Master Plan

The Master Plan for Bankstown Airport was drafted in 1982. At various times, airport managers have referred to it as justification for recent works (for example, see Bankstown Express, Friday April 10^th, 1998). At other times, it has been dismissed as a Draft document "of no status" (e.g. evidence to Legislative Council Committee, 20th August, 1988, residents inquiries circa 1982).

Figure 5 from it shows the proposed future layout, with the 11C/29C runway at 1570 m (and clearly over the drain now just 15 m beyond the 29C end).

To download a copy of the Master Plan layout (316KB) click on Master Plan Diagram.

What is a Master Plan

"An aerodrome master plan is a document, comprising text and drawings, that sets out the current and planned future location of an aerodrome and its critical facilities and presents an effective framework within which its future development can take place" [RPA98, 21-1]

"A master plan is a dynamic, evolving document. It is not a development plan, but forms the basis of such plans."

"The aerodrome master plan is required to provide adequately for future aviation traffic, passenger flows, ground traffic and various commercial functions, within acceptable social and environmental constraints. This planned needs to be undertaken in the context of firstly, providing for a balance between the aerodrome's airside and landside operations and secondly, maximising its commercial and economic benefits.

"In order to achieve these master plan objectives, it is necessary to consult and involve as appropriate, all relevant parties, especially those whose cooperation is essential. This includes the Commonwealth, State and local governments, the aviation industry and the community" [RPA98, p21-1]

The Airports Act 1996 specifies in some details the requirements for airport master plans (refer Division 3), including the requirements for draft and final master plans. From the AIRPORTS ACT 1996 - SECT 69:

• The following is a simplified outline of this Division:
• For each airport, there is to be a final master plan.
• A final master plan is a draft master plan that has been approved by the Minister.
• A draft master plan is prepared by an airport-lessee company after taking into account public comments.
• A final master plan is relevant to the approval of major developments at the airport.

Section 70 explicitly indicates that a new draft master plan isto be submitted before expiry of old plan. Yet, in Bankstown's case there is apparently no final master plan, and the Airport Environment Officer believes a ministerial exemption allows the airport to proceed until Year 2000 without one.

Why hasn't the community in Bankstown and surrounding areas been consulted about the 1982 Master Plan, or other works at the airport ? Why has BAL been given so long to prepare its master plan ?

BAL has an airport consultative committee whose sole community representative is very unrepresentative of the local community, and may have very close ties with the aviation industry. At the time the 1982 Master Plan was drafted, concerned local residents were told it was a document "of no status". We are supposed to believe that all the development from 1940 to date has happened without any planning. Can you believe that ? If it was so, isn't it a worry what such a lack of planning would mean for the future ?

Master Plan Revelations

BAL managers have described the current works at the eastern end (29) of 11/29C runway as innocent "drainage" works.

The Drain

Photo taken 12th August 1998, from Milperra Rd boundary fence. There seems to have been little work done at the runway end of the drain (far distance, near pipe end). Does it look like this could have been the source of the earthworks in the photos of Rays Golf Range below ? Or have they come from excavating the new hard stand ?

These "drainage" works have drained earth from either side of the drain, and probably from the new hard stand areas, to fill the 150 m frontage of former Ray's Golf Range to a depth of 1.5 to 2 m at the Milperra Rd end. It looks for all the world like they've been creating a bench on top of the Golf Range which would be level with the runways and be useful for (say) freight facilities. And gosh, golly, folks, guess what the Master Plan shows down in that area ? No prizes for picking a freight facility.

So dare you believe that the runway extensions shown on the Master Plan aren't coming as well ? Can you believe they have no plan for freight facilities when you see it in the Master Plan ?

You'd have to be very gullible to accept these are mere drainage works. And in view of the lack of an adequate Runway End Safety Area, it seems there is plenty of reason to believe there is more runway development afoot - even if we don't see another centimeter of bitumen. But it would be a good bet that we'll see a lot more like another 250 meters of runway if the community doesn't force the airport owners to back-off.

Apparently, comments by local politicians - Council, State, and Commonwealth - suggest they accept these are innocent drainage works. Write and tell them they're wrong. The only way to break their delusion is to send hundreds of letters telling them the truth.

If you can't help force a back-down from the airport authorities, you'll have Sydney's Second International Airport at Bankstown within a few years. Act now !

Don't it always seem to go
But you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone.
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
-Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi.

Heliports

The 1982 Master Plan shows we should expect 2 heliports. We have 5 now (see council briefing). Helicopters have been moved out of KSA and dumped onto Bankstown.

Just cause it's not in the Master Plan doesn't mean something devastating to nearby residents can't happen. These houses were there long before the helicopters were brought in. Why wasn't there an EIS ?