Actually, local home owners have reason to be upset about the downsides of a no-curfew BC airport. It will reduce residential land values and raise industrial land values. Bit of a downer if you've just bought a house on a 95% mortgage, 30 year term!
That is a downside of living in a growing economy under a democracy. Things get bigger and noisier, and leaders lack the organisational framework to make a fifty year plan and stick to it. We get short termism and uncertainty instead.
The last mob, now bleating to the SMH while in opposition, were never going to make the hard decision anyway. Necessary but unpopular decisions aren't the strong suit of Labor (with apologies to Keating, an exception).
Roll on second airport. Just as long as I don't have to commute there for my 6am starts!