Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected Bankstown Airport’s 2010 draft masterplan, citing insufficient community information about its plans.
“In its proposed master plan, Bankstown Airport sought approval for up to 32 passenger flights a day,” Minister Albanese said on February 16.
“This would be a significant change given the airport does not have any passenger flights at present.”
The Minister said airport operator Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown now has to develop and submit a new draft masterplan “following proper public consultation”. In the meantime the airport’s existing masterplan remains in effect.
The airport now says it will review its options following the Minister’s decision.
“We do not concur with the Minister’s view that we did not adequately consult with the community, as we consider that we have set a high benchmark in terms of airport community consultation since the airport was privatised,” said Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown CEO Colin Grove.
“Specifically we consider we exceeded the Airports Act 1996 Regulations regarding community consultation in relation to the masterplan. The airport received 245 submissions from the public, which is evidence of an effective consultation process and we adjusted the draft masterplan significantly as result of the consultation process.”
As for the issue of passenger services, Grove noted “The Minister contends that the inclusion of a proposal for 32 scheduled passenger movements per day is a significant change to the airport’s operations. We disagree with the Minister’s contention, as the proposal is an extension of the standing approvals from the master plan 2005, for 12 daily movements by Code 3C aircraft. To date a commercial operator has not sought to take up this opportunity.
“The refused 2010 draft masterplan clearly states that passenger services is a mid to long term objective likely to start at 16 movement per day progressing to a maximum of 32 movements per day in aircraft smaller than code 3C. Following the consultation process we revised the number of passengers based on smaller aircraft type and demonstrated that if passenger services were to be implemented the impact of this activity would be satisfactorily accommodated within the current airport facilities.”
Grove noted the proposed RPT movements would comprise only 2.5 per cent of total annual airport movements.
