EPA to rule on noise

Public submissions on the Busselton Regional Airport Noise Management Plan are in the hands of the Environmental Protection Authority after the comment period closed this week.

Communications officer Charlie Maling said the responses to the public review period were still being counted when the Times went to press this week and confirmed the issues raised would now be listed by the EPA.

The plan was expected to draw a significant response after stakeholders, including Geographe Bay Tourism and the Busselton Airport Residents’ Association, lobbied their members to send feedback.

Airport residents ran several advertisements in local media, criticising the plan with the slogan “no more noise, move the airport or move the people”.

Residents were encouraged to “object to the changes” to environmental conditions endorsed by council after a resolution from the Busselton Regional Airport Advisory Committee.

Group member Greg Chapman declined to comment on the level of response from the campaign but said the process was not a vote for or against the airport.

“It is about protecting the noise amenity for residents around the airport. I hope people commented in their submissions accordingly,” he said.

Geographe Bay Tourist Association lobbied its members via email to support the plan which CEO Matt Walker said was “well considered and balanced”.

“The development of the Busselton airport is required to attract direct interstate and international aviation routes into the South West region,” he told members.

Mr Walker said endorsement of the plan and development of the airport would improve tourism opportunities, creating increased visitation and safer fly-in fly-out flights as well as new trade opportunities.

He said the association made a submission on behalf of the tourism industry but encouraged individual operators to also make their own, separate submissions.

Mr Maling said the proponent, Busselton Shire Council, would be asked to respond on the issues raised in the responses before a report was prepared by the EPA.

The EPA’s report, he said, would be submitted to Environment Minister Bill Marmion who would make the final decision on whether to endorse the plan.