"Redevelopment plan for western Sydney airports slammed"

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Redevelopment plan for western Sydney airports slammed
The Australian Associated Press


SYDNEY, - A federal government decision to redevelop three Sydney airports
was labelled "a lunatic plan" today by a community group who say it will
destroy greater western Sydney. The approval of master plans for the
redevelopment of Hoxton Park Airport as a commercial site and the expansion
of Bankstown and Camden airports were announced by Deputy Prime Minister
John Anderson yesterday. The proposals include expanded air freight, charter
and training services at Bankstown and Camden airports and industrial and
commercial development of Hoxton Park Airport when it closes in 2008. "It's
a lunatic plan," Bankstown Airport Out - Tourism In group convenor Jon
Hillman said. "It is grossly irresponsible of Anderson to have approved it.
"And it is scandalous that the Labor Party has sat on its hands while the
Liberals and National parties have signed off on a plan that will not only
destroy greater western Sydney, but devalue the most important asset of
residents - their homes." If plane freight capacity for Bankstown Airport
was fully developed it would generate about 100,000 more semi-trailers
annually on western Sydney roads, Mr Hillman said. Redevelopment of the
airports would increase the chances of an air collision over Sydney's west,
he said. He also warned the approval would lead to more international
flights landing at Sydney Airport to further "crowd the skies of Sydney".
"Whichever way you look at it, this is a disaster waiting to happen," he
said. "And minister Anderson will have blood on his hands if it goes ahead -
a collision in the sky is inevitable." A spokeswoman for NSW Planning
Minister Craig Knowles said he hoped the government had addressed
infrastructure concerns in the master plan raised by the state government
last year. "We will be looking at the commonwealth's master plan to see how
it addresses some of the concerns we raised in our submissions in November
2004," the spokeswoman said. "In particular the concerns around
infrastructure, the impact around neighbouring communities and the impact on
natural resources."


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