Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes that:

(i)   the Federal Government has approved an Instrument Landing System (ILS) for the Gold Coast Airport (GCA) at a cost of $10 million,

(ii)   Qantas Group head of safety and compliance, Mr Mark Cameron, has written to former GCA Chief Operating Officer, Mr David Collins, stating Qantas does not support the ILS proposal, claiming it is not value for money and will likely be outdated technology,

(iii)   residents from Coolangatta to Surfers Paradise will experience more noise pollution due to a new flight path associated with the ILS, particularly if a runway extension results in larger aircraft flying over the Tweed,

(iv)   the former New South Wales Deputy Premier and New South Wales National Party Leader, Mr Andrew Stoner, granted the GCA an 84 year lease over the New South Wales Crown Reserve for public recreation/conservation for any and all airport facilities, including works associated with a runway extension (New South Wales Government Gazette, No. 138, 18 October 2013),

(v)   under the Air Services Act, the ILS is exempt from any New South Wales land use laws or regulations protecting the environmental assets of the Crown Reserve, and

(vi)   fishing industry representatives are concerned That the clearing of the Cobaki wetlands and saltmarsh required for the ILS would impact on Class 1 fish breeding habitat; and

(b)   calls on the Federal Government to defer its approval for the ILS installation to allow an investigation to be held into the New South Wales Crown Land lease, and the availability of more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly technology.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the chamber. The Deputy Prime Minister approved the installation of an ILS at Gold Coast Airport last month to improve reliability of landings in adverse weather conditions. The approval has been granted and there is no provision for it to be deferred, as suggested by the motion.

Regarding aircraft laws: the Deputy Prime Minister has instructed Airservices Australia to minimise the use of the ILS while meeting air safety requirements. On fine weather days, the ILS is expected to be used no more than 10 per cent of the time. Maximum use will occur on extremely bad weather days—around 10 days per year.

On environmental issues: the ILS major development plan was subject to the usual environmental process under the Airports Act, and was referred to the Department of the Environment, which approved the installation of the ILS.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Rhiannon be agreed to.