WILLIAMTOWN CONSULTATIVE FORUM (WCF)
21 NOVEMBER 2014
1305 – 1415 hrs
(1.05pm – 2.15pm)
NEWCASTLE AIRPORT BOARD ROOM
FIRST FLOOR NEWCASTLE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING
WILLIAMTOWN DRIVE, WILLIAMTOWN
DRAFT MINUTES
Apologies received prior to the meeting
Sharon Claydon, MP Federal Member for Newcastle
Bob Baldwin, MP Federal Member for Paterson
Tim Crakanthorp, MP (NSW) Member for Newcastle
Cr Bruce MacKenzie, Mayor of Port Stephens
Glen Cousins, Director Corporate Services, Newcastle City Council
Roger Stephan, Chief Executive Officer, Hunter Region of Councils
GPCAPT Michael Brown, Director Service Support JSF Division – Defence
Tony Farrell, Director Estate Planning ACT/NSW - Defence
Attendees
A list of Attendees is provided at Attachment A.
Item 1. Welcome and Apologies
Mr Greg Divall, Head Infrastructure, Department of Defence (Defence) and Chair of the Williamtown Consultative Forum (WCF) commenced the meeting at 1.05pm by acknowledging the Worimi people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and paying respect to their elders past and present. He then welcomed the people attending the meeting and read the list of apologies from WCF members that had been received prior to the meeting. Cr Tucker attended the meeting in place of Mayor Bruce MacKenzie.
Mr Divall introduced himself and explained that he was the new Head Infrastructure and provided a brief overview of his professional career prior to taking up the position of Head Infrastructure.
Mr Craig Baumann advised that the reference to Mr Tim Crakanthorp, the new NSW Member for Newcastle, as the ‘Hon’ was incorrect and he should only be referred to as MP. This was noted for future reference.
Item 2. Adoption of Minutes of 11 April 2014
The meeting was informed that a copy of the minutes from the last meeting of the WCF, held on 11 April 2014, had been distributed to all members of the WCF along with the invitation to the meeting and that they were also published on the WCF Website.
The minutes from the 11 April 2014 WCF meeting were adopted without change.
Item 3. Update on Williamtown Advisory Group (WAG)
AIRCDRE Anthony (Tony) Grady provided an update on the meetings of Williamtown Advisory Group (WAG) which had been held since the last WCF meeting. There was a meeting of the group on 2 July 2014 and the 20 November 2014.
As there were a number of new WCF members Tony provided an overview of the purpose of the WAG which was set up by RAAF Base Williamtown. It has now been meeting for approximately 2 ½ years. Tony also advised that there is another community group, the ‘Salt Ash’ group which is more focused on issues related to the aircraft noise generated through the use of Salt Ash Air Weapons Range. The two groups focus on different issues.
Tony also advised that noise abatement procedures for civil aircraft have now been put in place and they had been in operation over the last month and a half. The procedure had been put in place after liaising with civil operators. The civil procedures almost mirror Defence procedures. There had been no complaints received from the community to date.
Another issue raised was the signage around the Williamtown area which advises people of ‘Low Flying Aircraft’. The existing signage does not include any reference to the area being subject to aircraft noise. The importance of making people aware of aircraft noise, particularly new residents and people considering moving into the residential areas affected by aircraft noise was discussed. It was agreed that it was an issue that needs further consideration. It was suggested that someone from Defence should liaise with Port Stephens Council regarding the possibility of erecting new signage.
Helen Horn advised that the existing signs are owned by Defence and are located on road reserves. The installation of the signs was a requirement of a previous Environmental Impact Study (EIS).
The lack of signage in the Tilligery Peninsula area is of particular concern.
Tony advised that the ‘fly neighbourly’ process is continuing. Defence now has a significant amount of noise monitoring data available to the public from the Noise & Flight Path Monitoring System (NFPMS). The quality of information available is better that when the system started 3 years ago. The public can access the information from the RAAF web site.
Simon Ryan (Bob Baldwin’s representative) indicated that Mr Baldwin’s office had received positive feed back, but there had been some complaints from the public about civil aircraft movements in the Brandy Hill area.
Tony advised that the noise abatement procedures had aircraft flying up the centre of the Dam and that civil aircraft will arrive and depart over the sea.
Peter Marler acknowledged the work that had been done by the RAAF and Defence.
Item 4. Update from Defence’s New Air Combat Capability (NACC) Project Team
AIRCDRE Anthony (Tony) Grady spoke on behalf of the NACC project team and presented the NACC project team’s power-point presentation (refer attached copy of presentation).
The NACC project is now beyond the 2nd pass approval process stage and the Government has committed to the purchase of 72 F-35A ‘Lightning 11’ aircraft. Australia’s first F-35A aircraft has been delivered and is flying in the USA. Australian pilots are in the USA training in the aircraft.
Construction for the project at RAAF Base Williamtown is about to commence. NACC project contractors have commenced preliminary work on the base, with the main construction work due to commence in 2015.
Stage 2 of the RAAF Base Williamtown redevelopment is still subject to Government approval.
Defence is required to address the traffic management issues associated with the construction traffic entering the base, particularly on Medowie Road.
At this stage eight F-35A aircraft are due to arrive at Williamtown in December 2018.
The community consultation undertaken for RAAF Base Williamtown was well attended, with 53 submissions received. A large number of issues were raised in the submissions.
There is still misunderstanding in the community about how noisy the F35J is. It is only noisier while on the ground. It is about the same as other military fighter aircraft based at RAAF Williamtown whilst in flight.
Simon Ryan asked will the F-35A use the Salt Ash Air Weapons Range (SAAWR).
Tony advised that the F-35A will be using SAAWR, but actual use is not finalized as yet. Australia will use the F-35A differently to other countries. The level of operations can not be detailed at this point. Gun strafing will not be priority operations.
The EIS supplementary report is still being finalised. It should be completed about mid December. The time lines for the Commonwealth Department of Environment to finalise the process are not known.
There appears to be an element of mistrust in the community about the way the environmental issues will be addressed.
Tony Grady advised that any questions about the process should be directed to Group Captain Mick Brown in the NACC Project team.
Paul Hughes asked about the outcomes of the Public Works Committee (PWC).
Jacki Payne read out the PWC conditions.
The four recommendations made by the PWC are;
1. The Committee recommends that Defence continues to work with Hunter Water Corporation to ensure water quality is not compromised throughout and beyond the project.
2. The Committee recommends that Defence undertakes the appropriate traffic studies and provides then to the Committee, and that construction traffic is suitably managed.
3. The Committee recommends that Defence continues to consult with local communities and interested parties, where possible, to implement measure to mitigate noise impacts.
4. The Committee recommends that the House of Representatives resolve, pursuant to Section 18 (7) of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, that it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work: AIR 6000 Phase 2A/B New Air Combat Capability Facilities Project.
Paul Hugh talked about Newcastle Airport’s submission to the PWC highlighting that the two major issues were the taxi-way extension requirements related to the runway extension and the future of sewer treatment plant land.
Item 5. RAAF Update on RAAF Base Williamtown matters
(Note this item was dealt with after Item 9 Newcastle Airport (NAPL) update.)
Item 6. Port Stephens Council update.
Peter Marler (representing Mr Tim Cross, Manager Strategy & Environment, Port Stephens Council) advised the WCF that Council has prepared of a new (draft) Development Control Plan (DCP) which includes provisions related to RAAF Base Williamtown & Aircraft Noise. The draft DCP is due to go on public exhibition in January 2015.
New provisions include a requirement to notify Defence of all new residential development in noise affected areas. Also includes a requirement to notify Defence of all developments which exceed the heights identified in the heights control map supplied to Council by Defence.
Section 149 (Planning Certificates) identify properties affected by aircraft noise (as identified in the DCP Aircraft Noise Planning Map) and the need to comply with AS2021. Some of the community only want information about land affected by air craft noise and not notifications on 149 certificates as this is considered to devalue their properties.
Tony Grady raised the issue of being able to identify houses that are at potential risk in the future if ANEF contour map boundaries change.
Craig Baumann talked about the NSW (Section 117 Directions under the Environmental Planning & Assessment (EP&A) Act and Canberra’s (Commonwealth) controls on development near airports. He also made reference to the new clauses in the Port Stephens Local Environmental Plan (LEP) designed to protect the flying operations at Williamtown.
Wayne Wallis, General Manager of Port Stephens Council, mentioned that there were about 1,100 parcels of land affected by the ANEF 20 to 25 contour in the Port Stephens local government area.
Wayne also mentioned recent conversations between Council representatives and Ms Loraine Holcroft, A/Assistant Secretary Property Management, Infrastructure Division, Department of Defence and a letter from the Minister in which matters associated with Council’s decisions in relation to applications for residential development located within the ANEF contours were raised.
Steve Tucker (Port Stephens Councillor, representing the Mayor) mentioned the issues of the residential subdivision on Richardson Road, highlighting the fact that the land was already zoned for residential purposes and therefore it is difficult to say no to an application for a residential subdivision. Future development within the subdivision will need noise attenuation.
Tony Grady expressed concern that Council does not get the noise complaints. By allowing additional housing within this area it increases the potential for future issues about the properties being affected by aircraft noise.
Jeff Bretag, Strategic Planner, Port Stephens Council provided an overview of the progress of the Williamtown Land Use Strategy. The background to Council’s decision to undertake the preparation of the strategy was the development pressure within the vicinity of the Newcastle airport/RAAF Base Williamtown, such as the McDonalds development.
The economic analysis work and land use constraints/capability investigation undertaken in as part of the development of the strategy have been completed. Indications at this stage are that the land on the corner of Cabbage Tree and Nelson Bay Roads may be the most suitable for development. Consultants have been engaged to develop a draft strategy. The draft strategy will be presented to the project control group in December 2014.
There was some discussion about the tourist development on Nelson Bay Road that was approved under the old LEP. This type of development is not allowed under the current LEP provisions.
Craig Baumann expressed concern about using the land around the airport for warehousing. He also expressed his concern about in appropriate use of land near the airport.
Jeff Bretag and Peter Marler stated that concern about these types of land use within the vicinity of the airport is why the land use strategy is being prepared.
Jeff Bretag advised that the loophole allowing tourist type development within the area under the old LEP had been closed with the commencement of the new LEP (2013).
Wayne Wallis advised that the Williamtown Aerospace project had won an award (presented in Darwin) for a partnership project.
Cr Tucker Raised the issue of roadwork on Medowie Road, near the new northern entry to the base.
Tony Grady referred to the south eastern runway extension advising that this did not require any change to the Medowie Road alignment. He also took the issue of the roadwork on Medowie Road near the northern base entry on notice and will get the project team to liaise with Council.
Item 7. Newcastle City Council update.
There were no representatives from Newcastle City Council in attendance to provide an update from Newcastle City Council.
Item 8. NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet update.
Bill Tatnell, Senior Regional Coordinator, NSW Dept of Premier & Cabinet advised that the NSW Government had made a submission to the Defence White Paper. The submission suggests that the White Paper examine the benefits of establishing and Asia-Pacific general repair and maintenance hub in Australia to service the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). A regional repair and maintenance hub bases in NSW would showcase Australian high end technology skills to the region and generate export revenue for Australian businesses.
The submission also advised that the current Defence and NSW Government Consultative Forum, co-chaired by the NSW Dept of Premier & Cabinet, would be an excellent vehicle for more strategic discussion on issues affecting both Defence and NSW, as well as, addressing policy challenges to mutual benefit.
At the local level NSW Trade and Investment (Dept) are working with Lend Lease to ensure that local businesses get an opportunity to work on Defence projects.
NSW Government funding has helped a Hunter company ‘Bohemia Interactive Simulations’ relocate into the Williamtown Aerospace Centre. The company provides simulation technologies to a wide range of military organisations around the world.
There has been a meeting with Telstra regarding the upgrading of telecommunications facilities around the Williamtown area.
Bill also advised that there was no firm timeframe around the release of the Regional Growth Plan for the Lower Hunter. The plan is scheduled to be finalized in 2015.