Busselton-Margaret River Airport gets Conditional Approval from EPA

Published on 14 June 2018

The City of Busselton recently received advice from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recommending conditional environmental approval for expansion of the Busselton-Margaret River Airport.

City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley said that the City has undergone a rigorous environmental review process during the past 3 years and the EPA’s recommended changes by the EPA will enable a maximum of five flights per week between the hours of 11pm and 6am. 

“The City originally sought 24 hour flight operations at the BMRA. However, after consultation with the community, Council revisited this preference and sought permission to operate between 6am and 12am with a cap on night flights of 5 per week between 12am and 6am.  These operating hours remain the City’s preferred option. What perhaps is not common knowledge is that the City has been working hard on identifying alternate flights paths with a view to lessening noise over residential areas.  Working with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Air Services Australia throughout the process the alternative flight paths are now with CASA and are going through the approval process,” said Mayor Henley. 

The Airport’s Consultative Group, made up of a broad range of stakeholders including surrounding landowners, were provided with an update on the alternate flight paths and the approval process at a meeting yesterday.

 “I am confident that the City’s efforts in identifying the alternate flight paths will deliver positive outcomes for the whole community,” the Mayor said.

The EPA’s report to the Minister for Environment is now open for a two-week public appeal period, closing Wednesday 20th June 2018. Appeals can be made at www.appealsconvenor.wa.gov.au The EPA’s report is available at www.epa.wa.gov.au

Further information about the airport development project is available on the airport website: www.busseltonmargaretriverairport.com.au

The Busselton-Margaret River Regional Airport Development Project is made possible by investment from the Australian Government; State Government’s Royalties for Regions program, Department of Transport’s Regional Airports Development Scheme (RADS) program, City of Busselton, South West Development Commission and Tourism Western Australia.

Outcomes and objectives outlined in this statement align with Key Goal Area 4 in the City of Busselton’s Strategic Community Plan (2017): An economy that is diverse, resilient and prosperous.

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