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Airport Planning & Regulation
Airport Planning
Airport Master Plans
Community Aviation Consultation Groups and Planning Coordination Forums
Community Impact Guide
Airport Regulation
Relevant Legislation and Regulations
Noise enquiries and complaints
Links
Airport Planning
All leased federal airports (except for Tennant Creek and Mount Isa) are subject to a planning framework in the Airports Act 1996 (the Airports Act). As part of the planning framework, airports are required to prepare the following:
- Master Plan: This is a 20 year strategic vision for the airport site which is renewed every five years. The Master Plan includes future land uses, types of permitted development, and noise and environmental impacts.
- Airport Environment Strategy: This sets out the airport's strategy to manage environmental issues within a 5 year period and beyond. It is the basis on which the Commonwealth measures the environmental performance of airports and the document by which airport tenants will determine their environmental responsibilities.
In developing their Master Plans and Airport Environment Strategies, airports must publish a Preliminary Draft Master Plan and a Preliminary Draft Airport Environment Strategy and invite public comment. A copy of the ‘Airport Development Consultation Guidelines'
[
PDF: 76 KB] is available for download.
Following the public consultation, the airport must then submit a Draft Master Plan and Draft Airport Environment Strategy to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, for a decision. The Minister must either approve or refuse to approve the Draft Master Plan or Draft Airport Environment Strategy. If the Minister neither approves nor refuses to approve the Draft Master Plan or Draft Airport Environment Strategy within 50 business days from receiving all the necessary documents and information, the Minister is taken to have approved the Draft Master Plan or Draft Airport Environment Strategy.
In addition, all leased federal airports (except for Tennant Creek and Mount Isa Airports) are required to develop a Major Development Plan for major airport developments on the airport site. A draft version of the Major Development Plan must undergo public consultation before being submitted to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport for a decision.
In the National Aviation Policy White Paper released in December 2009, the Government announced several reforms to the airport planning framework. More information on the Government's reforms to the airport planning framework is available in Chapter 9 of the National Aviation Policy White Paper.
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Airport Master Plans
In December 2010 amendments to the Airports Act 1996 that were foreshadowed in the December 2009 National Aviation White Paper came into force. These amendments strengthen the requirements of airport master plans.
The Government has produced a guide
[PDF: 376 KB] to assist airport lessee companies to understand and comply with the new requirements of the Airports Act 1996 for Master Plans. The guidelines outline the objectives of the master plan amendments and explain how the changes to airport master planning complement other airport planning initiatives and legislative requirements stemming from the National Aviation Policy White Paper.
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Community Aviation Consultation Groups and Planning Coordination Forums
The Aviation White Paper included several initiatives relating to planning and development at the leased federal airports. Among these initiatives was a requirement for leased federal airports to establish Community Aviation Consultation Groups and Planning Coordination Forums. Guidelines for Community Aviation Consultation Groups
[PDF: 297 KB] and Planning Coordination Forums
[PDF: 289 KB] are now available.
The Government expects leased federal airports to establish Community Aviation Consultation Groups to provide for effective consultation with members of the community. These Groups are to be independently chaired and should engage broad community representation. While they are not decision making bodies, Community Aviation Consultation Groups will provide for effective and open discussion of airport operations and their impacts on nearby communities. The activities of the Groups will complement other planning measures announced in the White Paper, including a new requirement for airports to seek public comment on a Major Development Plan for any development likely to have a significant community impact.
Major capital city airports are also required to establish Planning Coordination Forums. The purpose of Planning Coordination Forums is to support a strategic dialogue between the airport operators and senior local, state and federal government authorities responsible for town planning and infrastructure investment. Effective discussions in Planning Coordination Forums will support better integration of planning for the airport and for the surrounding urban and regional community.
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Community Impact Guide
The Commonwealth Airports Amendment Act 2010 (the Act) commenced operation on 18 December 2010. The Act includes a new Major Development Plan ‘trigger' that is activated by any development on leased federal airport land that is likely to have a significant impact on the local or regional community, regardless of size or cost (the ‘community impact trigger').
In the Aviation White Paper the Government indicated that this community impact trigger would be supported by a guidance document. The guide is now available
[PDF: 224 KB]. The purpose of this document is to provide greater detail on development factors that may require the consultation and scrutiny of a Major Development Plan process as a result of the new community impact trigger.
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Airport Regulation
All leased federal airports are subject to the following regulations:
- Airport lease requirements which subjects leased federal airports to rules and procedures regarding their leases with the Commonwealth. Provisions relating to airport leases are located within Part 2, Divisions 2–8 of the Airports Act 1996.
- Restrictions on Ownership and Control of airport infrastructure
- The Protection of Airspace around airports
- Building Control
- Environmental Management
Certain leased federal airports are subject to further regulations:
- Economic Regulation which includes reporting on the prices charged for aeronautical services and facilities, financial statements and quality of service information (Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth Airports)
- The Parking Infringement Notices Scheme (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Townsville Airports)
- Administration of the Liquor Licensing Regime (Sydney, Bankstown and Camden Airports)
- The Slot Management scheme (Sydney Airport)
- Curfews (Adelaide, Sydney, Gold Coast and Essendon Airports)
Airport Management Agreements
Airport Management Agreements (AMAs) allow airport-lessee companies to enter into agreements with qualified companies who are in a position to exercise control over substantial parts of airport land. Further information is available in section 33 of the Airports Act 1996. The Department is giving close consideration to submissions for large subleasing arrangements. It is likely these arrangements will not be considered acceptable in the future. Subleases to a trustee of a trust require appropriate approval.
Environment Management at Airports
The Commonwealth has an integrated regime to protect the environment at leased federal airports. Airport operators are required to implement their Airport Environment Strategy. While the airport operator has the main responsibility of protecting the environment, everyone operating or working at an airport needs to be aware of their environmental obligations. The Department oversees this through Airport Environment Officers (AEO). They are responsible for the day to day oversight of the operation of the Airport (Environment Protection) Regulations.
Building Control at Airports
Building and construction activities at leased federal airports must be approved by the Airport Building Controller (ABC). The ABC is appointed under Commonwealth law to administer the airport building control regime. The Airport Lessee Company must also approve the activity from a planning and airport operational perspective.
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Relevant Legislation and Regulations
The following Legislation and Regulations are relevant to the planning and regulation of leased federal airports:
- Airports Act 1996
- Airports Regulations 1997
- Airports (Building Control) Regulations 1996
- Airports (Control of On-Airport Activities) Regulations 1997
- Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 1997
- Airports (Ownership Interests in Shares) Regulations 1996
- Airports (Protection of Airspace) Regulations 1996
- Sydney Airport Demand Management Act 1997
- Sydney Airport Demand Management Regulations 1998
Environment
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities is responsible for administering this piece of legislation)
The following Legislation and Regulations are relevant to airport curfews:
- Adelaide Airport Curfew Act 2000
- Sydney Airport Curfew Act 1995
- Sydney Airport Curfew Regulations 1995
- Air Navigation (Coolangatta Airport Curfew) Regulations 1999
- Air Navigation (Essendon Airport) Regulations 2001
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Noise Enquiries and Complaints
Airservices Australia handles aircraft noise enquiries on dedicated phone lines:
DIAL: 1300 302 240 (cost of local call from anywhere in Australia)
Links to Airport Environment, Safety, and Planning Sites
Australia
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Airservices Australia
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Sydney Airport Community Forum (SACF)
International Civil Aviation Organization (United Nations)
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