NEARLY 10,000 homes will be newly affected by night time aircraft noise when Perth Airport’s third runway comes online according to proposed flight corridors currently out for public comment.
Mapping shows suburbs to the east and south/south-east of the airport are the most likely to be newly exposed or experience an increase in aircraft noise.
Amongst the hardest hit are parts of Forrestfield, High Wycombe, South Guildford and Wattle Grove, which could experience up to 200 extra noise events each day.
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READ NOWOther suburbs likely to face an increase in noise events include parts of Swan View, Greenmount, Darlington, Glen Forrest, Helena Valley, Canning Vale, Thornlie, Guildford, Caversham and West Swan.
Areas to the west and south-west are the most likely to experience a decrease in aircraft noise including parts of Queens Park, Cannington, Lathlain, Belmont.
Hills resident Bree Donaldson said the changes would ruin the quiet lifestyle sought by many residents.
“Last year my husband and I built our first home in Darlington because we wanted a peaceful, natural, outdoors life for our young family,” she said.
“When I received the flight path information letter from Perth Airport last week I almost tossed it in the bin because it looked like junk mail.
“If I hadn’t opened it I would have been totally unaware of the potential impact on our suburb.
“I’m scared this issue is going to go unnoticed and call on everyone who is possibly impacted to make their objection heard loud and clear, to stop our community being ruined by aircraft noise.”
A Perth Airport spokeswoman said they were working on maintaining as many of the current flight paths as possible to minimise new over fly areas.
“Actual flight paths have not been determined, however a draft Airspace Management plan has been developed which outlines proposed flight corridors for Perth Airport once the new runway is operational,” she said.
“New flight paths will be developed and will change the distribution of aircraft noise around the Perth area – some will have new or more noise and some will have less.
“We have written to more than 300,000 residents who live in areas surrounding the airport or in suburbs under flight corridors, our team have been out about in shopping centres, local council venues, community events and we have opened a new Airport Experience Centre.
“We want the community to understand what these changes mean and how they can voice their opinions.”
Mrs Donaldson said it was difficult to find and interpret information on Perth Airport’s website.
“Trying to find relevant information is tricky and seems to be contradictory,” she said.
“What residents want to know is why they are proposing to fly aircraft over their suburb, the predicted number of aircraft movements each day, noise levels and flight height so they can respond to this proposal and object if they wish.
“I have so many questions and I was told by staff at the New Runway Information Booth at Swan View Shopping Centre that I had to go to the airport to get more information – which for a mother of three is quite a challenge.”
The new runway is due to become operational between 2023 and 2028. The final flight path design will start approximately three years out from the day of opening of the new runway.
The 60-working day community consultation period ends August 24.