Airport needs planning control
On the day that submissions close on Canberra Airportâ??s Master Plan, ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey called on Chief Minister Stanhope to press his federal colleagues to impose planning controls, as well as a curfew, over the Canberra Airport.
â??Of course, Canberra needs an efficient, functioning airport. However, Canberra Airport is growing at a rate which is more about profitable returns to the leaseholder than servicing the interests of Canberra,â?? Dr Foskey said today.
â??I am aware that the Airport complies with the National Capital Plan, despite changes to Commonwealth law which means it is no longer obliged to do so.â??
â??But recent cuts to the National Capital Authority (NCA) which administers the Plan means that the oversight and planning guidance that the NCA once offered is no longer available.â??
â??In any event, most Canberra people would like the Canberra Airport to meet local planning controls as well.â??
â??I know the ACT Government has expressed concerns about the impact across Canberra of the Airport Development.â??
â??In answer to a question from me in the last sitting week the Chief Minister advised the Assembly that he was unable to influence the airport as a result of â??decisions taken by the Howard Liberal Governmentâ??.â??
â??The government has now changed.â??
â??I am urging the ACT Chief Minister to ask his Federal Labor colleagues, perhaps in compensation for the cuts to the NCA, to require development at the Canberra Airport to conform to the ACTâ??s Territory Plan and the National Capital Planâ??.
â??That way we might get an airport that continues to be an economic powerhouse while contributing positively to the orderly development of our cityâ?? Dr Foskey said.
