Mr Bevis asked the Minister for Transport and Regional Development, upon notice, on 8 April 1998:

(1) Do proposed flight paths exist in conjunction with the draft Brisbane Airport master plan released in March 1998: if so, (a) why were they not released with the draft master plan and (b) will he ensure they are released immediately.

(2) What action will be taken to ensure that the effects of noise generated by increased air traffic over Brisbane and the number of residents affected are minimised.

Mr Vaile (Transport and Regional Development) —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) The master plan process exposes the community to the airport owner's vision for the possible future development of the airport. It does not provide approval, or imply that approval will be given, for any major projects such as new runways. Master plans have previously been released for Brisbane Airport in 1983, 1991 and 1995. None of these previous master plans have included flight paths for the proposed parallel runway. (a) The timing of the release of flight paths is primarily a matter for the airport owner. (b) Flight paths will be an important part of the environmental impact statement that will be required as part of any Major Development Plan such as a new runway, if that development were to be proposed in several years time. The Airports Act process does not allow a runway to be constructed until flight paths and all other environmental impacts are fully known to the community through an environmental impact statement process.

(2) Brisbane Airport Corporation Limited (BACL) has provided information to the community which gives its commitment to minimising noise impacts on the community wherever and whenever practicable, in consultation with other stakeholders. The Corporation indicates that managing aircraft impacts to acceptable levels is a matter for the airlines, Airservices Australia, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the Corporation itself, and land use planning authorities such as Brisbane City Council and State government agencies. Importantly, under the Airports Act 1996, any Major Development Plan for constructing a new runway or extending the length of a runway is required to set out the airport owner's plans for managing aircraft noise intrusion, developed in consultations with the airlines, local government bodies in the vicinity of the airport, and the local community.