PETER'S PAST COMMENTS ON THE AIRPORT PROPOSAL FOR HOLSWORTHY

BITTER, SIMPLISTIC, AND A LITTLE EMBARRASSING!

Peter Cullen's timely warning (Editor, Illawarra Mercury 22/3/97) for the Wollongong region concerning the Holsworthy issue should provide food for thought to those who thought the Holsworthy proposal would not affect them, and remind us of the Government's hideous plans for this region, and its blatant scant consideration for the people of the area.  We are politically redundant to them.
 
There is this perception in the Illawarra that the Northern Suburbs would be the only area affected in the region; that it is the area of high real estate value and high income, and low population, therefore in the eyes of many "down south" also redundant - "who cares if they lose a few grand?" is the commonly held view.  Be warned:  Aircraft and associated noise do not travel in straight lines, nor do they always follow prescribed flight paths.  It follows that the "sharing" principal will come to the Illawarra.  All will have to bear the burden!
 
Wollongong wake up.  If nothing, it is your heritage, your beautiful escarpment, and  your potential  for earning dollars from visitors to the region that is under threat.   I seriously think that this mega airport proposal will not only leave egg on your face but cotton wool in your ears if you dont respond to the threat.
 
The Wollongong City Council members present at the last anti-Holsworthy meeting in Thirroul, made it clear that there was apathy on council towards the Northern Suburbs concern, that the problem was local.   Although the Wollongong Council position was anti-Holsworthy.  Hence a paltry (although appreciated) 20,000 fighting fund was appropriated.  I would advise Council to revisit the issue now that more sinister stuff has appeared recently that affects all of us.
 
We have all learnt from the Sydney Airport experience, that aircraft noise does not follow the contours of prescribed actual flight paths, but is amplified in many ways, and flight paths are dependent on weather conditions, traffic volume, and in the case of the Holsworthy option, traffic will mostly access the southern corridors over the Illawarra - traffic can't go North  - it would conflict with Sydney Airport operations.
 
This sneaky Government has not released the details of where aircraft would track once they either take off from Holsworthy or approach to land. Therein lies the hidden agenda, the deceptive part.  This  information is crucial to the people of the Illawarara, and surely would form an important part of any EIS.  The Government is withholding this information, as well as their reasons for "elevating" the suitability for Holsworthy from its previous EIS position of ninth on the list to first.   At the anti Holsworthy meeting in Thirroul recently, flight paths and noise disbursement grids were  "smuggled" out of the Government's Holwsorthy vault and published for all to see.  These grids were horribly revealing.  What was not added as a footnote, was the "echoing" effect of the Illawararra escarpment.  We all hear the noise coming from CityRail trains throughout the Illawarra.  Imagine how aircraft noise will be amplified!
 
I have not seen any Federal Government official come to the areas potentially affected by this proposal and put forward the Government's proposal, and answer questions.  Where the hell are they?

The Sunday Telegraph article entitled "Airport brush-off" (30/3/97) is typical of the Federal Government's attitude and treatment metered out to the people of the South/South West of Sydney and those from the Illawarra over the Holsworthy issue.
 
Representation recently was made by a coalition of Sydney Mayors (representing councils surrounding the Holsworthy site) to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport, to no avail.  They had reasonably asked for a meeting over a period of two months.  Their conclusion that "It seems that come hell or high water, they are going to build Holsworthy airport" should send shivers down our collective spines.  You see, the Government's silence (apart from its very public support for the site) and lack of direct representation is actually working against them, but this in turn worries the hell out the electorate - it is all a game of stress and guess that we do not need.
 
The Prime Minister "could not fit them into his program - he asked us to go to the minister - but we havn't had a reply"  Here is evidence of some of the feeble, buck passing responses from an utterly despicable Government who will not face the people on this issue.  For this is a major issue - the outcome already known by the Government.
 
The truth is that we pay these politicians to open channels to enable us to put our views forward directly to the elected Government of the day.  This Government has not once faced (in person) an irate public over this issue, but pays others (Rust-PPK) to take the heat.  Their handling of the issue is downright clandestine and dishonest.  In fact, any hope of direct access over the issue appears to have been closed down by the Minister Of Transport, including his email forwarding address.  The Mayors are not alone.
 
What a sham.

REF:  Illawarra Mercury, page 7, 03/04/97, "Flood PM with airport letters - Mayor"
 
The Mayor of Wollongong said the Government was adopting a cynical approach to the issue (Holsworthy) because it assumed Wollongong residents did not know what was good for them.  "It is up to us to show the Federal Government how wrong they are in that assumption" he says.  He encourages residents to flood the PM with letters of protest and to attend co-ordinated public meetings throughout the areas impacted.
 
The Mayor is right on with his assessment.  Where many differ though, is in his optimistic desire to foster genuine consultation with the EIS consultants and Government over the issue.  OK, OK,  lets hope that these agencies attend the next meeting in the area scheduled for Stanwell Park on April 20, so that dialogue can take place.  But I don't think that will occur anytime soon.  This will be a Southern Sydney/Wollongong airport - no doubt.  Residents do not know it, but the decision is already cast in airport tarmac concrete.
 
What strikes the average person in the street, is whether there is a  need to debate anything at all. Why perform an expensive EIS with regards to this gross impost on residents?. Residents (potentially) affected just don't want it - simple.  No negotiation, no intellectualisation, or defence - it is just a no-win situation for those affected and the environment - get it out of Sydney they say!  Others simply say the most worrying aspect is "where would aircraft go when they land and take off from Holsworthy, i.e., where will be the flight paths?"  Of course the Government is not going to divulge that one!!  All hell would break loose.  So you have the "not in my backyard" concern, and others who are deeply worried about the overall quality of life in Sydney/Wollongong and environmental implications.
 
These would be really the only two (simple) arguments that residents threatened by Holsworthy would have.  All the EIS analysis and scientific data; the Government's perceived "vote catching" need to reduce the burden on Sydney metro residents affected by the current Mascot airport through the establishment of a second one; and business related push pumped forth is not going to sway them.  Add to that, an already tainted EIS process and you have a volatile situation.
 
You see, the Sydney Airport third runway fiasco has spawned a new class of airport-aware citizen in Southern Sydney and the Illawarra that will not take it any more - they will not go away until the proposed airport does.  They are just as arrogant as the Government is.
 
And lets not be swayed by "it is for the economic well being of the country" argument, that is advanced by the Government in defence of this mega airport.  Simply, the Government is not in tune with Sydney 90's thinking, and other planning practices in other countries with regards to the siting of major international airports within metropolitan boundaries.  We cannot keep adding to the pollution and resident misery in the city of Sydney.  Enough is enough.  Australia, lets get innovative in our approach to these issues - get it out of Sydney.
 
Residents do not appreciate the personal anguish that careless Governments inflict upon them through issues such as this.  The deep misery caused to the community so far over this issue cannot be measured. The Government must be held accountable for the fiscal and health drain on the community, through these willy nilly, ad hoc, cynical decisions.  And they will be held accountable.
 
PEOPLE ARE HURTING over this!  No joke!

FAX:  (042)  263616  - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - ILLAWARRA MERCURY
 
LIVING IN THE PAST/PATH ON HOLSWORTHY
 
Sir - Both A. Seaward (Mercury, April 15) and B. Gralton (Mercury, April 15) are living in the past on the Holsworthy  issue.  We all could be living in the aircraft path in the Illawarra.
 
There are a large number of concerned citizens (myself included) who do not want this airport, for a miriad of reasons, who are non-aligned politically.  Seaward's "politically motivated" charge does not go down well with those innocents who made the decision to select housing far away from Badgerys Creek and Sydney in the intervening years since Badgerys was selected as the site for the second airport (sorry I am living in the past).  Nor does it please those who have had their lives put on indefinite hold with the added stress of watching property values tumble.  Resentment over this issue runs deep and is complicated.  Both of your correspondents have a (potentially) angry audience of 500,000 concerned and well informed residents in the region to face, who are already paying dearly for this folly.  Lets get the monstrosity out of the Sydney basin and to hell with the economic rationalists.
 
It is the current Federal Government who are cynically manipulating the residents of Southern Sydney/Illawarra regions through misrepresentation, semantics and dishonesty, in order to achieve their grand vision of placing a 24 hour mega airport at Holsworthy.  Any Government who will not face the people first-hand and hires  a P.R. company to sell their message is not to be trusted, regardless of political persuasion.  It is a tainted proposal.
 
Kerosine-soaked, avid plane spotter Gralton, should take a hike to the Sydney suburb of Sydenham and go live there where he can get off on his perverse arrivals and departures.  In fact, as he acknowledges, he may not have to move at all as even Mt St Thomas could be affected by aircraft noise and added pollution if this proposal goes ahead, for this sneaky Government will not declare its flight path intentions. Perhaps we could convince Holsworthy airport supporters to install an aircraft  beacon on his property so that when Holsworthy has "taken-off" he is assured of a front row seat and aircraft flight corridors are deflected away from my location.  Check your neighbor's views on that one, or come up to Stanwell Park on Sunday April 20 and we will discuss it.  Flame me on the net.
 
Be assured that this is a Wollongong airport.
 
email:  [email protected]
www (after 20/4/97) :  www.magna.com.au/~deucharp