Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has expressed concern over aspects of yesterday’s release of the preliminary flight paths for Western Sydney International airport.
He says there is very little information from the government at this stage about the potential impact to the surrounding communities.
“Residents now have access to proposed flight paths and an interactive online tool, allowing them to search their address and examine the projected flight paths, including estimated levels of aircraft noise in specific locations,’’ Mr Taylor said.
“I am eager to hear feedback from the community regarding the flight paths.
“Achieving the right balance is crucial, and I want to ensure that local voices are given due consideration in the consultation process,’’ he said.
Meanwhile Judy Hannan, the state MP for the area covered by Mr Taylor’s federal electorate, said she wants action on a policy which puts restrictions on development within 38km of the new airport.
“The airport has been used as an excuse to refuse developments and we’re not talking about large ones here,’’ said the independent member for Wollondilly, speaking from Parliament House in Sydney.
“Single additional dwellings are not allowed on so much of Wollondilly due to the SEPP controls that are over the local government area.
“The fact that you can build a dwelling with 20 bedrooms but can’t build two buildings with three bedrooms adds to the housing shortage, stops smaller land owners from using their land and only benefits the big developers,” Ms Hannan said.
The State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts – Western Parkland City) 2021 restrictions that rest inside Wollondilly prohibits dwellings such as attached dwellings, boarding houses, dual occupancies, group homes, hostels, multi dwelling housing, residential flat buildings, rural workers dwellings, secondary dwellings (commonly known as granny flats), semi-detached dwellings, seniors housing and shop top housing.
Ms Hannan said she wants to see a study into the SEPP and its impact.
Community information and feedback sessions will be conducted throughout Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains in the coming months, providing affected residents with an opportunity to obtain further information and engage directly with the flight path design team.
To access the online community portal and aircraft overflight noise tool, please visit wsiflightpaths.gov.au.
