Sunshine
Coast Airport
A Solution
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Following the
Public Meeting at the Airport on Monday 29th. March 1999 concerning the
East/West Runway, it was patently obvious that;
Council had badly underestimated the depth of public
feelings on this matter.
Even though it
was RAINING.
And even though Council had been sure NOT
to publicize the event.
An estimated 400 local residents
(Not 100 as reported
in the media.) braved the elements to voice their
concerns to the 8 Councillors and the C.E.O. Mr. Kelvin Spiller
about what is arguably THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE facing Council EVER.
Airport Master Plan
Number 22
Since the FIRST Airport Master Plan 17 years ago there
have now been some 21 similar reports, and they have ALL said basically
the same thing.
“We NEED an East/West
Runway.”
Even in the latest
(No.21) in which Council attempted to pre-empt the final conclusion by
its brief to the consultant to “maximize the
existing facilities” (Page 88) -- The bottom
line is;
“In the not too
distant future you'll NEED an East/West Runway”
(Page 89)
Unfortunately
for us ALL, Council made the wrong decision
back in 1983 when it decided to upgrade the
18/36 runway for $9.8M
in preference to the RECOMMENDED option of constructing the 13/31 Runway
(And all its associated infrastructure, terminal, parking etc.) for $10.3M.
(Estimates vide “1982
Master Plan F28 Upgrade” by G. H. & D.)
It’s easy to be wise in hindsight. - So why is Council
STILL persisting with the 18/36 Runway ?
History has now proved how this short term SAVING has been the root cause
of all the present problems. (Including the NOISE problem.)
A SUGGESTED SOLUTION
We are fully
aware of the enormous expense involved in now trying to correct the 1983
mistake.
If Council
still wishes to proceed with a STAGED DEVELOPMENT
as recommended in this latest Master Plan, the following short term solution
may be a way out (For ALL of us) ;
The East/West Runway sould be
commenced and constructed to a stage where it could share the RPT traffic
up to and including the size of Sunstate's Shorts.
This could be done in such a manner as to be PART of
the Futuristic 13/31 Runway if that dream was ever to be realized in the
year of 2015 or beyond.
This would be a relatively
inexpensive, short term solution to most of
our present problems and, in combination with
a curfew would go a long way in restoring
peoples faith in the Council
which aspires to be (among other things).........
“..The
most Caring Community in Australia.”
But it is now estimated that
the 1st. Stage will cost a whopping $17,000,000-00 and it still won't handle
the existing Jets.
What
can YOU do?
If you agree with the above
SOLUTION, you could help by WRITING LETTERS
to; Council, Members of Parliament (both State and Federal), Ministers
and the Papers and having a say in YOUR FUTURE
The NEW All Hours HOTLINE for
COMPLAINTS is
5448 9618
or you can
call AirServices Australia through
The Brisbane
Noise Enquiry Unit on
1300 302 240
CONTACT US
Click
HERE
to leave a message
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