DARWIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COMMUNITY CONSULTATION GROUP Report on Meeting No 9 28 November 2013 held at Pandanus Room, Airport Management Centre, Darwin International Airport 1. Welcome and Apologies Independent Chair Sarah Butterworth welcomed members to the 9 th meeting of the DIA Community Consultation Group. Apologies were noted. The Summary Record and Web Report of the meeting on 1 August 2013 had been previously settled by circulation. It was noted that this would be the last meeting of WGCDR Robert (Dubbo) Graham and members thanked Dubbo for his contribution. 2. Airfield Operational Developments Alex MacDowell outlined airfield construction projects and on-airfield happenings including: resurfacing of the parallel taxiway and taxiway lighting replacement; Top End Medical Retrieval Service apron and hangar facility; new Code C aircraft bays at Bays 23 to 25; new Qantas Engineering facility; Salvation Army FunFlight; USMC Osprey operations and associated Marine cargo and personnel airlifts; and Emirates A380 medical diversion. 3. Briefing on Darwin Air Service Developments and Retail Update Jim Parashos provided an airline services and retail update including: Philippine Airlines commenced Manila services in June on to Brisbane and Perth. The Perth services have since ceased; Silkair has added a 5 th Singapore peak season service June to August which is sensible for the seasonal Darwin market; AirAsia re-entered the Bali-Darwin market in July; Malaysia Airlines commenced Kuala Lumpur services in November; international capacity has increased 35% in 6 months and the challenge now is to fill that extra capacity in spite of a continuing peak season shortage of accommodation; the DIA fly to Asia via Darwin campaign in Townsville; DIA winning the World Routes award for airports under 4M passengers (this is voted on by airlines) for the second year in a row; Food and Beverage developments including opening of the Giancarlo Café & Bar; progress on the Dome restaurant and News & Gifts design concept; renewal of JR Duty Free concession; passenger and public communications on hoarding and carpark equipment; and advertising update. DIA Community Consultation Group Meeting No 9 28 November 2013 Page 1 of 5
4. Military Exercise Outlook 2014 & RAAF Base Operational Issues WGCDR Robert Graham related that: 33 Squadron with A330 tanker-transports are currently based in Darwin because of pavement works at Amberley; RAAF Base Darwin was supporting Operation Philippines Assist with RAAF and RNZAF heavy lift aircraft staging through Darwin; RAAF had sent a team to activate one of the airfields near Tacloban; a foreshortened Exercise Elang Ausindo occurred in October and there were zero noise complaints; early rain has meant that 1 Aviation Regiment Tiger helicopters have been operating from RAAF Base Darwin; Exercise Pitch Black 2014 is looking to be much the same size as 2012 with additional contributions of forces currently planned from UAE and France. Exercise timing is 2 nd half July and 1 st half August; there will be some 1200 Pitch Black participants with around 800 able to be accommodated on Base (Trevor Cox observed there should be 380 additional rooms in Darwin by next dry season); and a 6 month USMC aviation element at RAAF Base Darwin will form a part of the 2014 USMC rotation. 5. Parking/Drop-off/Pick-up Update Jim Parashos detailed parking and ground transport developments including: communications tools encouraging travelers to consider their Christmas airport parking in advance; upgraded carpark shuttle signage; customer awareness signage for long term parking options; new passenger pick up shelter; passenger pick up in the short term car park appeared to be working well; and a bus shelter is under construction at the bus stop opposite the AFP Building (there was discussion on the existing bus service which is targeted at employees rather than passengers). 6. Defence Support Report Rachel Rees-Scott outlined that: works are continuing on the Air Traffic Control Tower including roof replacement and corrosion control; thanks to DIA for demolishing the old Surveillance Radar building; work is occurring on flood mitigation, particularly in the Narrows area and the Ludmilla Creek system. There will be a major flood mitigation project put to the Public Works Committee (PWC) in 2014 (estimated at $9.5M); USMC Phase II accommodation and building works will be occurring to support the annual 6 month CH-53 aviation element to be located at RAAF Base Darwin. The bulk of USMC personnel will remain accommodated at Robertson Barracks; housing project is going well with Northern Transportables having purchased 220 houses and 70 should be relocated by the end of the year. Next year Defence Housing Authority will go to the PWC for construction of 120 new homes; the second element of the Obama-Gillard agreement in 2011 was increased bilateral exercises with the USAF. Planning around this is occurring; works are occurring in the north-west corner of RAAF Base Darwin to accommodate the E-7A Wedgetail early warning aircraft; Page 2 of 5
engaging with the National Trust to run tours during Heritage Week of RAAF Base historic buildings; the new fuel farm will commence operations in February; working with the NTG on flood mitigation the Rapid Creek system. NTG not willing to assume responsibility for the weir; and a number of minor projects including demolishing various buildings that are not required. There was discussion on the NTG strategy for Rapid Creek flood mitigation and when this would be released. 7. National Air Traffic Management and Capacity Management Andy Sparrow presented on national Airservices developments and priorities including: Airservices extensive consultation and collaboration networks across industry, all three levels of government and the community; local Darwin off-airport developments including the Knuckeys Lagoon radar and road and bike path through Airservices land in support of Robertson Barracks; new fire fighting and ATC facilities around Australia; airport runway and airspace capacity is the greatest challenge of growth for Airservices and the aviation industry. Sydney-Melbourne sector is the 2 nd busiest air traffic sector in the world and Brisbane-Sydney is 12 th ; Airservices is working closely with airlines and airports to maximise capacity at airports where peak demand exceeds capacity primarily Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne; objective for 2020-2025 is one aircraft movement per minute, 17 hours a day, 7 days a week, all weather conditions, at Melbourne, Brisbane and more in Sydney ; the national real time air traffic management system in operation to maximise runway capacity which incorporates a Runway Demand Schedule Management System, Air Traffic Flow Management and Ground Delay Program (which extends to Darwin); remote tower technology being trialled at Alice Springs; future air navigation will be satellite based with a spine of conventional navigation aids retained; and the One Sky project will see the merging of military and civil air traffic systems. 8. DIA Property Developments Ross Baynes provided a briefing on Property developments including: Land Use; Axis Precinct objectives: Entertainment Precinct concept plan; Axis Retail & Logistics Precinct; and South Osgood Drive Logistics Precinct. The timing of development in the Entertainment Precinct and likely customers in the South Osgood Logistics Precinct were discussed. 9. Update on Terminal Expansion Project Matt Melick outlined progress on Contract A (the bookends) component of the Terminal expansion including: 80% of the sub-contractors to Watpac are local; eastern new construction is already roofed; western new construction will have its roof on around 19 December; and Page 3 of 5
key dates for completion of the various elements within the new construction with practical completion scheduled for August 2014. Rhett Nothling s presentation on Contract B (redevelopment of the existing Terminal) comprised: the major components of Contract B; visual of Dome Restaurant currently under construction; and milestones and estimated completion dates of the various elements. Victoria Moore then reported on: how outcomes of the Sense of Place workshops are being incorporated into the Terminal design including development of a Sense of Place Master Plan; new signage strategy being developed; and trialing of new Terminal furniture. 10. General Airservices Matters incl. Civil Aircraft Noise Complaints David Moore reported on a number of matters: Airservices and the Australian Airports Association (AAA) are staging the annual Aircraft Noise Forum on 6 February 2014; a new aircraft noise website was launched in conjunction with the AAA in October; the quarterly Aircraft Noise Information Report has a new section Improving Noise Outcomes ; there have been 9 aircraft noise complaints in the calendar year to date and none this last quarter; Airservices does considerable work on issues when raised, often in partnership with the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman, to see if improvements can be made; Jet departures from Runway 11 (heading east) which have to turn north or west and currently turn over Palmerston have attracted several complaints from Palmerston residents. The departure procedure has been amended slightly to vector the departure between Palmerston and Howard Springs and not to turn until past those areas. This is an example of the minor changes which can be made and the change should commence in the next couple of weeks. 11. Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development Issues Helen Gannon outlined: new federal ministerial appointments and administrative arrangements; aviation policy was not a political priority of the new federal government; aviation policy was not an immediate priority of the new federal government however there are some area of focus where work is currently progressing; details of the review of aviation safety regulation; and the Coalition policy of producing a White Paper on Northern Australia and that this was being managed in Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Coalition policies on the aviation sector and Northern Australia can be found at http://www.liberal.org.au/our-policies. Helen then presented on the outcomes of a survey of the effectiveness of Community Aviation Consultation Groups which had been distributed to Independent Chairs, Group members and airports for feedback. The topics covered included major issues over the last 12 months, biggest challenges, issues that dominate discussion, Consultation Group outcomes and effectiveness measures. The Independent Chair commented as the presentation proceeded and also reported on the meeting of Independent Chairs on 1-2 October in Canberra. Page 4 of 5
12. Overview of DIA ASQ Results Complaints and Compliments Virginia Sanders provided information on: airport complaints since I July 2013 from the published register of complaints, including the trend in complaints; compliments to DIA; Airport Service Quality results latest quarterly results and trend over the last 12 months; DIA customer service initiative; and DIA community engagement activity, including work of the Corporate Giving Committee. 13. Community Consultation Group Member Issues Daryl Manzie noted that he had agreed to be the convenor of a public meeting on military aircraft noise but that there was no impetus for an early meeting. He said there were undertakings from the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman Office and Department of Defence to attend. Lesley Alford observed that people commented to her that DIA developments were contributing to peak run-off into Rapid Creek. Whether that was actually the case with saturated soil is another point but that is the perception. Lesley was keen to see if this developed into a public issue. Dawn Lawrie mentioned that she had representations on the state of the Terminal during the redevelopment and had responded that inconvenience occurs on construction sites. She mentioned that the disabled parking issue had settled down. 14. General Business Jill Holdsworth highlighted that a report on storm water management, which contains material on erosion and sediment control, will be put on the website. She noted that the annual conference of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand featured training on erosion and sediment control. An updated Environment Management Plan for DIA tenants and operators could be found on the website at http://www.darwinairport.com.au/working-airport/environment. Jill was thanked for her significant contribution to environment management at DIA and people wished her well in her move to Townsville. Ian Kew thanked Consultation Group members for their contribution over the past year and noted the Consultation Group provided a good platform for getting the DIA story out to the community. He reiterated that DIA, as one of four land holders abutting Rapid Creek, was conscious of the Rapid Creek flooding issue. Ian thanked Sarah Butterworth for her successful chairing of the Consultation Group during the year. Note: 2014 meetings - Thursday 3 April, Thursday 31 July and Thursday 20 November. Page 5 of 5