Sunshine Coast Council reported (10-Apr-2019) the following updates in relation to the proposed airspace and flight path design (the 'design') for the new runway at the Sunshine Coast Airport:
- Community consultation is continuing in relation to the proposed airspace and flight path design;
- Sunshine Coast Council clarified certain misinformation being circulate in relation to the proposed design, including:
- The proposed design has been developed in accordance with the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which was subject to extensive community engagement during its development between 2012 and 2014 and through two community consultation/public exhibition periods in 2014 and 2015;
- Sunshine Coast Council stated it took every effort to inform residents about the project, resulting in the requisite project approvals being granted by State and Federal Governments;
- Analysis of the design indicates there has been minimal change to the information originally provided in the EIS to the community in 2014 and 2015, including details of the flight path which crosses the coast between Marcus Beach and Castaways Beach;
- Based on wind data it is expected that Runway 13 (i.e. where aircraft land from the north west and take off to the south east) will be operational approximately 77% of the time;
- When the new runway opens, approximately 17 jet passenger flights are expected daily, either on approach or departure, depending on the wind direction;
- Noise levels will be less than the noise of average street traffic;
- Noise forecasts assume aircraft are arriving to land at the lowest design height. It is expected that most aircraft will actually be higher than this, which will further reduce the noise impact on the ground. [more - original PR]