new runway project - perth airport … · queries regarding the mdp and all public submissions...

PRELIMINARY DRAFT MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN

NEW RUNWAY PROJECT SUMMARYMAY 2018

New Runway Project

This New Runway Project Summary provides an overview of the Preliminary Draft Major Development Plan (MDP) for the New Runway Project.

This document provides a brief summary of the key areas of the MDP and should be read in conjunction with the MDP.

Queries regarding the Preliminary Draft Major Development Plan for the New Runway Project should be emailed to [email protected]

Submissions must be received by Perth Airport by 5pm (WST) 24 August 2018.

Online submissions can be made at newrunway.com.au.

Written submissions should include your name and address and be mailed to: New Runway Project MDP Submission Perth Airport Pty Ltd PO Box 6 CLOVERDALE WA 6985

Email: [email protected]

2 New Runway Project | Preliminary Draft Major Development Plan May 2018

This Summary of the Preliminary Draft Major Development Plan for the

New Runway Project has been prepared by Perth Airport Pty Ltd (Perth Airport)

(ABN 24 077 153 130) to satisfy the requirements of the Airports Act 1996 (Cth).

While all care has been taken in the preparation of this Summary:

• it is based on certain forecasts and assumptions, and Perth Airport makes no

claim as to the accuracy or completeness of any of the information or

the likelihood of any future matter,

• it should not be relied upon by any other party for any purpose,

• it does not commit Perth Airport to any particular development, and

• Perth Airport accepts no liability whatsoever to any person who in anyway

relies on any information in this Summary of the Preliminary Draft Major

Development Plan for the New Runway Project (including making any decision

about development or any other activity on or off Perth Airport).

COPYRIGHT© Copyright – 2018 Perth Airport Pty Ltd

Copyright in this document vests in Perth Airport Pty Ltd. No person may

reproduce any part of this document in any form or by any means whether

electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, nor store in a

retrieval system or transmit this document either in part or in full, without the prior

written consent of Perth Airport Pty Ltd. Enquiries regarding copyright should be

addressed to Perth Airport.

Introducing Perth Airport’s New Runway 5

Introduction 5

Community Engagement 7

Extensive Consultation 7

Public Comment 7

The Proposed New Runway 9

Outline 9

Opening Year 9

Planning and Development 9

New runway timeline 9

About Perth Airport 10

A Vital Role 10

Majority-Owned by Super Funds 10

A Significant Employer 11

Delivering the Future 11

Need for a New Runway 12

Benefits of the New Runway 13

Economic Benefits 13

Tourism 13

Productivity Improvements 14

Alternatives Considered 15

Safety 15

Consistency with State and Local Government Planning 17

State Government 17WA State Aviation Strategy 17

State Planning Strategy 2050 17

Directions 2031 and Beyond 17

Draft Perth and Peel @ 3.5 Million 17

Local Government 17

Impact Assessment 18

Impact Significance Criteria 18

Mitigation 19

Aboriginal and European Heritage 21

Munday Swamp 21

Heritage Approvals 21

Wildlife 22

Health 22

Vegetation and Flora 24

Water 24

Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas 25

Geology and Soils 25

Traffic Disruption: During Construction 26

Traffic Disruption: During Operations 26

Landscape and Visual 27

Aircraft Flight Paths and Noise Distribution 28

Airspace Management 28

Flight Corridors 28

Runway Operations 29

Noise-Abatement Procedures 29

Other Airports and Users 29

Draft Airspace Management Plan 30

Aircraft Noise Assessment 31

24-hour period 31

Daytime 32

Evening 32

Night-time 32

Ground-Based Noise 33

Where can I find out more? 34

Public information sessions 34

Perth Airport Experience Centre 34

Further information 34

Aircraft Noise Information Portal 34

To make an enquiry or provide feedback 34

Major Development Plan Table of Contents 35

New Runway Project | Summary 3

ContentsNew Runway Project Summary

IntroductionThis summary of the Major Development Plan (MDP) for Perth Airport’s

proposed new runway introduces an important piece of infrastructure for

Western Australia.

Because the new runway will take approximately four to five years to construct,

Perth Airport is seeking approval for the new runway by 2019.

This document has been produced to help inform interested parties with the

main points of the MDP, which forms a key part of the approval process for

the runway.

The MDP itself has been published for community consultation, before

being considered for approval by the Commonwealth Minister for

Infrastructure and Transport. It will be made widely available, including

online at Perth Airport’s website newrunway.com.au.

The MDP comprises four substantial volumes:

• Executive Summary,

• Volume A: Background and Need,

• Volume B: Environment, Heritage and Traffic Assessment, and

• Volume C: Airspace Management Plan.

The approval of the new runway is

principally informed by the current

Perth Airport Master Plan 2014 and

Commonwealth and State legislation.

This legislation includes the Airports

Act 1996 (Commonwealth), the

Environmental Protection and

Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

(Commonwealth) and the Aboriginal

Heritage Act 1972 (WA).

Introducing Perth Airport’s New Runway


Community EngagementThe MDP has been prepared to meet the legislative

approvals required by the Commonwealth’s Airports

Act 1996 for the new runway project as well as to

meet the public engagement requirements for aviation

airspace-management changes that are required by

the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and

Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The MDP is therefore a combined approvals document

to ensure that the entirety of the new runway project is

properly represented and assessed.

One of the objectives of the Airports Act 1996 is to

ensure an appropriate level of vigilance, transparency

and scrutiny of airport planning so that public

interests and requirements are met, as an airport’s

development progresses.

Successful development of Perth Airport therefore

depends on productive interactions with a wide range of

stakeholders who are impacted by, and who may impact,

the airport’s development.

Extensive ConsultationPerth Airport appreciates it is important for the

community to be fully informed about major projects

that may affect the community. Therefore Perth Airport

is committed to effective and transparent engagement

with the community.

Public CommentThe MDP requires many technical reports and

assessments, which results in the document being

substantial in size.

Perth Airport recognises that the size of the MDP

document and the level of technical information may

discourage public engagement and consequently

awareness of the new runway.

Therefore the process for releasing the MDP for public

comment includes a range of engagement activities and

the production of additional publicly available material,

to help understand the new runway project.

Additional information on the new runway project can

be found online at newrunway.com.au, or by visiting one

of the displays at local shopping centres and community

expos around Perth. Locations of displays and

community events are published at newrunway.com.au.

Perth Airport has also opened the Perth Airport

Experience Centre for the community to visit. The centre

has information on the new runway project, including

interactive displays.

Queries regarding the MDP and all public submissions

should be addressed to:

New Runway Project

Perth Airport Pty Ltd

PO Box 6 Cloverdale, WA 6985

Email: [email protected]

Online submissions: newrunway.com.au

Phone: 1800 639 799 (1800 NEW RWY)

Submissions must be received by

5pm (WST) Friday 24 August 2018.

Perth Airport will consider comments received during

the public comment period in the preparation of the

Draft MDP for submission to the Commonwealth Minister

for Infrastructure and Transport.


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Future Apron & Taxiways (Proposed Next Stage Terminal Expansion)

Proposed New Runway

Proposed New Runway Taxiways

Future Terminal (Proposed Next Stage Terminal Expansion)

Future Airside Fence

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METRES

Current Runways

Current Apron & Taxiways

Buildings

Munday Swamp

Airport Boundary

New Runway Project Area

Current Airside Fence

Current & Proposed High Intensity Approach Lighting

Terminal 3

Terminal 2

Terminal 4

Terminal 1

Air Traffic Control Tower

Proposed Aviation Fire Station Option

Current Aviation Fire Station

Public Viewing Area

Railway Line & Stations

New Runway Project location plan Source: Perth Airport


The Proposed New RunwayOutlineThe new runway will occupy 293 hectares, be 3,000 metres

long and will be located parallel to the existing main

runway with a 2km separation so that both can be

used independently.

The 293-hectare project area will include infrastructure

such as taxiways, lighting, navigational aids, as well

as other ground-based infrastructure, drainage and

emergency response facilities.

A draft Airspace Management Plan has been developed

to cater for the changes to airspace and flight paths.

A decision on the future of the existing cross runway will

be made once the new runway is operational and there

is a possibility that it will close.

Opening YearIt is planned that the new runway will be operational

at its earliest by 2023, based on high traffic growth

scenarios, or 2027 based on a central growth scenario.

The actual year is dependent upon reaching commercial

agreement with airlines and expected demand.

Because of this variable opening date, an opening year

of 2025 has been used throughout the MDP for planning,

analysis and forecasting purposes.

Planning and DevelopmentThe need for a new runway was first recommended

in the 1970s by a joint Commonwealth and State

Government Committee investigating Perth’s planning

requirements.

The planning and location for the new runway was then

confirmed in Perth Airport’s first public Master Plan, in 1985.

Perth Airport will become much busier whether or not

the new runway is built. The new runway will allow better

management of the air-traffic growth that’s already

occurring, thereby improving efficiency, customer

service and the effectiveness of operations.

However, there will come a stage at which the additional

runway will allow a greater volume of air traffic than the

current runway system can accommodate.


New runway timeline

1970s planning commenced

PLAN

LOCATE 1984 location for parallel runway at Perth Airport identified

2008 – 2012 dramatic and

unforecast growth

GROWTH

INVEST 2010 – 2014 $250m airfield investment program to improve capacity at Perth Airport

2014 Master Plan approved including

how the new runway would likely operate

and timing

MASTER PLAN 2014

DESIGN 2013 – 2017 technical studies and design work

2018 public comment

COMMENT

APPROVAL Anticipated 2019 approval and decision to build

4 years to construct

CONSTRUCT

OPEN 2023 – 2028 opening subject to actual demand and airline commercial agreement

About Perth AirportPerth Airport has been an integral part of the community

since its construction in the 1940s.

A Vital RolePerth’s relative isolation and the vast distances between

Australian population centres make air travel – and

therefore Perth Airport – indispensable to both the

people of Western Australia and the state’s economic,

social and cultural development.

Perth Airport handled 13.8 million passengers and

135,220 aircraft movements in 2016, and expects to grow

to more than 35 million passengers and 241,000 aircraft

movements by 2045.

The airport facilitates international access to

many global destinations as well as interstate

domestic travel; and is a vital asset for regional

communities and the resources industry.

In 2018, Qantas started direct flights from Perth Airport

to London Heathrow on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

Majority-Owned by Super FundsPerth Airport is operated by Perth Airport Pty Ltd,

which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Perth Airport

Development Group Pty Ltd (PADG).

More than 50 per cent of PADG is owned by superannuation

funds, including AustralianSuper and Sunsuper.

Being a private organisation, Perth Airport will

privately fund the $520 million investment needed

for the new runway without the need for government

subsidies or funding.


Majority-owned by super funds

+50% of Perth Airport owned by superannuation funds

Planning for the new runway commenced in the early 1970s.

Perth Airport is the only aerodrome that supports large passenger aircraft in the Perth region.

The new runway will facilitate safe, effective and efficient air services for Perth and Western Australia well into the future.

$2.5bINVESTMENT

The new runway forms part of a privately funded $2.5b investment program over the next decade at Perth Airport.

A Significant EmployerIn 2013, the number of people employed by Perth Airport

(both directly and indirectly) was estimated at 12,570

aviation and 5,230 non-aviation-related full-time employees.

Delivering the FuturePerth Airport is committed to planning towards delivering

for the future needs of our airline customers and the

expectation of our passengers.

Our next wave of investment will include a significant

expansion of the international terminal, the consolidation of

the Qantas Group at Airport Central and a new runway with

associated infrastructure, totalling an estimated $2.5 billion

investment over the next 10 years.

Perth Airport will work with our airline customers to

understand their needs and agree on investments required to

deliver expansion and infrastructure requirements.


Need for a New Runway The requirement for additional runway

capacity is triggered when annual aircraft

movements reach 145,000 movements.

This figure was temporarily exceeded in 2013

due in part to the mining construction boom,

when annual aircraft movements peaked at

more than 151,000. This resulted in significant

and costly delays to passengers and airlines.

Although movements have since dipped

(to 131,000 in 2017), they are expected to

steadily grow and are forecasted to reach

approximately 172,000 movements by 2025

and 241,000 by 2045.

Without the additional runway capacity

planned to be provided by the new runway,

by 2025 unacceptable delays would regularly

occur at Perth Airport. Projecting forward to

2045, approximately 140 aircraft movements

would be forgone each day or approximately

51,000 aircraft movements per year, resulting

in substantial costs and acting as a significant

constraint to the State’s population, cargo

capacity and export growth.


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Annual Runway Capacity

241,000forecast annual flights by 2045

Benefits of the New RunwayEconomic BenefitsConstruction of the new runway

will add $329.1 million to real

income in the Perth Region.

After opening, the operational

contribution of the new runway

will grow from approximately $40

million in 2026 to $385 million in

2045, or a cumulative total over

this time of nearly $1.2 billion.

This boost to real income is the

result of additional operational

expenditures by Perth Airport and

airlines, cost savings from airlines

due to reduced delays, business

cost savings from reduced delays

to business travelers, and increased

tourism expenditure.

TourismAir services are the lifeblood

of Western Australia’s tourism

industry: 93 per cent of visitors

travelling to the State use air

transport.

Tourism expenditure as a result of

the additional air-traffic capacity

enabled by the new runway is

estimated to be $302 million

annually, or a cumulative

$1.72 billion between 2027 and

2045.

Passenger growth leads to economic growth

93%of visitors travelling to WA use air transport


$2.39b increase in real income nationally in first two decades of operation

$1.72b lost tourism expenditure over 20 years if the runway is not built

$887m how much businesses will save by 2045 from avoided delays

$72m/yr cost to airline industry and passengers

17,800number of people employed directly and indirectly at Perth Airport in 2013

Productivity ImprovementsThe additional capacity provided by the new runway will result in

productivity improvements to airlines as well as productivity gains to

business through fewer delays.

In 2012 at the height of the mining boom, a Western Australian

Treasury report estimated that the annual impact to the airline

industry and its passengers of delays being experienced was

$72 million. Qantas estimated that the annual impact of runway

delays at Perth Airport cost $10.8 million per year, while the

Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA stated that a one hour delay

at a mine site cost approximately $100,000.

Modelling undertaken by Perth Airport shows the avoided delay

costs to airlines (comprising maintenance, crew and fuel costs)

equate to $111.65 per minute of delay.

By 2045, the cumulative savings to airlines as a result of the new

runway is estimated at $84 million for Perth, $1.3 million for the

rest of WA, and $993 million for the rest of Australia (where most

domestic airlines are headquartered).

The cost of delay at Perth Airport is calculated at $48.52 an hour

for leisure travellers and $155.29 for business travellers. By 2045, the

avoided delays as a result of the new runway are forecast to achieve

a cumulative business cost saving of $887.3 million.


Alternatives ConsideredInstead of building a new runway, several other options

were examined.

These included achieving more capacity from existing

runways at Perth Airport through improved operations,

increasing the use of other airports in Perth and around

the State, and extending the existing runways at Perth

Airport.

The MDP explains in detail why, after careful and

thorough consideration, none of these alternatives were

considered suitable.

SafetySafety is the most important consideration for air

navigation and aircraft operations.

While a number of potential hazards and risks have been

identified for aircraft operations on the new runway,

the majority are common to aircraft operations around

the world. They are therefore mitigated to the highest

level possible through regulatory requirements and

standards, and airport and aircraft operator processes

and procedures.

While the likelihood of an aircraft crash incident will

potentially rise with an increase in aircraft operations,

the overall risk of an aircraft crash incident posed by the

development of the new runway is as low as reasonably

practicable.


Roleystone

Karragullen

Lesley

PickeringBrook

Reservoir

SawyersValley

Mundaring

MahoganyCreek

Hovea

HelenaValley

Koongamia Bellevue

Bellevue

Greenmount

SwanValley

MidvaleMidland

Hazelmere

SouthGuildford

Woodbridge

Guildford

MiddleSwan

Stratton

MtHelens

Childlow

Wooroloo

Wundowie

Belhus

Aveley

Lexia

Gnangara

Landsdale

StonevilleParkervilleJane

Brook

RedHillHerne

Hill

WestSwan

Brabham

Dayton

Caversham

LockridgeKiara

EdenHill

Bassendean

AshfieldBayswater

Embleton

Bedford

Morley

Beechboro

Bennett Springs

Noranda

Malaga

Ballajura

Cullacabardee

Koondoola

MirrabookaBalga

DianellaNollamara

Westminster

Stirling

Balcatta

TuartHill

OsbornePark

MtHawthorn

JoondannaCoolbinia

NorthPerth

Northbridge

Highgate

KingsPark

Crawley

Nedlands

DalkeithPepermintGrove

Claremont

Swanborne

MtClaremont

ShentonPark

CityBeach

WembleyDowns

Churchlands

WembleyWest

Leederville

Leederville

Herdsman

Woodlands

Innaloo

Doubleview

Scarborough

Trigg

Karrinyup

Gwelup

HarmersleyCarine

Mamion

Duncraig

Warwick

GreenwoodSorrento

Girrawheen

MarrangarooAlexander

Heights

Madeley Darch

Wangara

NorthBeach

WatermansBay

Glendalough

Jolimont

SubiacoDaglish

Karrakatta

Floreat

Cottesloe

MosmanPark

NorthFremantle

WestPerth

Yokine

InglewoodMenora

MtLawley

EastPerth

Perth

Whiteman

AscotMaylands

HenleyBrook Millendon

Baskerville

Brigadoon

GlenForest

Darlington

Boya

PaullsValley

HackettsGully

PiesseBrook

Bickley

Carmel

OrangeGrove

Maddington

Thornlie

Kenwick

Malmalling

Gorrie

TheLakes

Beechina

CanningMills

Martin

Gosnells

SouthernRiver

Harrisdale

CanningVale

Jandakot

Leeming

BullCreek

ParkwoodWilletton

Bateman

WinthropWillagee

Kardinya

Samson

Hilton

O’connor

Beaconsfield

Beaconsfield

SouthFremantle

Fremantle

White GumValley

EastFremantle

Palmyra

MelvilleMyaree

Booragoon

Brentwood

Bicton

Attadale

AlfredCove

Andross

MtPleasant

Applecross

Rossmoyne

Shelley

SalterPoint

ManningWaterford

Como

Riverton

Ferndale

Lynwood

Langford

Beckenham

WattleGrove

EastCannington

CanningtonWilson

Bentley

StJames Queens

Park

Welshpool

ForrestfieldEastVictoria

Park

CarlisleKewdale

Kensington

SouthPerth

VictoriaPark

Burswood

Lathlain

Rivervale

Belmont

Cloverdale

Redcliffe

HighWycombe

MaidaVale

GooseberryHill

Kalamunda

Lesmurdie

Walliston

Karawara

CockburnCentral

SouthLake

Yangebup

BibraLake

NorthLake

Murdoch

Coogee

Spearwood

NorthCoogee

HamiltonHill

Coolbellup Huntingdale

Flint

Flynn

ChampionLakes

Camillo

Kelmscott

PiaraWaters

Kingsley

Woodvale

PadburyHillarys

CraigieKallaroo

Pearsall

15KM

PerthAirport

0 2 4

KILOMETRE

Airport Boundary


Roleystone

Karragullen

Lesley

PickeringBrook

Reservoir

SawyersValley

Mundaring

MahoganyCreek

Hovea

HelenaValley

Koongamia Bellevue

Bellevue

Greenmount

SwanValley

MidvaleMidland

Hazelmere

SouthGuildford

Woodbridge

Guildford

MiddleSwan

Stratton

MtHelens

Childlow

Wooroloo

Wundowie

Belhus

Aveley

Lexia

Gnangara

Landsdale

StonevilleParkervilleJane

Brook

RedHillHerne

Hill

WestSwan

Brabham

Dayton

Caversham

LockridgeKiara

EdenHill

Bassendean

AshfieldBayswater

Embleton

Bedford

Morley

Beechboro

Bennett Springs

Noranda

Malaga

Ballajura

Cullacabardee

Koondoola

MirrabookaBalga

DianellaNollamara

Westminster

Stirling

Balcatta

TuartHill

OsbornePark

MtHawthorn

JoondannaCoolbinia

NorthPerth

Northbridge

Highgate

KingsPark

Crawley

Nedlands

DalkeithPepermintGrove

Claremont

Swanborne

MtClaremont

ShentonPark

CityBeach

WembleyDowns

Churchlands

WembleyWest

Leederville

Leederville

Herdsman

Woodlands

Innaloo

Doubleview

Scarborough

Trigg

Karrinyup

Gwelup

HarmersleyCarine

Mamion

Duncraig

Warwick

GreenwoodSorrento

Girrawheen

MarrangarooAlexander

Heights

Madeley Darch

Wangara

NorthBeach

WatermansBay

Glendalough

Jolimont

SubiacoDaglish

Karrakatta

Floreat

Cottesloe

MosmanPark

NorthFremantle

WestPerth

Yokine

InglewoodMenora

MtLawley

EastPerth

Perth

Whiteman

AscotMaylands

HenleyBrook Millendon

Baskerville

Brigadoon

GlenForest

Darlington

Boya

PaullsValley

HackettsGully

PiesseBrook

Bickley

Carmel

OrangeGrove

Maddington

Thornlie

Kenwick

Malmalling

Gorrie

TheLakes

Beechina

CanningMills

Martin

Gosnells

SouthernRiver

Harrisdale

CanningVale

Jandakot

Leeming

BullCreek

ParkwoodWilletton

Bateman

WinthropWillagee

Kardinya

Samson

Hilton

O’connor

Beaconsfield

Beaconsfield

SouthFremantle

Fremantle

White GumValley

EastFremantle

Palmyra

MelvilleMyaree

Booragoon

Brentwood

Bicton

Attadale

AlfredCove

Andross

MtPleasant

Applecross

Rossmoyne

Shelley

SalterPoint

ManningWaterford

Como

Riverton

Ferndale

Lynwood

Langford

Beckenham

WattleGrove

EastCannington

CanningtonWilson

Bentley

StJames Queens

Park

Welshpool

ForrestfieldEastVictoria

Park

CarlisleKewdale

Kensington

SouthPerth

VictoriaPark

Burswood

Lathlain

Rivervale

Belmont

Cloverdale

Redcliffe

HighWycombe

MaidaVale

GooseberryHill

Kalamunda

Lesmurdie

Walliston

Karawara

CockburnCentral

SouthLake

Yangebup

BibraLake

NorthLake

Murdoch

Coogee

Spearwood

NorthCoogee

HamiltonHill

Coolbellup Huntingdale

Flint

Flynn

ChampionLakes

Camillo

Kelmscott

PiaraWaters

Kingsley

Woodvale

PadburyHillarys

CraigieKallaroo

Pearsall

15KM

PerthAirport

0 2 4

KILOMETRE

Airport Boundary

Consistency with State and Local Government PlanningGood planning by the WA State

Government has protected for

the expansion of Perth Airport.

State planning policy includes

the Australian Noise Exposure

Forecast (ANEF) contour to

control development in those

areas impacted by aircraft noise,

to address the need to protect for

the long-term growth of aviation in

Western Australia.

Perth Airport recognises that land-

use and infrastructure decisions

made both inside and outside the

airport boundary affect its capacity

to meet community needs.

State GovernmentThe new runway project is

consistent with State planning

policy including:

WA State Aviation Strategy

Published in 2015, this strategy

confirms the status of Perth Airport

as the sole and principal 24-hour

airport for the Perth metropolitan

region.

A key finding of the Strategy is that

the new runway will:

“provide the step-change in capacity

needed to cope with current

peak-hour demand as well as

accommodate continuing high levels

of growth at Perth Airport”, and

“will benefit all users, improving

reliability, reducing delays and

permitting peak-period demand

growth across interstate and

international sectors, as well as

resource and other intrastate users”.

State Planning Strategy 2050

This identifies the need to provide

efficient transport routes and hubs.

It recognises Perth Airport as a key

element in the movement network

of the State, and as the international

gateway to Perth and Western

Australia, and the focal point for the

growth of the tourism industry.

Directions 2031 and Beyond

This is a high-level spatial framework

and strategic plan for the Perth and

Peel regions.

It identifies Perth Airport as a

’specialised centre’ and recognises it

as critical to supporting the growth

in the West Australian resource

sector – as well as providing

Western Australia’s primary link to

the rest of Australia and the world.

Draft Perth and Peel @ 3.5 Million

This strategy includes the next

layer of detail to underpin State

planning policy and Directions 2031.

Perth Airport is referenced as a

‘specialised activity centre’ as a key

employment node.

Local GovernmentThe Perth Airport estate sits within

three local authority areas, divided

between the City of Belmont, City of

Swan and the City of Kalamunda.

However, Perth Airport operations

impact local government planning

within a much wider catchment

of the Perth metropolitan area –

largely due to the central location;

only 12 kilometres from the Perth

CBD and within the metropolitan

arterial road network. There are

17 local government areas within a

15-kilometre radius of the airport.

The new runway project was found

to be consistent with the relevant

local planning schemes.


Impact AssessmentLike many other major infrastructure

project bringing significant long-

term benefits to Perth and Western

Australia, the new runway will

affect the environment and local

community.

However, the new runway provides

the capacity to handle the inevitable

increasing numbers of passengers

and aircraft in a planned and

strategic manner.

Perth Airport has undertaken

extensive technical analysis to

design, assess and mitigate the

impacts of the new runway.

These assessments are thoroughly

detailed in the MDP, in which the

significance of the identified impacts

have been determined by the

application of a risk-based impact

assessment framework.

This framework considers

consequences to the environment

and how these impacts can be

mitigated. If the risk rating was

found to be medium, high or very

high, additional mitigation measures

were applied.

The main impacts and mitigation

measures are summarised below.

The following impacts have been

considered:

• Aboriginal and European heritage

• Air quality and greenhouse gas

• Aircraft noise

• Flora and vegetation

• Geology and soils

• Ground-based noise

• Health

• Water (hydrology)

• Landscape and visual

• Traffic disruption: runway construction

• Traffic disruption: runway operation

• Wildlife

Impact Significance CriteriaSignificance criteria are used in

the MDP to provide a quantitative

description of each impact, and to

help identify the scale of its impact

on the environment

These descriptions indicate both

the duration and the magnitude of

each impact.

The following tables provide

examples of significance criteria (e.g.

’moderate adverse’), the likelihood

of an action having an impact (e.g.

’possible) and definitions of relative

durations (e.g. ’medium term’).

Magnitude description Example Criteria

Major Adverse

Impacts considered critical to the decision-making process. They tend to be permanent, or

irreversible, or otherwise long term, and/or can occur over large scale areas. Environmental

receptors are extremely sensitive, and/or the impacts are of national significance. Typically,

mitigation measures are unlikely to remove such effects.

High Adverse

Impacts likely to be of importance in the decision-making process. They tend to be

permanent, or otherwise long to medium term, and/or can occur over large or medium scale

areas. Environmental receptors are high to moderately sensitive, and/or the impacts are of

State significance.

Moderate Adverse

Impacts relevant to decision making, particularly for determination of environmental

management requirements. These impacts tend to range from long to short term, and/

or occur over medium scale areas or are focused within a localised area. Environmental

receptors are moderately sensitive, and/or the impacts are of regional or local significance.

Minor Adverse

Impacts recognisable, but acceptable within the decision-making process. They are still

important in the determination of environmental management requirements. These impacts

tend to be short term, or temporary and at the local scale.

Negligible

Minimal change to the existing situation. This could include for example impacts which

are beneath levels of detection, impacts that are within the normal bounds of variation or

impacts that are within the margin of forecasting error.

BeneficialThe new runway results in an improvement in the baseline situation, for example, improved

downstream water quality.

Significance criteriaSource: Perth Airport


Relative Duration of Environmental Impacts

Temporary days to months

Short Term up to one year

Medium Term from one to five years

Long Term from five to 50 years

Permanent / Irreversible more than 50 years

Duration of environmental impactsSource: Perth Airport

Likelihood of impacts Risk probability categories

Highly

Unlikely

May occur only in exceptional circumstances

- can be assumed not to occur during period

of the project (Probability less than ten per

cent)

Unlikely

Event is unlikely to occur, but it is possible

during period of the project (Probability ten

to 30 per cent)

PossibleEvent could occur during period of the

project (Probability 30 to 70 per cent)

LikelyEvent likely to occur once or more during period

of the project (Probability 70 to 90 per cent)

Almost

Certain

Very likely to occur as a result of the

proposed project construction and/or

operations; could occur multiple times

during relevant impacting period (Probability

greater than 90 per cent)

Likelihood of impactsSource: Perth Airport

MitigationPerth Airport will use mitigation measures to reduce the

risk associated with an activity.

These mitigation measures are implemented in the

following preferred order:

1. Avoid the need for mitigation: eliminate the need for

mitigation by the appropriate location of infrastructure

associated with the new runway. For example, making

the decision to reduce the length of the runway from

3,800 metres to 3,000 metres and shifting it further to

the south, to preserve the heritage values associated

with Munday Swamp.

2. Design-out the risk: minimise significant impacts by

including appropriate sustainability measures such as

creating natural ‘living streams’ in our drainage network.

3. Implement an environmental management plan:

these measure and minimise any impacts to the

greatest possible extent. For example, acid sulfate

soil-management measures during ground-disturbance

activities.

4. Compensate for impacts where they can’t be

adequately mitigated and residual effects predominate.

For example, acquiring environmental offsets consistent

with Commonwealth Environmental Offsets Policy

(2012), for the loss of the Banksia Woodlands of the

Swan Coastal Plain threatened ecological community

and black cockatoo species’ habitat.

There are two types of mitigation:

1. Standard mitigation: this takes account of standard

practice and statutory obligations. For example,

implementing erosion and sediment control could

reasonably be expected to be in place for the

construction phase.

2. Additional mitigation: this reduces the significance,

likelihood or risk of an impact occurring and is relevant

to impacts which are identified as medium, high or

very high risk. For example, using cut-off trenches in

the design to minimise migration of contaminants in

groundwater.


Aboriginal and European HeritageImpacts

• two Aboriginal sites will be

impacted by the construction and

operation of the new runway and

its infrastructure

• no places of European heritage

significance will be impacted

Explanation

The land on which Perth Airport is

located forms part of the traditional

network of communication routes,

meeting places and camping sites of

the Nyungah Whadjuk people.

The Aboriginal heritage values

within the area of the new runway

comprise archaeological and

ethnographic sites that indicate

prior occupation. As the traditional

custodians, the Nyungah Whadjuk

people maintain a strong interest in

the airport land and its operations.

Following consultation with the

traditional custodians and relevant

organisations, Perth Airport

submitted an application under

section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage

Act 1972 (WA) to seek approval to

develop, maintain and operate the

new runway. The application was

subsequently approved by the State

Government in May 2018.

The new runway area comprises

two known Aboriginal heritage

sites that meet the definition of a

site under the Aboriginal Heritage

Act 1972. These sites are listed as

‘archaeological scatters’ on the

Department of Planning, Lands and

Heritage’s Register of Aboriginal

Sites.

European heritage is linked to the

establishment of the Swan River

Colony in 1829. Two sites within

the vicinity of the new runway

project area have been classified

as ’indicative places’ on the

Commonwealth Heritage List in

relation to natural heritage values.

Mitigation

Perth Airport acknowledges the

cultural value of Munday Swamp

and, where practical, has minimised

impacts while ensuring that the

new runway can be developed and

operated safely and effectively.

Perth Airport remains committed

to ongoing engagement with the

traditional custodians under the

guidance of Perth Airport’s Heritage

Management Framework. The

commitments extend to undertaking

engagement in a manner that

recognises the significance of the

area to the Nyungah community,

and to acknowledge the strong link

that exists between the traditional

custodians and the land on which

Perth Airport is situated.

In recognition of the heritage values

within the estate, Perth Airport has

made significant modifications to

the design of taxiways, boundary

fences, roads, drainage and

approach lighting to minimise

impacts to Munday Swamp. A

range of measures will be applied

throughout the construction of the

new runway to mitigate impacts to

heritage values.

Munday SwampMunday Swamp is an ethnographic

site and wetland that covers

approximately 20 hectares of land in

the north-eastern area of the airport

estate; a portion of the new runway

project area intersects with the

southern portion of the wetland.

It is believed Munday Swamp was

named after a young Nyungah man

called Munday, the leader of the

Beeloo people in 1829.

The site was originally recorded by

archaeologists in 1979 and has been

the subject of many archaeological

and ethnographic surveys.

Munday Swamp is a ceremonial

and mythological site that is of

importance to persons of Aboriginal

descent.

The original airport master plans

planned for the new runway to be

3,800-metres long. However, the

Master Plan 1999 reduced the length

of the new runway and moved it

south. This was done as the original

plan for the new runway would have

required the complete removal of

Munday Swamp.

The change to the runway length

meant Munday Swamp would be

materially retained and impacts

minimised as much as practical.

Subsequently, in contemporary

concept development, Perth Airport

has made significant adjustments

to taxiways, boundary fences, roads

and drainage to further minimise

impacts on Munday Swamp.


HealthImpacts

• there is limited research and definitive

evidence around the correlation and impact

of aviation noise and human health

• health impacts may include sleep

disturbance and associated effects,

cardio-vascular disease, cognitive

outcomes and annoyance

Explanation

Since 1993, around the world there has been

over 170 research papers that have explored

the relationship between aircraft noise

exposure and/or aircraft emissions and health

impact to surrounding communities. No

specific research has been completed in Perth.

In general, the research has shown that:

• the most adverse health effect from noise

sources, such as aircraft, (and road and rail)

noise, is considered to be sleep disturbance.

This is due to the knock-on effects of

sleep deprivation that include an increased

long-term risk of obesity, diabetes and

cardiovascular outcomes,

• that noise disturbance may impact some

cognitive outcomes and some areas of

learning in primary-age school children,

• noise exposure may be linked to an

increased risk of hypertension and the linked

increased risk of ischaemic heart disease,

WildlifeImpacts

• loss of fauna habitats

• loss of biodiversity

Explanation

The construction and operation of the new runway will

affect wildlife through the loss of some of their habitat and

foraging areas.

The main wildlife impacted will be the nationally listed

Forest Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo and Carnaby’s Black

Cockatoo. Although these birds forage on the airport estate,

there is no evidence to show they breed on the estate.

There are also impacts to the habitats of twelve species

either listed under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 or

as a priority species by the Department of Biodiversity,

Conservation and Attractions, including the Quenda

(Southern Brown Bandicoot) and Rakali (water-rat).

Mitigation

Clearing will be designed to retain habitat corridors where

possible. Where species are directly impacted, translocation

will occur.

Appropriate management plans and mitigation efforts

will be applied to minimise impacts to fauna located in

remaining habitats adjacent to the new runway area,

including the control of feral animal species, weed and

dieback management, and management of the local

hydrology.

Perth Airport will acquire suitable offsite environmental

offsets. These will be transferred, at no cost, to the State

Government for protection in perpetuity.


• perceived and real health consequences of aircraft

noise exposure contribute to the annoyance that the

noise provokes, and annoyance can result in increased

stress which can lead to health consequences.

Annoyance is a subjective impact which varies

between individuals, and

• the health consequences associated with air pollution

include stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both

chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including

asthma, with particulate matter being the major cause.

The operation of the new runway, and flight path

changes to accommodate the parallel runway system,

will see aircraft overfly newly affected residential areas at

night time, and a number of kindergartens, pre-schools

and schools that may be sensitive to cognitive and

learning impacts.

The extent of health effects caused by the noise levels

predicted to occur from the new runway are likely to be

smaller than demonstrated in much of the research. This

is due to Perth Airport’s lower levels of aircraft activity.

Annoyance can be reduced through information,

engagement to improve understanding of aircraft noise,

and, for those affected, manage the noise in the least

intrusive way reasonably possible.

Operation of the new runway will eventually result in a

greater number of annual aircraft movements than could

otherwise operate at Perth Airport. Noting the height

of operations, and dispersal of emissions, this increased

aircraft capacity will result in only small increases in

pollution levels.

However, the increased efficiency in operations due to

the parallel runway system will also have some impact

in reducing emissions by reducing airborne delays for

incoming aircraft, and ground running for aircraft queued

for departure. This, in turn, will reduce engine run times

(and emissions) from arriving aircraft, and aircraft with

engines running and awaiting departure.

Mitigation

With careful planning, and through engagement with

affected populations, the health impacts resulting from

the new runway’s operations are likely to be small or

restricted to relatively few people.

Strategies to minimise noise impact can assist in

reducing the potential health consequences of aircraft

noise exposure.

These include appropriate land use planning around

airports, careful route planning, noise-abatement

procedures, and providing clear and comprehensive

information about the likely exposure of the aircraft

noise.

In addition, information can be provided to help those

affected by the exposure to aircraft noise to undertake

amelioration measures that can reduce noise penetration

into homes.

Perth Airport will continue to encourage industry and

Government to undertake further research to understand

and manage the relationship between exposure to

aircraft noise and community health impacts.


Vegetation and FloraImpacts

• clearing of two Commonwealth-listed threatened flora species,

Conospermum undulatum and Macarthuria keigheryi • clearing of 43.66 hectares of Banksia Woodlands of the Swan

Coastal Plain threatened ecological community

• potential spread of weeds and dieback: 40 per cent of the

vegetation within the new runway area is infested with

Phytophthora cinnamomi (dieback disease)

Explanation

The new runway will require the clearing of approximately

129 hectares of vegetation in good or better quality.

Over half of the new runway area comprises completely degraded

areas, degraded areas, or areas completely devoid of vegetation that

has been replaced by infrastructure.

The completely degraded areas and degraded areas harbour large

populations of introduced species including declared pests and weeds

of national significance. These areas are not of conservation significance.

No vegetation in the new runway area was considered to be in

pristine condition. This is due to the presence of weed species,

evidence of disturbance from feral animals, and the presence of

vehicle tracks resulting from the long term historical uses on the land.

Mitigation

Perth Airport is committed to an environmental offset strategy to

address the loss of Commonwealth listed species.

This will be undertaken pursuant to the Commonwealth

Environmental Offsets Policy (2012), in consultation with the

Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Energy, and

the State Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Weed and pest-management measures and vehicle-movement

control will be applied to mitigate the risk of dieback infection to

other areas within the estate and into surrounding communities.

Water Impacts

• changed stormwater flows through

the estate

• increased stormwater runoff

• possible contamination of surface-

water drainage channels

Explanation

The new runway will affect the water

infrastructure of Perth Airport. This

will include redirecting two major

engineered stormwater channels (the

Southern Main Drain and the Northern

Main Drain) that run through the airport

estate.

The drainage realignment for the new

runway will restore the original water

flow of Munday Swamp connecting

upstream to Poison Gully and

downstream to Limestone Creek (which

connects to the Swan River). This

means water flows can return to a more

natural form.

Modelling indicates that the proposed

changes won’t cause any flooding,

either on or off the estate.

Mitigation

The new stormwater infrastructure will

be designed so that the water flowing

off the estate, and ultimately into the

Swan River, will be of equal or better

quality than the water flowing onto

the estate.

Additional water will flow into Munday

Swamp but this will be managed by

design of the infiltration basin and

controlling the water flow’s velocity.

‘Living streams’ are planned for both the

Southern and the Northern Main Drains.

This will result in their open channels

mimicking the characteristics of natural

streams with trees, bushes and shrubs,

and in-stream vegetation which will

allow for groundwater infiltration and

carriage of peak flood flows in a natural

manner.

Construction activities that result in

a risk of mobilising sediment, acid

sulfate soil and other contaminants

into Munday Swamp, will be managed

through the design process and via

the implementation of a construction

environmental management plan.


Air Quality and Greenhouse GasImpacts

• low impact on air quality and greenhouse-gas emissions

• reduced aircraft emissions expected in the future

Explanation

‘Sensitive receivers’ considered in the air-quality

assessment include schools, hospitals, aged care homes,

childcare facilities, offices, public recreation areas,

protected wetlands and residential properties.

The potential impact of the new runway’s aircraft

operations on air-quality impacts and greenhouse

gas emissions is determined to be low. The predicted

concentrations of all criteria pollutants and air toxics

comply with the assessment criteria.

Emissions from newer aircraft are anticipated to reduce

in the future as engine technologies improve, and it is

likely that the impact of new runway operations on air-

quality concentrations will reduce in years to come.

The increased volatile organic compounds (VOC)

emissions associated with aircraft operating on the new

runway are considered unlikely to result in significant

nuisance odour impacts.

Taxiing typically accounts for more than 60 per cent of

VOC emissions from aircraft in the landing take-off cycle.

Unnecessary taxiing, which will be minimised by the new

runway, reduces the airport’s efficiency and increases the

amount of fuel used.

Mitigation

Perth Airport places considerable emphasis on the

layout of the taxiway network to reduce the amount of

taxiing required.

Geology and SoilsImpacts

• contamination of soil and underlying groundwater

• disturbance of acid sulfate soils and asbestos-

containing materials

• soil erosion and sedimentation

• ground movement and changes in levels

Explanation

In order to build the new runway, the ground will have to

be levelled out. This will involve disturbing the soil, which

may result in:

• acidity: the release of acidity by disturbing acid-sulfate

soils, and

• some soil erosion: the erosion potential of the shallow

soils within the new runway area have been identified

as very high.

Concentrations of per-and polyfluorinated alkyl

substances (PFAS) within the new runway area were

below the laboratory limit of reporting. PFAS are

aqueous film-forming foams containing per- and poly

fluoroalkyl substances, and Perfluorooctane sulfonate

(PFOS) belong to this group of substances. PFAS is

used in a variety of household and commercial activities.,

such as water resistance treatments of upholstery and

carpets, paper food wraps, and shampoos. Only three

per cent of 3M globally manufactured PFOS was used in

making firefighting foam.

Mitigation

All works will be done consistent with a Construction

Environmental Management Plan which will be prepared

prior to works commencing.

PFAS will be managed consistent with the recently

released Commonwealth PFAS National Environmental

Management Plan 2018.

To manage the impacts of ground movement during

construction, further geotechnical studies to inform

consolidation and settlement will occur beforehand.

Detailed analysis and design of excavation and soil-

retaining systems will also take place, along with

careful construction sequencing during excavation.

Settlement will be monitored and early intervention

undertaken if needed.

Erosion control and management will be necessary

throughout construction and during operations, in

accordance with industry practices.

The spill of hazardous substances and hydrocarbons

during the construction phase has been classified as a

medium risk. It is intended that low-impact and low-toxicity

chemicals are used where practicable to reduce the risk.

Construction and operation of the new runway will

include a range of management measures, including

preparation and implementation of an Acid Sulfate Soils

and Dewatering Management Plan.

Active acid-sulfate soils management (stockpiling) and

treatment (addition of lime) will be required to protect

local soil and groundwater from the release of acidity

and metals.

Remediation of the existing contaminates will result in a

beneficial impact whereby contaminants are removed;

appropriate risk minimisation will be undertaken where

contaminants are left in situ.


Traffic Disruption: During ConstructionImpacts

• temporary disruption due to construction traffic within

the airport and adjacent road networks

Explanation

The construction traffic is temporary and will not adversely

impact on the internal or external road networks.

The importation of fill for bulk earthworks will be the

highest impact activity of new runway construction to

the surrounding road network.

A conservative program of 16 months for bulk

earthworks results in an average of 12 vehicles per hour

delivering materials to the site. Construction vehicle

access can be provided at six locations off Horrie Miller

Drive and Abernethy Road, reducing the impact on the

traffic network.

There will be an estimated 100 staff vehicles and 100

general deliveries a day at peak construction stage.

Mitigation

A traffic management plan will be prepared and agreed

prior to construction works commencing.

In addition, debris-removal facilities (such as a wash-

down facility or rumble strips) for vehicles leaving the

site will be considered to ensure the public road network

is kept free from construction materials.

All trucks carrying loose material will have their loads

covered to ensure dust and debris is contained within

the truck.

Traffic Disruption: During Operations Impacts

• minimal increase in road traffic

• re-closure of Grogan Road

Explanation

The growth in road traffic resulting from the new runway

will be minimal when compared to the increase in traffic

volume that would occur whether or not the new runway

is built.

There will however be increased traffic associated

with peak-period flights (because more flights can

be accommodated by the new runway) and with the

increase in flights to meet demand.

By 2045, this will cause a moderate adverse impact on

the primarily non-airport traffic volumes on Abernethy

Road, and only in the morning peak period.

The new runway will require the re-closure of Grogan

Road. Up to 64 per cent of the traffic using Grogan

Road during peak periods is non-airport traffic which

uses the road as a shortcut. Initial planning considered

relacing Grogan Road with a tunnel under the new

runway. During design work the cost of the tunnel was

estimated at around $240 million and therefore it was

not financially viable to construct the tunnel for the

relatively low number of vehicles that use Grogan Road

to access the terminals.


Landscape and VisualImpacts

• clearing of vegetation

• construction and operation of the new runway

• increased light pollution from runway lighting

Explanation

The new runway will alter the visual amenity through airside roads and fencing,

the runway and taxiway pavements, and the installation of high intensity

approach lighting at the northern and southern extents of the runway.

The operation of the new runway will see an incremental increase in the existing

overall lighting impact to the airport area and its surrounds.

Mitigation

The design of the runway will consider the visual impact of airfield and approach

lighting and ensure compliance with safety regulations.


Aircraft Flight Paths and Noise DistributionAs well as being a major piece of

infrastructure at ground level, the

proposed new runway will affect

how aircraft use the airspace above

and around it.

Perth Airport is aware of the

importance of aircraft noise

exposure to the local community

and is actively engaged in ways to

minimise its impact.

The opening of the new runway

requires new flight paths for aircraft

using the new runway, as well as

changed flight paths on the existing

main runway to accommodate

parallel runway operations.

This will alter the distribution of

aircraft noise around the greater

Perth area – some areas will have

new or more noise and some

areas less.

When designing air routes, safety

is the key consideration. One of

the principles applied is to try and

minimise the impact of noise to

residential areas. This could be

achieved by using flight corridors over

industrial areas rather than residential

areas where this is possible.

It is important to note that the

actual flight paths have not yet

been designed. This process follows

the approval of the MDP and will

commence around three years

before the first flight. The final flight

path design will be undertaken by

Airservices Australia, Australia’s air

navigation service provider.

Through a draft Airspace

Management Plan, the MDP presents

the likely flight corridors. The

final flight path design must be

consistent with the approved MDP.

Volume C of the MDP thoroughly

details the draft Airspace

Management Plan and its impact

assessment.

Airspace ManagementThere are procedures to follow when

an aircraft departs or arrives at an

airport. These procedures would

be like directions from your house

detailing the route you should drive

to reach the highway. As there are a

number of runways an aircraft can

depart from or arrive to, there are

a number of procedures for both

departure and arrival because they

provide guidance from the runway

to the point where the air route

(highway) commences or ceases.

The way in which aircraft use the

skies is called airspace management.

Airspace management covers an

airports air route structure including

the direction from which aircraft

land and depart the runway. Both

ends of a runway can be used for

landing and take-off, and there

will be various options that are

dependent on the runway end that

is used.

Because safety is paramount,

departure and arrival procedures

are designed in accordance with

international guidelines.

Flight CorridorsFlight corridors are corridors in

the sky which define the three-

dimensional routes that aircraft are

likely to use to arrive at, or depart

from, Perth Airport when the new

runway is opened.

They are designed to provide a

route that ensures aircraft safety and

the efficient use of airspace, while

ensuring equitable access for all

airspace users where practicable.

The main criteria when designing

flight corridors is the safe

separation of aircraft – safety

always takes precedence in airspace

management.

However, the impact of aircraft

noise exposure on the community

is a factor that is taken into

consideration as much as possible

during the design process.

Although they are often shown as a

single line on a map, in practice, flight

paths can vary by up to several

kilometres or more. The reason

for this can be due to weather

conditions, the requirement to keep

a safe distance between aircraft in

the sky, or aircraft performance.

Ideally, airlines would like aircraft

to fly by the most direct route

and at the optimum altitude for

reasons of economy and efficiency.

However, this is not always possible

as the route design must provide

separation between numerous flight

paths.

Around airports where the aircraft

are at low level, there may also

be rules to minimise the aircraft

noise impact to surrounding

residential areas (referred to as noise

abatement) that dictate procedures

that are agreed to reduce the impact

of aircraft noise to the community.

As previously mentioned, the actual

flight paths have not yet been

designed, rather the MDP presents

likely flight corridors. The final flight

path design will be undertaken by

Airservices Australia around three

years before the first flight.


Runway OperationsThe new runway will be located

parallel to the existing main runway.

Both ends of a runway can be used

for landing and take-off. The use of

a certain runway (or combination of

runways) is known as the operating

flow. Operating flows at Perth

Airport are either northerly or

southerly. The key considerations

when selecting the flow are safety,

wind and capacity.

The parallel runways will operate

‘independently.’ This means each

runway would cater for arrivals and

departures and operate separately

from each other.

Each flow has a capacity limit, which

is heavily dependent on the number

of aircraft arrivals and departures

each hour. Low cloud, rain and poor

visibility can reduce this capacity.

Noise-Abatement Procedures Managing the noise impact on the

surrounding community plays a

significant role during the runway

selection process.

The noise-abatement practices

and procedures implemented by

Airservices can provide noise relief

from arriving and departing aircraft.

However, the safety of aircraft still

remains the number one priority.

Possible options

Effective mitigation of aircraft noise

often requires a number of small,

incremental improvements that

cumulatively result in a noticeable

reduction in aircraft noise. There are

three basic options:

• 1. reduce noise emissions from

aircraft,

• 2. plan infrastructure, flight paths

and airport operating strategies to

achieve lower impact over noise-

sensitive areas, and

• 3. develop land-use planning to

ensure that future noise-sensitive

uses and developments are not

located in noise-affected areas.

Noise mitigation for the proposed

new runway

Aircraft noise-mitigation has been

considered during the various stages

of the new runway planning and the

MDP assessment process.

To reduce the impacts of aircraft

noise on new communities, a key

design principle has been to use

existing arrival and departure routes

where possible.

Airspace design at a large airport

such as Perth is complex, and safety

is paramount. Constraints increase

with the introduction of a new

runway, as additional procedures

must be developed and existing

ones modified to use the new and

existing runways. It can be difficult

to mitigate aircraft noise emissions

through airspace design, because

procedures are often dictated by

international standards to ensure

the safe operation of the airspace.

Nonetheless, as much as possible,

aircraft noise has been considered

in the airspace and proposed flight

corridor which has been developed

and assessed for the MDP.

It is expected that the preferred

noise abatement options will

be implemented whenever

operationally feasible. However,

there will be occasions when

weather and operational demands

dictate that other options are used.

Noise abatement procedures are

regularly reviewed and updated by

Airservices.

Other Airports and UsersPerth Airport is located 20

kilometres inland from the coast.

RAAF Base Pearce is 30 kilometres

north of Perth Airport, and Jandakot

Airport is 19 kilometres to the south.

Perth Airport’s proximity to these

airports and their operating

requirements have resulted in a

complex airspace arrangement in

the Perth Basin. This affects the use

and potential flight-path design for

the new runway.

To facilitate this mix of airports

and users, airspace around Perth

is a combination of controlled and

uncontrolled airspace (controlled

airspace protects passenger-

carrying aircraft by giving pilots

an air traffic control service; in

uncontrolled airspace, the pilot is

responsible for separation with other

aircraft).

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Draft Airspace Management PlanA draft Airspace Management Plan has been developed

for the safe and efficient operation of the parallel runway

system facilitated by the new runway. It outlines the

proposed airspace architecture and flight corridors

for Perth Airport once the new runway is operational.

The draft Airspace Management Plan is not a detailed

design, but rather provides a high level overview of how

the runways may operate. The air routes shown are

provided as indicative routes and flight corridors, and

the final flight path design may differ to cater for safety,

operational need and aircraft noise considerations.

However the final design must be consistent with the

approved MDP.

Proposed airspace changes

To facilitate the requirements for parallel runway

operations, it may be necessary to change controlled

airspace to the north and south of Perth Airport. This is

to maximise capacity at Perth Airport in all weather and

operating conditions.

The airspace change has been developed to minimise

the impact as far as practicable on other airspace users,

while ensuring flexible operational requirements at

Perth Airport. Any changes to controlled airspace are

subject to review and approval from the national aviation

regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Final design

Airservices is responsible for the final design and

publication of air routes and arrival and departure

procedures at Perth Airport.

The final airspace design generally commences three

years prior to the first flight on the new runway. It will

require engagement by Airservices supported by Perth

Airport. Prior to the final design, an agreed operational

plan will be developed by Airservices in consultation

with the Department of Defence.

Future developments, particularly to aircraft technology

and navigation systems, may also require changes to the

proposed airspace operations.

Increases in traffic levels may also affect aircraft

operations and procedures, and could result in changes

to the procedures used when the new runway becomes

operational; the MDP contains all the various approach

procedures that could be used.


Aircraft Noise AssessmentImpacts

• total aircraft noise over Perth will not increase over the

short term

• the distribution of aircraft noise will change

• some areas will have a reduced exposure to aircraft

noise, some will have an increased exposure to aircraft

noise, and some will be affected by noise events for

the first time

Explanation

The opening of the new runway requires new flight

paths for aircraft using the new runway, as well as

changed flight paths on the existing main runway to

accommodate parallel runway operations.

This will result in a reduction in the number of noise

events for some areas and an increase in noise events for

others. Some areas will also be exposed to noise events

for the first time.

Areas to the east and south/south-east of the airport are

the most likely to experience an increase in aircraft noise

events or be newly exposed to aircraft noise events.

Areas to the west and south-west are the most likely to

experience a decrease in aircraft noise events when the

new runway first opens.

Aircraft noise exposure is described using ‘number

above’ (or N-above) noise contours. The N-above

contours illustrate the average number of daily noise

events that exceed a certain sound level.

The N65 24-hour period contour map shows the

average number of events per day over 65 decibels for a

particular area.

A noise level of 65 decibels outside a building will generally result in an indoor noise level of approximately 55 decibels. This is the approximate sound level at which a normal conversation can generally be disturbed.

24-hour periodAt day of opening, it is expected that the number of

existing dwellings predicted to experience five or more

events above 65 decibels over an average daily 24-hour

period will decrease from approximately 83,600 to

78,000. Of these, approximately 27,500 dwellings will

average at least five fewer daily noise events, 25,600

dwellings are expected to experience an increase of five

or more daily noise events, and 24,800 dwellings will

not experience a change in average daily noise events.

It is predicted that nearly 8,200 dwellings will be newly

affected by aircraft noise.

By 2045, due to natural growth in aircraft movements

and the additional capacity provided by the new runway,

the number of dwellings exposed to 65-decibel noise

events will return to 82,600.


DaytimeWhen considering daytime noise (6 am to 7 pm) only,

the opening of the new runway is expected to result

in a reduction from approximately 69,300 to 68,000

dwellings that could experience five or more 65-decibel

noise events.

By 2045, due to growth in aircraft movements across

both runways, the number of dwellings exposed to

65-decibel daytime noise events will increase to 71,400.

EveningDuring the evening period (7 pm to 11 pm), with the

opening of the new runway there is an overall reduction

from 20,200 to 16,900 dwellings that may experience

five or more 65-decibel noise events.

By 2045, due to the growth in aircraft movements across

both runways, the number of dwellings exposed to

65-decibel evening noise events may increase to 24,300.

Night-time There may be a reduction from nearly 61,200 to 54,900

dwellings exposed to five or more 60 decibel noise

events during the night-time period (11pm to 6am) when

the new runway opens.

By 2045, this will increase to 86,400 exposed dwellings.

This growth is experienced across both runways.

Mitigation

Effective mitigation of aircraft noise often requires a

number of small incremental improvements to result in a

noticeable reduction in aircraft noise.

Perth Airport actively manages aircraft noise exposure

and its effect on the community. Strategies to minimise

aircraft noise exposure include:

• plan infrastructure, flight paths and airport operating

procedures to achieve lower impact over noise-

sensitive areas,

• appropriate land planning around airports through

State and Local government policy and decision

making, dating back to the early 1980s, to ensure that

future noise-sensitive uses are not located in noise

impacted areas,

• engagement with communities, and

• provision of clear and comprehensible information

about the likely aircraft noise exposure and the

amelioration measures that can reduce noise

penetration into homes.

It’s important to provide information to residents –

existing and potential – in areas likely to be affected by

noise. For current residents, they can better understand

the timing, frequency and loudness of noise events. For

future residents, they can evaluate whether or not to

move into the area.

To help with this, Perth Airport has developed an

interactive aircraft noise information portal,

perthairport.com.au/aircraftnoise.


Ground-Based NoiseImpacts

• noise from ground-based sources during construction

and operation of the new runway will be mostly within

the airport estate

• noise impact to surrounding communities is naturally

mitigated by distance

Explanation

Ground-based activities that create noise include

construction works, aircraft taxiing, engine ground

running, the use of auxiliary power units by parked

aircraft, and vehicle traffic in the area within, and

surrounding the Perth Airport estate.

The noise from ground-based sources is naturally

mitigated by the distance between operations on the

airport and the nearest ‘sensitive receivers’ (premises

used for purposes that are sensitive to noise, such as

aged care homes).

Engine ground running is an essential safety check

where an aircraft, following maintenance, tests the

engine prior to the next flight. At Perth Airport, ground

runs are undertaken under strict guidelines which

stipulate location, time of day and duration.

In areas west of the airport, the comparison of noise

levels with and without the new runway are within a few

decibels for the worst-affected sensitive receivers. This

change is marginally large enough for a sensitive human

ear to detect the difference.

To the east, the most sensitive receivers will experience an

increase in noise, though it will be well below the 75 dB

criterion set out in the Airports (Environment Protection)

Regulations and consistent with the background noise

level experienced in an average suburb.

Aircraft taxiing noise will impact on the areas adjoining

the eastern boundary of the estate. However, the noise

levels would be relatively low in comparison to other

noise associated with operation of the airport, such as

aircraft arrivals and departures.

Changed vehicle traffic volumes as a result of the

new runway will result in a noise level increase of less

than one decibel during peak hour, well below what is

detectable by the human ear.

Mitigation

Good airfield planning that limits taxiing distances is the

best way to minimise aircraft taxiing noise.

The Engine Ground Run Management Plan already

results in very few complaints that can be linked to the

running of aircraft engines while they are on the ground.



VOLUME A: BACKGROUND AND NEED SECTIONS 1-7MAY 2018

New Runway Project

Perth Airport Pty LtdLevel 2, 2 George Wiencke Drive, Perth, WA 6105PO Box 6, Cloverdale, WA 6985Tel: +61 8 9478 8888 Fax: +61 8 9478 8889www.perthairport.com.au

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VOLUME B: ENVIRONMENT, HERITAGE AND TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT SECTIONS 8-18MAY 2018

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VOLUME C: AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT PLAN SECTIONS 19-26MAY 2018

New Runway Project

Where can I find out more?There are a number of ways for you to find out more about the

New Runway Project.

Public information exposVisit newrunway.com.au to find out when a public information

expo is happening in your area.

Perth Airport Experience CentreExplore the new Airport Experience Centre to discover more

information about the New Runway Project, how Perth Airport

operates, view flight path simulations and talk to Perth Airport staff.

Visit newrunway.com.au for the location and opening times.

Major Development PlanThe Major Development Plan can be downloaded at

newrunway.com.au

Further informationFor more detailed information on the new runway project and to

download copies of fact sheets, visit newrunway.com.au

Aircraft Noise Information PortalFor information on the impact of aircraft noise and flight paths,

visit perthairport.com.au/aircraftnoise

This interactive web-based portal allows you to investigate current

and potential noise exposure for a specific property or area and

print a report.

To make an enquiry or provide feedbackE: [email protected]

T: public information line 1800 639 799


Major Development Plan Table of Contents

Section Description Scope

Executive Summary

Volume A: Background and Need

01 Introduction

Volume A sets the scene for the project.

It describes the background and

need for the new runway, alternative

options that have been considered, as

well as provides a description of the

NRP and how it will be constructed.

02 Need for additional capacity

03 Options and alternatives

04 Benefits of additional runway capacity

05 Consistency with State and Local government planning

06 Project description and construction

07 Community engagement

Volume B: Environment, Heritage and Traffic Assessment

08 Introduction to environment, heritage and traffic assessment

Volume B describes the initial

conditions, impacts and mitigation

strategies associated with the

on-ground construction and operation

activities of the NRP. It also provides

details for environment, heritage and

traffic management for the project.

09 Geology and soils

10 Hydrology

11 Flora and vegetation

12 Fauna

13 Ground-based noise

14 Air quality and greenhouse gas (ground)

15 Landscape and visual

16 Heritage

17 Environment and heritage management

18 Ground transport

Volume C: Airspace Management Plan

19 Airspace management plan introduction

Volume C outlines the plan for

airspace management. It also

describes the impacts and mitigation

strategies proposed as a result of

the operation of the new runway.

20 Background and existing airspace management

21 Airspace management plan

22 Aircraft noise

23 Air quality and greenhouse gas (air based)

24 Health

25 Social

26 Hazards and risks to airport operations

Source: Perth Airport


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