A proposed upgrade of Central Coast Airport has at least one Long Jetty resident concerned about noise impacts on people living around Tuggerah Lakes.
Tony Matheus said he feared if the current draft masterplan for the airport, owned by Central Coast Council, was approved the runway would be widened resulting in more aircraft activity, meaning more noise.
The draft masterplan wads on exhibition for public comment until February this year and Council is expected to put forward the draft masterplan with any exhibition amendments in June.
Currently the Central Coast Aero Club (CCAC) operates out of the airport under licence from the Council to use the runway but owns the land on which its facilities are housed.
The club, soon to celebrate 50 years, offers pilot training and joy flights and recently announced its activities had increased by 300 per cent.
Matheus has been tracking aircraft movement by radar over Tuggerah Lakes and said noise from the aircraft impacted residents seven days a week, starting from 8am.
“We are subjected to aircraft noise seven days a week;, no one else is allowed to do that,” he said.
He worries any upgrade will result in an increase in aircraft activity and a subsequent increase in aircraft noise.
“I am faced with the choice of moving house or trying to do something about it,” he said.
Matheus said he has had conversations with residents from Avoca Beach to Toukley who had complained about the noise.
“Council, still many hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, intends to spend ratepayers’ funds to expand the airfield’s capacity for what appears to be the almost exclusive benefit of the aero club,” he said.
“I have had communications with the aero club, without any response, and with Council, and I am aware that the aero club has no noise mitigation in place.
“Most other airfields around Australia have in place what is known as a Fly Neighbourhood Policy.”
He said he believed a number of residents had contacted the aero club regarding noise from club aircraft that circle and perform aerobatic activity over Tuggerah Lakes.
“Doesn’t Council have an obligation to look after ratepayers and residents?” he said.
“It is apparent the aero club has no regard for residents who have no choice in paying for the club’s playground through our rates and rent and are intent on doing as they want regardless of being made aware of residents’ concerns.”
A council spokesperson said following community consultation on the draft masterplan, some community members raised the need to address potential noise impacts, and Council staff had commissioned a consultant to undertake a Noise Impact Study.
The spokesperson said funding for any upgrades or widening of the runway would be subject to future grant funding opportunities and budget cycles from federal and/or state governments.
The spokesperson said the impact of aircraft noise needed to be considered as part of future operations and the issue would be raised with the aero club.
“The current licence held by the aero club has no specific provisions relating to noise management (but) does limit their operations at the airport,” the spokesperson said.
“Council will be reviewing conditions under which the aero club operates at the airport as part of the future management plan for the airport.”
CCAC CEO Andrew Smith said the club did have a Fly Neighbourhood Policy and was mindful of impacting its neighbours.
“We are not the villains here,” he said.
“We do our best by our neighbours, and we fly over the airfield, the lake or the ocean as approved by CASSA, and not over houses.
“There are others using the airport who have nothing to do with the flying school and we have no control over what other aircraft do.
“We have operated from Warnervale for 40 plus years and it has been a very successful aero club.”
He said it was nonsense that any expansion of the runway would solely benefit the aero club.
“If anything, it will mean new competitors will be able to use the airport,” Smith said.
“The entire point of the masterplan is to bring new industry to the area.”
Denice Barnes