and departure routes into Hobart, which will involve more community consultation.

David Patman. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

It is anticipated the review will take about a year to complete, with findings and recommendations expected in August, consultation and feedback in December and a final report next March.

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Dunalley resident David Patman said residents he’d spoken to wanted the original flight path reinstated, which meant planes flew over a larger area before descending over Seven Mile Beach and landing. But Airservices wrote to residents rejecting this notion.

“The new path is set for one direction [down the Forestier Peninsula], whereas it used to go different ways,” Mr Patman said.

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“Residents I know are happy Airservices are doing another review into this, which will take a year. While they are doing it we would like to see [planes] revert back to their previous path.”

An Airservices spokeswoman said it had implemented an alternative flight path into the airport which was more aligned to the original flight path.

“Airservices has recently discussed local community concerns with [Tasmanian] Senator [Johnathon] Duniam and has offered to provide a detailed briefing on the proposed plans and why changes to flight paths at Hobart Airport are critical,” she said.

“Airservices has already publicly committed to community consultation in Hobart as part of its ongoing review and we hope to confirm specific timing for meetings soon.”

Mr Patman added the Ombudsman had been investigating Airservices’ handling of the original consultation process. He said the findings of the investigation are to be presented to the Airservices board today as well as new Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael McCormack.

“I have been in touch with the Ombudsman and we expect her to be critical of the lack of consultation and the communication behind why the changes were implemented,” Mr Patman said.