The Federal Government has established the Brisbane Airport Community Airspace Advisory Board to better manage aircraft noise issues, with residents from the greater Brisbane region able to apply for five member positions through an Expression of Interest process.
Five community representatives will be selected from that process by the Independent Chair, Ron Brent, and will serve the first two-year term.
Mr Brent has decades of experience in aviation policy, law and public engagement, including most recently as the inaugural Australian Aircraft Noise Ombudsman. He currently works in administrative law, which includes consulting with a number of Australian airports dealing with aircraft noise issues as well as social and health impacts of aviation.
The board’s initial focus will be on implementing potential airspace improvement measures and noise abatement procedures in the Brisbane Airport Noise Action Plan, which were key areas identified in the Final Post Implementation Review Report.
Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister, Catherine King, said establishing this forum for the community to have a voice about the impact of aircraft noise delivers on our election commitment and is part of the positive change people voted for.
“It is only sensible and fair to give the people of Brisbane the opportunity to be heard and contribute to the management of aircraft noise,” Ms King said.
“I encourage residents to take up the chance to be part of the Airspace Advisory Board.”
The board will be supported by industry advisors from the airlines using the airport, Brisbane Airport Corporation, Airservices Australia and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
Brisbane Airport Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Gert-Jan de Graaff, said the forum for the community to work with industry was at the heart of the recommendations in the recent Trax International report into possible flight path and operational improvements.
“We look forward to working collaboratively and constructively with the community members of the Board, and representatives of airlines and Airservices Australia to develop improvements that work for all Queenslanders,” Mr de Graaff said,
This new body will operate independently of the Brisbane Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group (BACACG) which will remain the primary consultation body for all other Brisbane Airport matters and has been in operation since 2010.
Bringing industry, government and community members together, including through the new board, is critical to ensuring better aviation noise outcomes for Brisbane.
For more information, including the board Terms of Reference and Expression of Interest, visit Brisbane Airport Community Airspace Advisory Board..
