Blue Mountains News

The federal government revealed the flight paths in a 4 June announcement, but it indicated minimal changes to the draft flight paths already shown in the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in November 2024.

“No matter how you spin it, these minimally changed flight paths are disappointing news for the Blue Mountains,” Cr Greenhill said. “These authorised flight paths are a poor result for the Blue Mountains environment and its residents.

“Despite measures to reduce noise, these only apply at night and only during certain weather conditions. The airport does not have a curfew and is still proposed to be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“And so we remain gravely concerned that these night-time measures are minimal gestures that will do little to protect our community from excessive noise for almost 18 hours a day – from 5.30am to 11pm – every day of the week.

“The scant changes mean that our community’s previous concerns remain. It is simply not good enough for a World Heritage listed area to be subject to this level of noise pollution.

“I also want to see the people of the Blue Mountains afforded the same protections as the people of inner Sydney.

“The whole thing shows a disregard for our status as a UNESCO World Heritage region and  I am worried it might threaten that listing.

“To say I am disappointed by these flight paths is an understatement. I thank the Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman, who continues to do her best to persuade policymakers to see sense. 

“The Council I lead will continue to fight this very real threat to our pristine environment and the most visited national park in NSW.”

Council’s previous lists of concerns regarding the flight paths at WSIA include:

• Environmental impacts
• High visual impact to iconic landscapes such as the Three Sisters
• Threat to Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and land-sky connection
• Impacts on residents including noise
• Lack of wilderness area assessment
• Threat to the Blue Mountains local economy and tourism,
• Threats to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and
• Inadequate notification of the proposal to UNESCO.

Council will continue to assess the full impacts of the flight paths authorised on 4 June and will provide a further response when that assessment is complete.

To view the flight paths click: here