[Greens-Media] Minister, protect our sleep too!

[Burmester, Tom]

Shane Rattenbury MLA
ACT Greens
 
28th August 2009				

Minister, protect our sleep too!

Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury is calling on the Federal Airports Minister Anthony Albanese to announce a curfew today when he makes a decision on the Canberra Airport Draft Master Plan.

"The question is will Minister Albanese move to protect Canberrans' sleep and health by putting a curfew in place or will he ditch the proposal for the 24 hour freight hub?" said Mr Rattenbury.

"It's a simple thing. Canberra Airport should have a curfew much the same as Sydney airport does, to ensure all Canberra and Jerrabomberra residents a good night's sleep and good health. If no curfew is announced, plans for a 24 hour freight hub should be thrown out." 

"Minister Albanese would want nothing less for the people in his own constituency of Marrickville in Sydney, why would he consider it acceptable to foist overflow aircraft traffic onto Canberra."

"Currently international freight flights have restricted access into Sydney because of their curfew, but there would be no such restrictions if freight operators were to use Canberra." 

"Freight operators would be gleeful at the curfew-free airport in Canberra. The Master Plan is a licence to go forth and develop - more trucks, an expansion of freight handling depots at the airport and potentially up the Majura Valley, more flights in and out of Canberra at night, and no one setting limits on when enough is enough."

"A curfew would provide certainty to the freight sector about what is acceptable at Canberra Airport. Clearly industry can operate within the parameters of a curfew - just look at Sydney," said Mr Rattenbury.

Media Contact: Tom Burmester - 0423 657 561 
  
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