COUNCILLORS ASKED TO DEFER AIRPORT MASTERPLAN UNTIL THEY HAVE ALL THE FACTS

The Community Environment Network (CEN) has asked Central Coast Councillors to defer approval of the Airport Masterplan until they have fully protected Porters Creek Wetland and are fully informed about an expanded airport’s future noise impacts.

Porters Creek Wetland is the Central Coast’s largest freshwater wetland. It represents a major east-west and north-south junction for the region’s biodiversity corridors and provides habitat for threatened and endangered species.

It is a backup drinking water supply during drought, and it increasingly provides important green space for the cheek-by-jowl new housing developments of the Warnervale growth corridor.

“CEN is thankful that Central Coast Council staff are finally putting forward a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement to cover 800 hectares of the wetland,” said CEN Chair, Gary Chestnut.

“But they could’ve done that five years ago when there was a Conservation Agreement ready to be signed off with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust.

“That agreement was canned by the Interim Administrator and senior staff even though the elected Councillors of the day had agreed to its sign-off,” Mr Chestnut said.

“Councillors and the community need to know about the additional noise impacts from the airport. Council’s own major planning document – Central Coast Local Environmental Plan (CCLEP 2022) – includes clause 7.5. It mandates that Council can’t grant consent to a development in the vicinity of the airport that would hinder or have adverse impacts on the safe and efficient operations of the airport.

“In other words, the airport will take priority if development falls within an ANEF (Australian Noise Exposure Forecast) contour of 20 or greater. ANEF contours are based on the average daily noise exposure levels over a one-year period and consider a range of factors, including noise intensity, duration and aircraft movement.

“If our elected representatives are serious about upholding their responsibilities under the Local Government Act, they will:

1. Defer adoption of the Airport Masterplan until a masterplan has been created and exhibited for Porters Creek Wetland;
2. Resolve to commence reclassification of the Porters Creek Wetland from Operational land to Community Land so it cannot be sold without community consultation;
3. Develop a site-specific plan of management for the Porters Creek Wetland once it has been reclassified as community land.
4. Know where the ANEF contour of 20 or greater is located and what the consequences would be for developable land within that contour.

The NSW Local Government Act is clear about the principles councils are supposed to apply to their decision making, including the long-term and cumulative effects of actions on future generations and the principles of ecologically sustainable development.

Council decision making should also be transparent because the elected representatives will be accountable for the resolutions they adopt.

“Based upon information in the public domain we believe Councillors need to be fully informed and able to answer the following community questions:

1. Why has the community not been shown flight paths and noise maps? This information is extremely important for the suburbs around the airport, but it has never been made public. What is the council hiding from its residents?
2. When will council exhibit and incorporate the ANEF contour of 20 or greater for the airport in accordance with Clause 7.5 its own Local Environmental Plan (CCLEP 2022)? We understand that the ANEF contour on a Noise Exposure Forecast Contour Map for the Central Coast Airport ‘must be prepared by the relevant Commonwealth department responsible for airport management’.
3. Why have council staff never published a full and comprehensive business plan for the airport? Wouldn’t it be prudent to ask for a comprehensive business case for selling the land or exploring more lucrative options for its use before adopting the airport masterplan? Has the council even considered the benefits of utilizing Porters Creek Wetland to attract blue carbon funding?
4. Why have the full results of the Request for Information from the aviation industry never been made public? In fact, the council refunded the fee for our GIPA application to access that information. Why? Is it because they had to hire another consultant to push for any response from the general aviation industry? Could it be there is no real demand for the proposed airport expansion and ratepayers will be left with a white elephant?
5. Will the RFS really move from its established, purpose-built facilities at Charmhaven? Or is this the latest in a long line of fibs to make the airport look like a better business proposition than it is? Where’s the signed lease agreement or even memorandum of understanding?
6. Has the council ever undertaken a PART 5 approval under the EP&A Act for the unlawful extension of the of the runway for which they were fined and subject to Orders in 2014-15? They say they have consent to operate a 1196m runway so why don’t they show the public their Part 5 approval that permitted that extension from 960m?
7. Will council explain any works under the Masterplan that will trigger the need for a Part 5 approval process including a Review of Environmental Factors? Will council commit to adherence with the Department of Planning’s June 2022 Guidelines for Division 5.1 Assessments including REFs where required?
8. Will council staff fully disclose the areas of the wetland that will require regular tree trimming if the masterplan is implemented? In the interests of transparency, council staff should make maps available to Councillors and the public of the areas of wetland and C2 land that would require regular trimming to make the airport safe and keep it operational.
9. What are the real boundaries of the wetland and airport? The boundaries included in the exhibited airport masterplan were indicative only. Our Councillors should demand that staff make public the real boundaries so they can ensure there is no net loss of wetland.
10. Exactly what land is going to be rezoned? CEN understands the whole wetland is currently C2 Environmental Conservation – the zone that offers the highest level of protection outside a national park. Our Councillors should not agree to rezone any C2 land to lesser zones. There should not no loss of C2 land.

CEN also believes those elected on the Team Central Coast ticket including Mayor McKinna, Cr Mouland and Cr Daniels may need to declare conflicts of interest relating to their support of airport expansion.

“Let’s be clear. CEN is not opposed to the airport and never has been, but we are strongly opposed to the adoption of an Airport Master Plan in isolation without having a Master Plan in place for the Porters Creek Wetland at the same time.  An Airport Master Plan considered in isolation, taking precedence over the Porters Creek Wetland, does not promote sustainability and the long-term amenity of surrounding suburbs.

“The Central Coast is gaining credibility as an ecotourism destination; we are slated for significant population growth, particularly in the north during the next decade; and we are acutely exposed to the risks of climate change. An expanded airport at Warnervale is not conducive with any of these factors.

“Porters Creek Wetland filters and cleans water that flows into the Wyong River and Tuggerah Lakes; it provides critical habitat for endangered and threatened flora and fauna; and essential green space for future generations.

Prior to Councillors making a decision, CEN believes it is essential that they be provided with details of the ‘ANEF contour of 20 or greater’ to be fully informed on which current and future residential areas will be directly impacted.  Without this information Councillors will be deciding without knowing the true impact.