[Greens-Media] No second airport - time to relocate outside Sydney basin

[Lee Rhiannon]

Media Release 
2 December 2008


No second airport - time to relocate outside Sydney basin


Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon today called on the NSW and federal governments to investigate sites for a relocation of Kingsford Smith Airport outside the Sydney basin. (Daily Telegraph, 2 December 2008, page 3)

"Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese should ensure airport plans considered by his White Paper work on a relocation of Sydney's airport not a duplication," Ms Rhiannon said.

"This is an opportunity to address the excessive problems of noise and air pollution and crash risk posed by the increasing numbers of aircraft flying over Sydney suburbs.

"Premier Nathan Rees needs to be lobbying his federal colleagues to ensure this latest round of airport planning brings relief to the people Sydney's airport suburbs. 

"This is an issue of public safety. Any air accident around Sydney airport would result in massive loss of life. 

"An airport outside of the Sydney basin linked by a very fast train to the major centres should be the centre piece of the NSW and federal governments' air travel planning. 

"A second airport would obviously result in more air travel. In this era of climate change and peak oil the NSW and federal governments should develop responsible travel policies that promote rail services, rather than expand air trips 

"Decisions about Sydney airport have been driven for too long by short-term political thinking.

"The NSW and federal governments should have the vision to go for the real long-term solution of building a replacement airport outside the Sydney Basin connected to Sydney by a fast train," Ms Rhiannon said.


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