Greens MP for Melbourne, Adam Bandt, has proposed legislation that will effectively ban flights over and around Melbourne City (MCTY).
In reponse to residents' concerns over aircraft noise, Bandt says he will introduce legislation that will ban all but emergency aircraft from flying within 5 km of MCTY at an altitude of less than 6500 feet.
"In recent years, aircraft noise has increased significantly over homes in suburbs including East Melbourne, Richmond, Fitzroy, Kensington and Docklands – putting Melbourne's liveability under strain," he says on his website.
"I have worked with local residents, Greens Senator Janet Rice and Greens Councillors Rohan Leppert and Cathy Oke to push for action.
"We have pursued every available opportunity to fix this problem – but it is clear that to protect Melbourne’s liveability we need to change the law on aircraft noise."
The exposure draft of the legislation – called the Air Services Amendment Act 2016 – reveals that the amendment calls for:
- Airservices Australia to conduct greater consultation with the community on how they exercise their powers
- Airservices board to be expanded by two and include an expert on environmental management
- An Aircraft Noise Ombudsman to be established
- Airservices to be forced to review any flight path if requested to do so by any person effected by the flight path
- The Minister to appoint a community aviation advocate where Airservices proposes any changes that are likely to have effect on humans or the natural environment.
"This bill will set clear requirements for consultation and reporting on the part of Airservices Australia," Bandt says.
"The bill will require AA to minimise impact of aircraft operations on the human and natural environment, community amenity and residential areas. The bill will also ensure that communities affected by aircraft noise are adequately consulted and have stronger representation in these consultations."
General aviation flights made around MCTY include city orbits, helicopters operating from the Yarra heliports, training flights into and out of Essendon, media helicopters, airwork and emergency services including air ambulance, HEMS and police.
According the explanatory memoradum accompanying the exposure draft, the amendment has no financial impact.
The exposure draft and explanatory memorandum are available from the Parliament of Australia website.