THE TWEED
FLiCKER
FEST
www.tweedecho.com.au Volume 4 #20 Thursday, January 19, 2012
2012
Advertising and news enquiries: Phone: (02) 6672 2280 editor@tweedecho.com.au adcopy@tweedecho.com.au 21,000 copies every week CAB AUDIT
LOCAL & INDEPENDENT
page 16
Flight-path fallout Reptile carer has her hands full under the scope Ken Sapwell
Air Services Australia has bowed to pressure to undertake a wide-ranging review of the impacts on residents living under increasingly busy flight paths during a sky-high period of growth for Gold Coast Airport (GCAL). The regulator acted after the airport’s draft master plan predicted 113 planes a day would be landing at the airport by 2030, a sevenfold increase since the flight paths were last re-examined 14 years ago. The review and its high-stakes outcome is already shaping up as a repeat of the suburban dog-fight which erupted when members of the noise abatement committee (ANACC) gave the green light to a new flight path hierarchy in 1998.
Avalanche of complaints Fingal Head residents have fired the first shots with an avalanche of complaints to Air Services Australia (ASA) about a recent surge in international airliners throttling skyward just 3,000 feet above their heads. Residents of South Tweed, Oxley Cove, Banora Point and Kingscliff living under the main southern flight path have recently formed a ‘Fair Go Alliance’ and say it’s time that aircraft noise and fuel pollutants were shared by other suburbs. ASA is keeping details of the review lowkey, inviting hundreds of residents who’ve joined a GCAL community consultative group to a meeting to discuss the review only 24 hours before the deadline for their submissions closes on February 23. One ANACC member, Barry Jephcote, said it seemed ASA was trying to keep a lid on a sensitive issue and at one stage set the deadline to expire
two days before Christmas until they agreed to his request for an extension. He says he is critical of ASA and GCAL for not doing enough to inform the public about the upcoming environmental review and the draft airport master plan which includes changes to flight paths north of the airport and an increasing rate of takeoffs to the south. ‘The review is the first step in a process which could result in a change in flight paths and consequently a change in property values because of the impacts from noise as well as the chemical pollution,’ he said (see story page 4). Under existing arrangements, about 70 per cent of aircraft departing the airport head south, with the lion’s share heading over suburbs belonging to the alliance, but Fingal Head has been hit with a sharp increase Susan Johnson holds a bearded dragon while a blue tongue looks on. Photo Jeff ‘Reptile of the Press’ Dawson following the airport’s controversial push into Asia. started a much-needed campaign to snake as black with yellow stripes Albert Elzinga educate the public and reverse some made it difficult for Susan to identify No representation Almost a quarter of a century ago, common misconceptions. She says the reptile and made her very cauThey are demanding that ASA stop Susan Johnson decided to devote her the evasive nature of snakes is often tious when she attempted to catch it. all planes from flying over their vil- working life to the care of animals. misunderstood and many people atShe managed to get hold of the lage immediately, saying they were animal’s tail and slowly tried to pull Susan’s career started at Melbourne tempted to kill a snake at first sight. denied representation when ANACC Zoo where she completed an on-theNot only is killing any snake against it from under the stored boxes. But allowed planes heading to new Asian job training course in Animal Tech- the law, but they’re often misidenti- because the snake failed to move she markets to turn left over Fingal Head nology and cared for fur seals and en- fied and their behaviour and potential was afraid the reptile had died. in 2001. They cite airport records dangered Australian marsupials such danger misunderstood. Susan said the With extreme caution, she continshowing they were encountering only as bandicoots. non-venomous Brown Tree Snake, ued to prise the reptile free and when three flights a week in 2001, but by After 12 years with the zoo, Susan felt for instance, was often mistaken for she finally managed to pull the snake 2010 the number of planes flying over the need for a ‘tree change’ and moved the deadly Brown Snake and killed free: it turned out to be a plastic toy. Fingal had grown to 37 a week as new to Crabbes Creek where she soon on sight. A friend had placed the fake snake in Asian routes opened up. Catching and relocating snakes may the garage as a practical joke. joined Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers. But Mr Jephcote, the village’s rep- She established herself as an authority be very serious and sometimes more People can reduce the attraction resentative on the ANACC, says he on reptiles and started to rehabilitate than a little dangerous; however, Susan homes and gardens have on snakes needs to weigh the views of other and relocate injured reptiles. Her work encountered some funny situations by: cleaning up any rubbish and timsuburbs he also represents, including with the Carers became the prelude to while responding to people’s calls. ber around the house, keeping the Kingscliff and East Banora which are Susan’s current occupation as ‘Reptile On one occasion, Susan was called grass cut low, pruning bushes and reopposed to changes to Asian routes. Rehabilitator and Relocator’. to catch a snake which had invaded a moving low hanging branches. He says the push by the Fair Go Residents who encounter a snake This year alone, Susan has helped family’s garage and was hiding behind Alliance to spread flight paths would around ten sick or injured animals re- a pile of stored items. and want it removed can call Susan continued on page 4 cover and return to the wild and she’s The family’s description of the on 02 6677 1224 or 0428 771 223.
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