Airport Planning & Regulation

Airport Planning
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, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, 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, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government 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 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 and environmental management

Certain leased federal airports are subject to further regulations (click on the link for further information):

• 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 Notice Regime (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.

• Frequently Asked Questions - Airport Environment Officer
• Airport Environment Officer & Airport Building Controller Contact List

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.

• Frequently Asked Questions - Airport Building Controller
• Airport Environment Officer & Airport Building Controller Contact List

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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 Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 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

A copy of the updated Legislation and Regulations can be found at www.comlaw.gov.au

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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 the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Sydney Airport Community Forum (SACF)

Overseas
International Civil Aviation Organization (United Nations)

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