Whilst you're correct, Zac is too. It's all well and good to say terminals are located in accordance with ICAO and CASA guidelines, but take a look at the FR24 track of today's accident aircraft and you would find that the same situation occurring:
* on SYD's RWY07, would have the aircraft in T2;
* on DRW's RWY11, would have the aircraft in or very close to the terminal;
* on MEL's RWY16, would have the aircraft in the international terminal;
* on ADL's RWY05, would have the aircraft in or close to the terminal, etc.

Albury Airport has quit a bit of development to its west, a couple of houses to the east appox. 2km from the end of the runway but development is slowly growing out that way. You've also got Moorabbin and Bankstown Airports that also have quite a bit of development around them

The biggest problem is the fact that Government have allowed housing and commercial developments to get so close to an airport that has been around far longer.

Talking to a colleague whom flies out of YMMB. He notices turbulence when an easterly blows across from the Costco buildings to the east. Now there is a new building to the west of the 35L/R threshold many are worried about the same when westerly winds are in play.

I would have to agree with Mark on this one Zac. The airport boundary and DFO are basically on top of each other and if you have been to the Avalon airshow on the Runway edge behind the line, it's pretty much the same. The Gable runway Markers are few meters away from the fence lines near the DFO.

The government doesn't just allow building companies to do as they please though...surely to god there would have been all sorts of risk assessments done in the planning stages of the development, I dont see how a government planning authority would allow a development to go ahead if it posed a threat to the safety of the airport, so in my mind clearly this was deemed a safe design before it went ahead, otherwise why is it there?

Really really don't care about arguing with you just letting you some facts and backing up what Mark posted before, as for the safety, design and rules thats the governments problem in which they said will be apart of the investigation regarding the DFO location.

Governments and people make mistakes all the time and frankly I've been waiting for an aircraft to run off the runway into the DFO since it was put there.

Actually it would have hit the DHL facility in Syd, but that's besides the point, terminals are necessary, shops are not, why increase the risk of more deaths by putting bodies in a facility that does not have to be there.

It's naive to think just because it's got government approval it's Ok, especially when you look at what planning approvals are needed post deregulation of federal airports. Not saying we need to go back to the days of the FAC, but in my books being conservative vs being greedy is a no brainer.

Having only flown in and out of Essendon once, is this the DFO outlet that was hit?.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7286/1...fa75e02f_b.jpgAirnostalgiaDC3-VH-TMQ-50 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Yes, somewhere in the vicinity of the JB Hi-Fi sign.

ATSB expect a prelim report in 28days.