At any one time the Belmont According to the Draft Master Plan, induced climate change is recognised Council is working on a range of by the year 2040 the volume of air as a key environmental issue facing projects designed to improve the traffic at Airport is expected to the now and into the health & well-being of its residents. more than double. The ever future” … “Scientific modelling Part of this process involves expanding airport commercial indicates that the south west of community consultation. It needs precinct will become a 24 hour a day , including the City an informed and responsive metropolis (aka ‘airport city’ or of Belmont will continue to be hard citizenry to do this effectively. Part ‘aerotropolis’) where everything, hit by forecast reductions in rainfall, of our role is to monitor this including the kitchen sink, will be increased temperatures and further process and provide feedback. available on demand. Expect the reductions in surface and groundwater vehicular traffic to also double. resources.” P.44 Fasten your seatbelts! The http://www.belmont.wa.gov.au/Services/ City of Belmont residents will be Environment/Documents/Environment%2 “ waking up in a city that never sleeps! 0and%20Sustainability%20Strategy%20- PRELIMINARY DRAFT 2019%20revision.pdf MASTER PLAN 2020” is now “Perth Airport acknowledges that available for viewing. Public there are communities which are From a local community perspective comment and written submissions are affected by the 24-hour operation of whilst future, new aircraft may invited and must be lodged by Friday the airport. However, this impact is become ‘cleaner & quieter’ the 18 October 2019. balanced against the broader projected increase in the number of community and economic benefit flights will further inconvenience Under the Airports Act (1996), which that arises from these operations”, residents. It is not just the volume & enabled the privatisation of major (Section 1.5, p.27). duration of noise but also the airports in Australia, Master Plans frequency & occurrence of noise must be provided to the public every So what are some of the adverse events that are of serious concern. 5 years outlining future development impacts on local residents that are to proposals. The commercial property be endured for the ‘greater good’? Recent studies from University of development potential on these large, Bern indicate that residents … “who AIR & NOISE POLLUTION. WA often greenfield, sites has become an are exposed to noise exceeding 60dB greenhouse emissions per capita are integral part of their business plans; a a day have a 30% higher risk of one of the highest in the world, (EPA, shift from air services to non-aviation, dying from heart attacks than people State of Environment Report, 2007, mixed-use centres. Because these only exposed to 45dB a day. The p.29). The aviation industry is a areas come under Commonwealth more aircraft noise you are exposed to significant contributor to these jurisdiction they are not beholden to and the longer you are exposed, the emissions. As indeed is our love affair Local or State Planning controls. This higher the risk of health issues”. Refer with the car. The projected dramatic can be problematic for local link below. increase in air tourist travel & freight communities as these sites become https://soundear.com/2018/02/22/aircraft- services will further contribute to more grey park than green field. noise-harmful/ climate change. This will be the For more information on this trend broader community and economic At Copenhagen Airport noise and the accompanying issues refer to cost that needs to be weighed against monitoring stations are located around Queensland University of Technology the broader benefit from these most of the airport to guarantee (QUT) link: operations! precise measuring and to ensure that https://eprints.qut.edu.au/34167/1/c34167 the noise level of 65dB is not .pdf In the City of Belmont’s exceeded. Perth Airport & Precinct are seen as ENVIRONMENT AND critical to the economic prosperity of SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY The monitoring of aircraft noise Western Australia. 2016-2021, it states that “Human- levels around Perth Airport is [email protected] PO Box 73, Cloverdale, WA, 6105 https://www.facebook.com/residentandratepayer Mobile: 0468 441 473 Visit our website for further information: http://brrag.org.au/

conducted by Airservices Australia, cancer, heart disease and auto- included a lovely, public golf-course, now with a total of 6 fixed noise monitors immune system disorders. Recent replaced by a not so lovely, private (EMUs) located in the suburbs of scientific research suggests that small, brickworks – but that’s another story.) Lathlain, Cannington, Guildford, fine particulates can adversely impact North of this area is an expanding Queens Park, Beechboro and human health, irrespective of their residential estate in South Guildford. Greenmount. Yes that’s right; none chemical composition. The existing bush areas act as a buffer located in the City of Belmont! zone as this precinct is directly under Lathlain makes do for us and it has Local Councils need to monitor air the cross and main runway, and the the highest spike in events over 65dB pollution hotspots and implement proposed 3rd runway, flight paths. in October/November when the main protection measures, especially for schools, kindergartens & day care runway is closed for maintenance So what form might some of these centres on busy roads. work. non-aviation related developments take? The monitors for Guildford and Trucks and other large commercial vehicles should be discouraged from Queens Park have the highest overall Perhaps a revegetation and restoration ‘rat running’ through residential noise levels being at the ends of the of the bush environment under the areas. main runway, with ‘noise events’ direction of the Urban Bushland regularly exceeding 65dB. NON-AVIATION Council would be a welcome, http://aircraftnoiseinfo.bksv.com/perth- DEVELOPMENT PLANS. In collaborative, development proposal? airport/noise-monitoring/ Section 5 (p.102) of the Master Plan Alas what is actually being proposed the Perth Airport proposes five-year Maybe it’s time for our local federal is a realignment of Kalamunda Road Non-Aviation Development Plans for member of parliament to revisit the with more access points, and the each of the airport precincts; Airport issues of noise insulation schemes for creation of large, flat sites to support West, Airport South, Airport residents and nigh time curfews? future industrial uses. In addition to North, and Airport Central. These 5 this, “…a future fuel storage facility On the Council’s website (Services- year plans support the development of may be developed in Airport North, Environment) it states that… “Noise land not required for aviation utilising a possible extension to the from the movement of aircraft, road purposes. In other words their existing Midland Freight Rail line.” and rail traffic is exempt from development is for purely commercial (Section 5, p.105). compliance with gain to their shareholders; not for ‘the the ENVIRONMENTAL broader community and economic The Airport West Precinct contains PROTECTION (NOISE) benefit’. the domestic passenger terminals, T3 REGULATIONS 1997 (normally & T4. These will remain in use until Design guidelines for these used to deal with common forms of 2025 when they will be demolished, development plans include; noise nuisance) and the City of creating a new mixed-use zone for “sustainable outcomes that create Belmont is generally unable to deal Airport Services/Commercial uses. with such issues.” safe, attractive and connected http://www.belmont.wa.gov.au/Services/ places offering high amenity” and The rest of the precinct is categorised EnvHealth/Pages/Noise.aspx “promote environmental and as Commercial Zone. One of its Aboriginal heritage values”. (p.111) objectives is “… to provide a suitable Air pollution will become more interface between the airport significant with increasing volumes of In the Airport North Precinct which boundary and the surrounding areas.” traffic rat-running through local, borders Guildford Cemetery and (Section 3, p.74) residential streets. Particulate matter includes part of Kalamunda Road (PM), especially from diesel engine there are large areas of very good to Some of the many discretional uses in exhaust, has many serious health excellent quality bushland, and some this new zone include: Abattoir, effects such as respiratory illnesses, Aboriginal Heritage sites. (It once Corrective Institution, Dog Kennels, [email protected] PO Box 73, Cloverdale, WA, 6105 https://www.facebook.com/residentandratepayer Mobile: 0468 441 473 Visit our website for further information: http://brrag.org.au/

Fuel depot, Power plant and Waste p.107). Let’s hope some quiet, passive The proposed New Runway Project storage facility. recreation is included in the mix. (NRP) or Third Runway is part of the Airfield Precinct which is not A decision on retaining the cross The Airport Central Precinct. “It is included in these precincts for runway will be made afterwards, so expected that for the next five years, obvious reasons; but for a summary of don’t count on those high spikes in ad hoc developments will occur on an the environmental impact refer to the ‘noise events over 65dB in Lathlain as-needed basis as approved, in following link: during Oct/Nov’ ending anytime response to market demand. This is http://www.environment.gov.au/system/fi soon. likely to include the redevelopment of les/consultations/b626cf8f-23dc-4248- under-utilised long-term car parks for a6ac-b950276332ba/files/e2018-0147- The ‘surrounding areas’ of this other uses, such as food and beverage mdp-volume-b-section-11.pdf precinct are the suburb of Redcliffe developments and fuel service and the City of Belmont’s stations.” (Section 5, p.111) OUR URBAN FOREST. According Development Area 6 (DA6), which is to the council’s Standing Committee focusing on providing medium to The repurposing of under-utilised (Environmental) Meeting held on 25 high density residential land use close long-term car parks is welcome news June 2018, the bushland on Perth to the soon to be opened ‘Redcliffe for it provides the opportunity for new Airport controlled land represents Train Station’. All aboard! buildings to incorporate roof-top 20% of the City of Belmont’s urban gardens & green walls in their forest canopy; or it did a year ago One DA6 proposal is the creation of a design; thus mitigating the Urban before more trees were cleared for the ‘living stream’ to replace the existing Heat Island (UHI) effect. Hopefully Costco development. main stormwater drain that runs from by reusing these paved sites there is the airport to the Swan River. This less compulsion to disturb the ‘retrofitting’ is an alternative remaining remnant bushland approach to stormwater management elsewhere. This precinct contains a that aims to minimise flooding and lovely stretch of Banksia woodland improve pollutant filtration, before along (as indeed stormwater reaches the river system. does Airport West) with the The incorporation of swales and spectacular Nuytsia floribunda (a artificial swamps, and the reduction of variety of mistletoe known as the paved surfaces forms part of this Xmas tree) which blooms in approach. December. Site of proposed Costco facility before clearance. The tree lined section of Brearley However it is unlikely there will be In all the Airport /Airfield Precincts Avenue, contained within the Airport any repurposing of under-utilised the remnant bushland ranges from West Precinct, could provide the basis carparks anytime soon. The Southern completely degraded thru to excellent for another ‘living stream’ (linking to Gazette (Sept.19, 2019) recently condition. Much of it contains the Fauntleroy Drain) with reported that Perth Airport threatened ecological communities of surrounding carpark areas being Corporation made … “$33 million Banksia Woodland. reclaimed and revegetated. profit from car parking fees last year”. (The pay paradise; put up a parking lot!) The Development plan for this Overall there are large areas of good to excellent remnant bushland, with precinct will be commercial, centred Airport South Precinct which abuts small pockets of completely degraded around … “retail, entertainment, Tonkin Highway and the New land contained within. leisure and recreation in a high Runway Project presents similar amenity, walkable ‘high street’ 24/7 opportunities to that of the Airport This is an opportunity to revegetate setting for the future increasing local Central Precinct. and restore these degraded pockets in residential population …” (Section 5, [email protected] PO Box 73, Cloverdale, WA, 6105 https://www.facebook.com/residentandratepayer Mobile: 0468 441 473 Visit our website for further information: http://brrag.org.au/

order for the ‘greater good’ of our The City of Belmont has already Government Act 1995 (the Act) as it was Banksia Woodland; and more given ‘in principle’ support for these requested on 30th April 2019, before the generally our urban forest. sensitive land uses. amendment to the Act.

It is definitely not a case for clearing Upcoming Local Elections. Both motions were passed by an overwhelming majority of electors at more land for non-aviation uses. The BRRAG has now conducted the meeting. These decisions will now City of Belmont already contains interviews with a number of be considered at the next Ordinary many cleared vacant, under-utilised candidates for the upcoming council Meeting of Council, or, if that is not and unleased commercial sites ripe elections. Recordings of these can be practicable, at a Special Meeting for non-aviation development! As accessed on the following site: called for that purpose. indeed do other councils abutting http://www.brrag.org.au airport controlled land.

Special Electors Meeting. As SENSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS. In a result of a BRRAG petition Section 3.4, (p.75) of the Master Plan Recommended reading: containing over 100 signatures a two future land uses have been Adam Smith: What He Thought, and Special Electors’ Meeting (SEM) was proposed which are considered Why it Matters. Jesse Norman, Allen held at the City of Belmont Civic ‘sensitive’– Education and Hospital. Lane (Penguin) Press, 2018. Centre on Monday 16 September Sensitive developments are not 2019. This meeting was requested for Your feedback. If you would permitted at Commonwealth leased the purpose of discussing live like to submit an article that is airports except in exceptional streaming of Council Meetings; and relevant to the residents of Belmont, circumstances and require access to the CEO’s Contract. or you would like to join our group, Commonwealth approval. The first Electors’ Motion: refer contact details below. The rationale for an exemption in this 1. That Council agrees to the audio case is that the Airport West Precinct livestreaming of all public meetings presents a large parcel of land close to of Council including the Agenda several transport options which would Briefing Forum, the Ordinary be ideal for a tertiary hospital Council Meeting and any Special (combining both future land uses). Meetings or Electors’ Meetings. This type of development would 2. The recordings are to commence generate many trips and place added within three months of the motion being carried. stress on parking and traffic congestion, though it might be 3. That these recordings are made welcome for local patients. Perhaps available to the residents of Belmont free of charge on the City of Belmont the Golden Gateway Precinct in Ascot website. would be a better site? 4. The BEXB45 Policy to be amended removing the copyright on the Usually there is a reason why some recordings of meetings including any developments are considered sensitive reference to the Elected Members and not appropriate in such locations. and supervision.

It would be rather ironic for local The second Electors’ Motion: residents suffering health issues (caused by proximity to the airport) to That Council direct that the CEO be sent to an airport hospital for provides a copy of his contract, on the treatment and rehabilitation. same terms as the requirement prior to the amendment of s5.94(t) of the Local [email protected] PO Box 73, Cloverdale, WA, 6105 https://www.facebook.com/residentandratepayer Mobile: 0468 441 473 Visit our website for further information: http://brrag.org.au/