Sydney runway to remain open during safety upgrade

[Justin L]

Disclaimer: I tried several search options and couldn't find the old thread regarding YSSY's east-west runway upgrade. The news may be hidden in a thread with an unassuming title. Please feel free to merge this thread with an existing one if required or to reply with the thread.

Anyway, the east-west runway at YSSY will remain open throughout the upgrade now.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/news/runw...307204970.html

Sydney runway to remain open during safety upgrade
August 15, 2008 - 2:55PM

Sydney Airport's east-west runway will remain open during coming safety upgrades, with the city's east and inner-west sharing the extra plane pain.

Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese says reversing the decision to close the runway during the works will increase normal noise levels for residents in the city's east.

Under the former coalition government, the plan had been to close the east-west runway during the works, now scheduled to begin in October.

Mr Albanese said it was now possible to keep the runway open thanks to a jet blaster barrier placed across the western end of the runway to protect the worksite.

Closure of the runway's western end will mean total noise relief for residents west of the airport - in suburbs such as Bexley, Arncliffe and Rockdale.

However, for those living to the north of the airport, in Sydney's inner west, extra plane noise as a result of the works was unavoidable, Mr Albanese said.

But he said "introducing a noise sharing mode" and increasing the number of planes taking off over Sydney's east would help ease the extra aggravation to the north, weather permitting.

"Keeping the eastern end of the runway open for take-offs will ensure that residents in the north, north-west and south of the airport do not bear the full burden of aircraft noise during construction," he told reporters in Sydney today.

The plan means residents in Sydney's east, in areas such as Randwick, Waverley and Coogee, will have 20 extra planes taking off overhead daily - 15 per cent more than current levels.

The new plan will also see all airplanes land from the south, thereby crossing over Botany Bay.

The works, expected to cost Sydney Airport Cooperation $80-$100 million, are needed to meet latest national and international safety standards.

Mr Albanese said he expected Sydney residents to be understanding.

"I believe that people in the Sydney community are tolerant, (but) there is a limit to their tolerance, and they expect governments will do everything in their power to minimise disruption to their lives. And that is what we are doing," he said

Mr Albanese said his government would not back suggestions to scrap the 11pm to 6am curfew on flights or increase the cap on the number of planes taking off in one direction in an hour during the works.

He said his approval to keep the east-west runway open was dependent on strict conditions, including completing the work within eight months instead of 15 as previously proposed.

The work is scheduled to be completed by May.

He also said community forums would be consulted on the works and updated on progress on a regular basis.

AAP