Mascot airport: 'environmental and social tragedy'

By Cameron Parker SYDNEY — After receiving more than 5000 submissions on aircraft noise the Senate Select Committee on Aircraft Noise has agreed with local councils and thousands of residents in describing Kingsford Smith Airport as "an environmental and social tragedy". However, the report has disappointed anti-noise campaigners because of its failure to reassess the viability of Sydney Airport, and its support for the ALP federal government's privatisation push. According to Maire Sheehan, No Aircraft Noise Party Mayor of Leichhardt Council, "large parts of Sydenham, St Peters, Marrickville, Stanmore and Leichhardt are being subjected to decibel levels that classify these areas as unfit for residential uses according to Australian standards. All the committee can offer people is to extend the noise insulation program so that people can live in hermetically sealed containers." The Senate Select Committee released two reports. The majority report from the three Liberal and National Party members, along with Australian Democrat Vickie Bourne, calls for a new airspace management plan to determine how the three runways can be used, and backs away from calls to immediately re-open the east-west runway. The dissenting report, from the ALP, recommends a 30% increase in plane movements before capping the air traffic flow. "The committee's report has failed to suggest either a short-term remedy for the current crisis, or a long-term solution to the problem of Sydney Airport being in the middle of the city", said Karla Sperling, transport spokesperson for the Australian Greens. The report has angered other community activists concerned about its support for the privatisation of Australia's airports. "The report has shown, once again, that when it comes to consulting the community, in the end our views are simply ignored", said Karen Fletcher, Democratic Socialist candidate for the federal seat of Sydney.