Licence to restrict aircraft movements at Aldinga
The EPA has issued its first licence for an aerodrome in South Australia, to necessitate regulating the noise impact on residents around Aldinga from the frequency of aircraft movements.
This follows a recent judgement in the Environment, Resources and Development (ERD) Court that determined the airfield operator, Aldinga Aviation Pty Ltd, had exceeded the annual flight movement threshold of 20,000 and dismissing an appeal against the EPA.
Executive Director Operations Andrew Wood said the judgement upheld the EPA’s position based on this threshold that a licence was necessary for the company to manage the Aldinga Airfield which accommodates 70 aircraft including a flying school and a charter company.
“The EPA has welcomed this finding that more than 20,000 movements per year by commercial or charter aircraft involving take-off and landing constitutes a prescribed activity of environmental significance within the Environment Protection Act 1993,” Mr Wood said.
The City of Onkaparinga first raised concerns with the EPA in 2012, that operations at the Aldinga Airfield had increased to a level that would require a licence.
“While there has been no precedent for this action in South Australia, the legislation offers the option to regulate aerodromes as a licensed activity when the number of flights exceed an annual 20,000 movement threshold,” Mr Wood said.
The licence imposed on Aldinga Aviation includes conditions to curb problematic noise disturbance issues by restricting the flight movement hours to between 7 am to 9 pm, and from 6 am during periods of daylight saving. Aircraft landings will be permitted until 10 pm.
Circuit flying will only be permitted between 8 am and 8 pm Monday to Saturday, and 9 am to 8pm on Sunday and prohibited on some public holidays.
“Aldinga Aviation must also develop an environmental management plan outlining measures that will be undertaken to minimise noise nuisance impacts on the local community,” Mr Wood said.
