2015-10-19
Senator RICE: I have some questions about Melbourne airport, specifically the runway occupancy time program. First of all, when did this program commence?
Mr Hood: The airport capacity enhancement program has been running for almost two years now in Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. It is called by another name, but it is also running for Sydney airport.
Senator RICE: In terms of when it commenced in Melbourne, can you tell me the date of that?
Mr Hood: I will have to take that on notice.
Senator RICE: That is fine. Who signed off on the program, and what approvals were required before it began?
Mr Hood: The process is that the airport meets with Airservices Australia and its airline customers. It has a look at ways in which the capacity of the airport can be enhanced whilst maintaining the highest levels of aviation safety. A program is then developed and the sign-off is by the CEO of Airservices and the CEO of the airport.
Senator RICE: Was any community consultation involved before it was begun?
Mr Hood: If there were to be items on that work program that may impact the broader community, for example, aircraft noise, we would then undertake a further consultation.
Senator RICE: Has there been community consultation with the program that has been operating in Melbourne?
Mr Hood: I will have to take that on notice in terms of the specific line items of the program for Melbourne.
Senator RICE: I understand the program's main aim is to maximise the efficiency of runway use. Has it done the job so far? Has it been reviewed or evaluated in the two years it has been operating?
Mr Hood: We like not to write our own report cards, so we have invited UK NATS, United Kingdom National Air Traffic System, back at the two-year mark to provide us with a report card. I am happy to table the UK NATS report on the improvements made at those airports.
Senator RICE: So it has been evaluated by UK NATS?
Mr Hood: It has.
Senator RICE: What has the program meant for flight paths around Melbourne airport? Have they changed since it has been in operation?
Mr Harfield: Not to my knowledge. Any flight path changes that have occurred at Melbourne have not been a part of the runway occupancy program that you discussed.
Senator RICE: I have been hearing from local residents raising issues with me about some increased noise from passenger aircraft over the north-west of Melbourne, and also in areas of the inner city. They were wondering whether it was connected with the runway occupancy program. Is there any other reason why there would have been flight path changes?
Mr Harfield: We will have to take that on notice, but it would not be as a result of the runway occupancy program.
Senator RICE: Do you have any other thoughts as to why those flight path changes might have occurred?
Mr Harfield: I am not sure whether there have been actual flight path changes; that is why I need to take it on notice to see what the particular issue may or may not be.
Senator RICE: Thank you
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Senator RICE: I have a couple of questions about Melbourne Airport. I presume you are engaged with the third runway development plan?
Mr Mrdak: Yes, we are.
Senator RICE: What level of involvement do you currently have with the planning or preparations for the third runway?
Mr Mrdak: Melbourne Airport is currently completing its planning. We are engaged with Melbourne Airport to enable the acquisition of the land, which is currently off airport. That would be done through an arrangement utilising the Commonwealth land acquisition powers. We are currently facilitating a memorandum of understanding with Melbourne Airport to enable the Commonwealth to assist with the acquisition of additional land required for the development of that runway.
Senator RICE: Is that the limitation of your involvement?
Mr Mrdak: At this stage. Our main priority is the land acquisition. Obviously, once the major development plan and the like need to be progressed we will be engaged, as we are with all of the airports, as the regulatory planning-approval body.
Senator RICE: What is your understanding of the community consultation that is required in the development of the major development plan?
Mr Mrdak: The act sets out quite specific requirements in relation to the consultation required and the format in which that has to be provided back to government covering all of the issues raised in the public consultation.
Senator RICE: Noting that the Avalon Airport Master Plan has recently been approved, do you see any interplay between this decision and the Tullamarine third runway proposal?
Mr Mrdak: Avalon and Melbourne are operating in different markets. It is quite clear that Avalon is serving a geographic market which is quite different. I think the experience to date is that they are not competing head to head for a lot of traffic in relation to primary destination. We certainly do not see them as closely tied together. Avalon is proceeding with its own development. Melbourne is reaching runway capacity, which has to be met.
Senator RICE: Have you got any process that has overall long-term planning for the Melbourne-Geelong airport capacity which would interlink Avalon and Tullamarine?
Mr Mrdak: When we look at the Melbourne Airport 2013 Master Plan, which is our primary responsibility under the Airports Act, we certainly do look at what is happening across the Melbourne region and we do look at the interaction between the two airports. But at this stage they are growing and serving quite different markets.