[NickN]

From todays Daily Telegraph....

By Brad Watts

April 04, 2008 12:00am

SYDNEY Airport's east-west runway will close despite a public consultation and thunderous opposition over the major development, the Federal Government has warned.

Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese told The Daily Telegraph he expected the proposed safety upgrade to proceed despite deafening community concern over the runway closure, resulting in more than 70 per cent more flights over the inner west and North Shore.

The public is asked to comment on the draft plan, which will cause disruptions until mid-2010 - a year longer than planned - due to the $85 million safety work at the Cooks River end of the east-west runway.

Mr Albanese baulked at suggestions to keep the runway open and the safety extension work to be completed between 11pm and 6am.

Mr Albanese slammed the idea, saying, "It's a recipe for a permanent end to the noise-sharing arrangement."

"Every engineering expert who has looked at it says that's not possible," he said. "I (also) want disruption minimised."

Last February, Mr Albanese gave an iron-clad guarantee the curfew would remain, but angry residents say the latest runway closure will eat away noise-free periods and give homes on the northside 17 hours of noise a day.

No Aircraft Noise president Allan Rees called Mr Albanese's attitude to residents appalling.

Sydney airport did not respond to specific questions, however a spokeswoman said management will carefully consider all submissions received and submit them to Mr Albanese.