Media release - Penrith aircraft noise inquiry hearing - 9 August 2024

Melissa McIntosh MP
Shadow Minister for Energy Affordability
Shadow Minister for Western Sydney
Federal Member for Lindsay

Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
Senator for Victoria

Senator the Hon Matt Canavan
Senator for Queensland

9 August 2024

Penrith aircraft noise inquiry hearing joint media statement

Today, Western Sydney community members, local groups and businesses are all having their say on current and future aircraft noise impacting locals through a Penrith hearing of the Australian Senate’s aircraft noise inquiry.

The new Western Sydney Airport will unlock an immense amount of economic opportunity for the region. There will be good local jobs in advanced manufacturing, education, health and research at the Aerotropolis and surrounds. 

The Coalition supports the new airport; however, we need to ensure that noise mitigation measures are appropriate for local communities, whether they be rural communities at Luddenham and Mulgoa or in the suburbs at Werrington and St Clair.  

Local MP and Shadow Minister for Western Sydney, Melissa McIntosh, said when the airport opens, there will be over 200 flights per day impacting Lindsay, which is bearing the brunt of the flight paths.

“The Albanese Labor Government has an obligation to ensure Western Sydney residents are not disadvantaged under their noise sharing plan,” said Mrs McIntosh. 

“The Government has changed the flight paths to benefit a few hundred people in the Blue Mountains, but not the tens of thousands of residents across Penrith. 

“The Lindsay community in Penrith wants action on noise mitigation concerns with the revised flight paths released last week.

“The Government is only going to give less than 100 properties adequate noise mitigation protections, and we’ve heard today that Luddenham, one of the most impacted communities, will not receive noise protections.

“We heard today there has been inadequate consultation regarding the EIS process for the flight paths which will unfairly impact many communities surrounding the airport.

“It was disappointing that Penrith City Council did not make a submission to the inquiry or appear today.”

Shadow Infrastructure Minister Senator Bridget McKenzie thanked Mrs McIntosh for her advocacy and ensuring Western Sydney had a hearing. 

“We are here to listen which as we have discovered in evidence this morning, is more than what Airservices Australia has done,” Senator McKenzie said. 

“Labor have run defence for Airservices Australia, at every hearing for this inquiry we have heard about significant failures by Airservices Australia and flight path management.

“Everyone is excited for the opening of this world class airport but it's important the Government address the concerns of the community and reduce the impacts on residential areas.”

Chair of the inquiry, Senator Matt Canavan, said Western Sydney Airport is going to be important for economic growth in Sydney and the surrounding areas, but a small minority of residents shouldn't be taking the brunt of the noise.

"There's been clear failures in the consultation that has occurred for determination of the new flight paths and Infrastructure Minister Catherine King needs to actually engage with these issues to ensure that the burden of aircraft noise isn't unduly placed on a select part of the community,” said Senator Canavan.