Merged: Close Essendon Airport!

[Critical Reynolds No]

Just got a piece of rubbish in my letterbox from the Close Essendon Airport action group. Talk about propaganda. Can't understand why you would move next to an airport and complain. The airport has been there since the 30s. I live nearby and love it.

Anyways, they are having a community meeting at the centre which is off the end of runway 35 on 26th May at 7.30pm. Maybe some of the GAM boys should do a mass flypast again or a simulated engine failure after take-off.

Here's their website.
http://www.closeessendonairport.com/

What a load.

Soap box off.:ugh:

PS. I just checked out the airport crashes part. Worst safety record in Australia they boast!:=

[A. Le Rhone]

Suggest we all reply to their 'contact us' box on their website.

Airport was there long before they were.

[Howard Hughes]

Can't see Essendon being closed in the near future with all the 'airside' construction going on! I wouldn't be surprised though if one day it was reduced to only one runway!:eek:

[Capt Wally]

I loved the little crash Vid the CEAC group out together. Pitty this group don't put together a car crash version, then again I guess they don't have a 1000 hrs of spare time to watch it!:bored:
I recall the Rudge Dove accident (DH104) very well I was in fact flying another Dove on that same evening & the phone calls I got after it happened from family & friends thinking it was me was incredible, CW ain't going anywhere just yet:ok:

They may very well get their wishes (close the airport) some day as the place is looking less & less like a landing place anyway:bored:

For now tho they (CEAC) give us a source of entertainment I guess:}


CW

[pall]

Have a look a this uTube clip claiming Essendon has the worst safety record.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPZOcSojj-U

:}

[Skystar320]

In particular residents regularly experience:
-aviation gas in their homes;

-severe noise pollution throughout the day making it;

-difficult to hear a radio or television or to read;

-sleep disturbance at night;

-the need to abandon out door entertaining and dining due to fumes and noise;

-the current noise pollution process is ineffectual;

-there is no transparent and independent complaint
system to register pollution concerns.

[Capt Wally]

Oh yeah & the modification they want of the curfew hrs now to encompass the times 8;30pm to 7;30am no flying for ANY FLIGHTS , okay shall remember that. Sorry maddam, yr father whom was in need of urgent medical attention at his country property died today from injuries caused by machinery in the production of food for the masses because the air ambo's couldn't leave to rescue him after 8;30 pm due a curfew. Sound farcical?, as farcical as their wishes? Oh BTW that curfew was by the few who find it hard to entertain outside whilst a plane flies overhead! Yep like the A380 interior seat colours, makes ya weep:bored:
There's a buffer zone alright, it's called the empty space in their fragile heads!



CW

[av8trflying]

If you dont like it, move out.

I love these people who save dollars by buying a house near a airport that has been there longer than they have and then winge that its too noisy.

Its simple f**k (f**@@k) off!

[BrazDriver]

The dramatization in the house full of bogans was priceless!

Inappropriate video to their cause!

[Capt Fathom]

They complain about fumes & noise, yet are quite happy to live in modern suburbia, and drive their cars and trucks around, surrounded by fumes and noise!!

[Teal]

I knew the former airport manager there in the 1980s/90s. He used to delight in meeting some of these imbeciles in his office by pulling out an airport & district map from the 1930s/40s and ask them to show him exactly where their house was located. Of course their street and house never existed at that time!:} It was an effective way of making an obvious point.

[kaptaan]

I don't believe it's about safety at all.. It seems like a propaganda by Real estate people to make money.. Shame!!:=

[Like This - Do That]

Kaptaan's right ..... follow the money. A developer will almost certainly be behind this - perhaps even the current owners (apologies to the owners if this isn't the case).

[dj Mcrae]

DAM! Its unfair how this can be achieved... Reminds me of my friends seaside cafe... He owned some land beside it, sold it to a developer and a few years later shut the business down because the council forced him out of his main attraction live music from the newly built town housing resident lobbying action!

[Howard Hughes]

Perhaps someone on here (who is more literate than I) can draft up a letter that we can all email to them!:ok:

[White_line_fever]

what a load of crap, some ppl have way too much time on their hands.

that youtube video was a classic gotta love all the cops with their porn star mo's in full swing.

The commonwealth should just say 'if the residents pay for a relocation then we will move it' that should shut them up for awhile:ugh:

I wonder what happens if they develop the airport into residential? the old residents are all happy but the new resident now must put up with a jet flying over sheed at 3000' every few mins at all hours or will they remove sheed and have to replan a heap of stars into tulla?

someone said it b 4 but bottom line 'if you dont like it :mad:off'

HH the letter can go along the lines off

Dear Sir/Madam of the CEAC,

HOW BOUT YOU :mad: OFF

yours sincerely
KEAOC
(keep essendon airport open campaign):yuk:

[Maggott17]

And to think that the Red bearded guy at the end of the video was once an Air Training Corp cadet rose to be Mayor of Moonee Valley and then tried his best to close the airport.

Where are you now BG?

[bushy]

It's nearly always about money, and the only thing that will be effective is money.
The businesses that operate at Essendon should sue the complainers for damage to their businesses and demand to be re-imbursed for the cost of moving, and building a new airport.

[telephonenumber]

Agree with Kaptaan ... follow the money. That web site reeks of somebody's investment, not a few, disparate, disgruntled home owners/renters. Buy a lot of houses, get the airport closed, reap the rewards. The airport owners would love it, the non aviation businesses already established and becoming established would love it, GA would hate it. But who gives a damn about GA? Don't underestimate how much private equity money is sloshing about out there looking for somewhere to spill.

But for mine, EN will be there for quite a few years yet.

[Capt Wally]

To the CEAG.

Dear Sir/Maddam.

Myself and my fellow colleges are quite concerned that some of our fellow residents in and around the area of Essendon Airport are not too happy with the current arrangements, IE: Essendon Airport (hereafter refered to as 'it's') use after hrs.
Regardless of it's use/s it's an integral part of Melb's daily infrastructure.
May I suggest in all good faith that you take yr concerns, yr voices, yr hideous little videos & apply copious qty's of lube to a large cylindrical object (because pilots/engineers etc are a concering bunch of christians) & shove it where it will have the most effect, IN YR MOUTHS!

As far back as Australian culture goes which I assume yr a part of (recorded) it's always been about "WE WHERE HERE FIRST" !:ok:

P.S.......don't under estimate who owns EN, am sure there will be some "Foxing" around to go yet:bored:

cw

[Stationair8]

WANKERS
GET A LIFE

They probably also believe that the earth is flat, Harold Holt was taken by the Russians and man has not walked on the moon.

Good point Capt Wally, yeah sorry love can't fly your sick kid to hospital from Mildura as Essendon airport has a curfew and is closed from 20:30 until 07:30 in the morning, but we get a road ambulance to drive your sick child the 8 hours to hospital.

Wonder which slimey, greasy. low life property developer is behind this little scam? Keep an eye on the local council and see who suddenly gets a new car, boat or holiday!!!

[vee1-rotate]

HAHAHAH @ the video....that is the most farcical thing I have ever watched...the re-enactment is pathetic in itself, but whats even funnier is the part where they mention all the "recent" accidents at the airport...one 15 years ago, another 20+ years ago and another so long ago I wasn't even born...pathetic...

[Islander Jock]

Well their website is marginally better than the amateurish effort by that mob in Perth who were employed by the leaseholders of Jandakot to justify it's closure and relocation.

[Mr Milk]

What a complete bunch of f***wits!!!!
Cant believe that such narrow minded retards still inhabit our cities and their surrounds.

Dumb C***s dont seem to have an issue with living next to a freeway (how bout we ban all transport from 20:30 to 07:30) but when it comes to those dangerous contraptions in the sky......

writing a letter wont do anything but give these wankers more ammo. How bout we pool our money and hire some bikies to persuade our friends at the ceac to see things our way.:E

Good point captain wally!

[Teal]

I hope I am not being naive when I put my trust the "Airports Act (1996)" and the legal agreement (announced below) between the Federal Govt. and current lessees (Fox Group, etc). You can find the masterplan at the following link:

http://www.essendonairport.com.au/imagebank/docs/Essendon%20Airport%20Masterplan%202007.pdf

Its future as an airport - at least for 50 years - seems assured. But the Fox Group will develop its "non-airfield precincts" to within an inch of its life, for sure. But no closure.




09 April 2003
WT31/2003

APPROVAL OF DRAFT ESSENDON AIRPORT MASTER PLAN

The draft Master Plan for Essendon Airport has been approved, Acting Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Wilson Tuckey, announced today.
"This plan is in keeping with the Commonwealths policy that Essendon Airport will remain operating as a general aviation airport over the long term," Mr Tuckey said.
Each operator of a leased Federal airport, such as Essendon Airport, is required to submit a master plan for the Ministers approval under the Airports Act 1996. The operator of Essendon Airport, EAL, put forward a planning proposal, which includes:
retention of the two-runway system;
relocation of aviation operations in the north-west to a more central location;
consolidation of aviation facilities consistent with aviation operations;
identification of land surplus to aviation requirements suitable for commercial or industrial redevelopment;
redevelopment of existing commercial areas; and
development of areas in the north of the airport which were formerly vacant or used for aviation uses for a variety of business uses"Essendon airport holds significant historical value in the story of Australian aviation. This plan will breathe new life into the airport which was Victoria's main airport until Tullamarine was built in the 1970s," Mr Tuckey said.
The Airport lessee company must publish the Final Master Plan within 90 days of approval, and make copies of the Final Master Plan available to the public.
The Commonwealth signed a lease with Essendon Airport Limited (EAL) on 30 June 1998 for the Essendon Airport site. The lease is for a term of fifty (50) years, with an option to renew the lease for a further term of forty-nine (49) years.

[Stationair8]

Valid point Mr. Milk, a curfew on the freeway from 19:30pm until 07:00 am seven days a week, likewise applies to the rail and tram lines and no emergency services vehicles available during the curfew.

Wouldn't the rock apes whinge when they didn't have their morning newspaper, fresh milk, produce etc.

The reason these people bought near the airport in the first place was because land and houses were cheap!!!!

[Stationair8]

I noticed on the website that they have a phone number, perhaps we should give them a phone call at various times to discuss issues in relation to airport issues.

I will happily give them a ring at 03:30am

[otto the grot]

Dear CEAG,
After viewing the Essendon Airport promotional video on Youtube, it has come to my attention, that residents living in close proximity to the airport may indeed have serious concerns.

It thus beholds me to advise your group, as a concerned citizen and frequent user of aircraft, that it is of the utmost urgency that the problem be resolved before anyone else succumbs to an aviation related illness or death.

The obvious solution with the safest and most effective outcome, stemming the bloodbath out there has been decided on by the majority and shall be effected immediately.

Please inform your members to be ready for the removalists at 6 am sharp as they have an exceptionally big day of moving ahead in your area and they get really pissed off if someone slows them down.

Yours sincerely,

Concerned Aviator Grot xxxooo

P.S Please pass this message on to your colleagues in Sydney. They're next.

[sms777]

Guys! Calm down!
I live in the Sydney basin and i can tell you we do have a problem here bigger than Ben Hur.
I do know as a fact that 4 of the houses that's closest to runway 11 treshhold are owned by aviation enthusiasts and they do everything that is possible to keep the local community quiet about complaints regarding aircraft noise. so, may be here is the hint:
Let's all get together and buy out all these unhappy mongrels and make all the noise that we can with our aircrafts and once again get back to do what we all paid for at the beginning of our flying carrier.
The freedom that we all paid for.

TO FLY FREE!!

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

Hmm, can't see much to complain about re. noise in the video, that Cessna seems to have been able to take off and climb with around 1000 rpm... in fact after the "Engine failure" it is still climbing!:cool:

Maybe eliminating the doppler effect, as they to have here, can enhance climb performance at low or even zero power settings?
:confused: I think we should be told.

[Maggott17]

The video shows a C172 taking off and supposedly crashing into a house on Matthews Ave.

I thought it was a Partenavia that crashed after either a simulated EFATO or a real one.

They didn't even attempt to get there facts straight.

[trashie]

Spent 8 years of my life lobbying both Federal and State Governments to keep Essendon open through the airport's Chamber of Commerce. One night organised to have all bank and air ambulance aircraft divert to Tullamarine on return in peak hour, average delay was 55 minutes.

We were able to keep Essendon open based on logical argument not on the emotional cr*p that the airport's protagonists used. We were also able to show that 90% of residents wanted it to remain open.

Sadly, one of the main anti airport lobbyists was and still is Kelvin Thompson the Labour Member for Wills, so with the current government, I am sure our Mr F*x could see some great opportunities to push the debate with thompson for closure and earn himself a nice little fortune for dedevelopment.

I would say watch this space!!!!

[Capt Wally]

like I said, there's some more 'foxing' to be done yet!, indeed watch this space!



CW

[Walrus 7]

People,

Has anyone read the current master plan for EN? The airport is leased for 99 years and must be operated as an airport, although development of the surrounding land for other purposes is permitted. The airport is only partly owned by Linfox (public knowledge) and they are in the transport game. Certainly they stand to make a packet from the land development, but they are also trying to attract more corporate aviation and are building new hangars to try to accommodate more jets and big twins. If you weren't serious about the airport, you'd put nothing into the infrastructure of the aviation facilities ... sort of like Bankstown I suspect.

The master plan also mentions a committment to two runways, albeit a shortened 17/35.

Linfox stands to gain nothing from closure because they don't own the land. All they would get is a lease payout fee of some sort, and I'd almost bet that figure would be less than a 99-year cash stream from sub-leasing the developed land.


Walrus

[A. Le Rhone]

Contact details for this 'concerned group' of altruistic individuals:


Contact Us
http://www.closeessendonairport.com/images/M_images/emailButton.png [email protected] ([email protected]) http://www.closeessendonairport.com/images/M_images/con_tel.png (03) 9379 1185

or directly:

Helen van den Berg on behalf of CEAC Incorporated
[email protected] ([email protected])

Suggest mature, rational, non-abusive & reasoned emails though, aggressiveness won't help the cause to keep EN operational.

[ryanduo]

My sister lives between the tulla & Essendon airport.

The noise level is indeed incredible - the freeway drowns out all airport noise.

[Giggles aircraft]

Guys

The airport will not be closing down. The activists are simply taking advantage of a revised Essendon Airport Master Plan which was just submitted to the Minister for approval. It's a requirement that this is done every 5 years.

Furthermore, the change in Government has meant that people, including local Federal Members who have stated that they will close the airport once Labour won Government federally, are now in an awkward position and the activists are exploiting that.

The Government aviation policy review has also come at an opportune time.

However, the owners have recently invested many millions (about $6 million I think) in replacing runway lighting and have built four new aircraft hangars (also many millions). Also Airservices recently replaced the ILS and the State Government are building a new Police Air Wing and Air Ambulance facility at the airport after extensive studies into alternate sites.

The owners of the airport have aircraft based at the airport, and the owner also has many mates who have aircraft based there. Changes are occuring, but the airport is looking better than it ever has.

Writing to the activists won't acheive much. Support needs to be expressed to Federal members of Parliament, in particular the Minister.

[Cap'n Arrr]

Hmmm...., CEAC Incorporated?

a dot com (not .org) website?

Sounds dodgy to me. Certainly not "Not for Profit"



Here's another great idea. You moved near an airport. You discovered that for one reason or another (potential reasons being sheer stupidity, intolerance and wowserism) you can't deal with the minor inconvenience of a plane flying over every once in a while (yet to work out how planes stop you from reading:confused:).

So here's the simplest and most logical solution, for your sanity and that of those around you.

MOVE THE F:mad:K AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT!!!!!!

[Capt Wally]

Yr right 'giggles' ...........Writing to the activists won't acheive much. Support needs to be expressed to Federal members of Parliament, in particular the Minister...... But any group that has an influence at any level as to the safe operation of EN is to be considered a threat.

I believe they won't ever close it down in my lifetime & they won't be able to significally change the airports master long term plan either but they could very well modify it thru being a bunch of pests to the point where it becomes less & less attractive to A/C owners & therefore over time slowly loose it's impetus (not too sure on spelling on that one) as an integral part of Mebournes transportation system.

For now it's pretty safe, or should that be 'safeway'?:E

Cw

[Teal]

From the following link:
http://www.mooneevalleyleader.com.au/article/2008/06/09/36589_mvv_news.html


Essendon Airport dogfight
Cathy Nilbett
09Jun08

ESSENDON Airport would be closed and a residential and business precinct built in its place under a submission by the State Government.
In its submission to the Essendon airport draft master plan, the Government opposed increased private aviation activity and said the plan did not consider the impact on the surrounding communities.
Strathmore resident Frank Gandolfo, whose property backs on to the airport, said the airport couldn't be closed soon enough.
A Strathmore resident for 35 years, Mr Gandolfo said the airport operators were "opportunists in it for the dollar".
"The airport was a sleepy hollow but it's waking up," Mr Gandolfo said.
"Aviation is being moved closer to people's homes and it's just gone ballistic."
Essendon Airport chief executive Tim Anderson said there was no intention to close the airport "in the near future".
Mr Anderson said he would prepare a response to the State Government's submission.
"We're obliged to keep the airport operating under federal legislation," Mr Anderson said.
"We've developed the airport and we are very committed to it."
Essendon state Labor MP Judy Maddigan said she wanted the airport closed and the Commonwealth land used for the community such as a sports ground or homes for the elderly.
Ms Maddigan said that, because the airport did not follow state or local planning policies, anything could be built there without community consultation.
"There need to be proper processes to ensure that the community is protected," Ms Maddigan said.
There are about 55,000 takeoffs and landings at Essendon Airport each year.
Domestic and international flights were moved from Essendon Airport to Melbourne Airport in 1971.
Essendon Airport was bought by the Becton and Linfox Groups for more than $22 million in 2001.
"Aviation is being moved closer to people's homes...". Funny that. I thought that over the decades the houses had actually crept up to the airport boundaries.

Thank God the State Govt doesn't run aviation.

[Capt Wally]

ah they can whinge & scream all they like, in fact I love it, the more they get p****d off the better I feel:)Love it, there is a God afterall:ok:
Even if by some billion to 1 chance that the airport was to be closed it would take years to wind it up & in that mean time we would fly lower than ever over the whingers houses just to finish them off:bored:
I wonder if MP Judy realises that even if closed there would still be planes flying overhead to ML (right base rwy34) or should we move Tulla bit further out 'till MP Judy is in a retirement home herself under the new Tulla flightpath!:)

I reckon Darryl Kernigan was a top bloke, he knew a good buy when he bought his house next to En & made it into a castle!:}
.....how much does he want for it?.........tell 'em he's dreamin' !:ok:


CW

[Flying Binghi]

Anybody able to post a 1930s house free photo of Essendon Airport ?

I seem to recall seeing an old aerial photo in a flying mag a while back.

[wesky]

Google Images

http://www.mvcc.vic.gov.au/page/Images/LI_EssendonAerial.jpg

http://www.mvcc.vic.gov.au/page/Images/LI_Airportaerial.jpg

http://www.ernmphotography.com/Pages/Aviation/Aircraft/Misc/Essendon/Ac080_700.jpg
^^^^^Let's see em complain back then!

[Walrus 7]

I see the tower is still using the same console ...

[Capt Wally]

I have a tear in my eye from that tower pix:{ Such memories as a kid riding my bike across the paddocks to stand up on the ob deck & see just that, fantastic tnxs 'wesky':)


CW

[Howard Hughes]

As a kid in the early seventies I lived on Pascoe Vale road, at the flats across from the Oak Park swimming pool. Every 3 to 5 minutes an aircraft would fly over and it would be enough to shake the foundations and move all the pictures on the walls!:eek:

Mum would dutifully straighten them and then the same thing would happen again five minutes later.

Those were the days!:ok:

Bring back the JT3D I say, God's own engine...;)

[Mr. Boeing]

I emailed the pressure group asking why they moved there in the first place knowing that there was an airport there. That was a good four or more weeks ago and the silence is deafening. Still waiting for a response.

[Capt Wally]

'HH' yr not gunna believe this but I gew up not far from you & used to go to the paco rd pool (that's what we called the pool) all the time & I remember those cream coloured flats (I think) across the rd from the pool, in fact dated a girl there also some years latter, plz don't tell me it was yr sister?:E Small world, very small world!:)


CW

[Howard Hughes]

in fact dated a girl there also some years latter, plz don't tell me it was yr sister?
Perhaps it twaz me mum!:eek:

PS: Wouldn't the greenies love the DC-9 getting airborne in the background...;)

[Flying Binghi]

Some good photos wesky, but I'm fairly certain there were some aerial photos that had even less houses - no luck for me on google yet.


Any one at Essendon Airport handy with a video camera ? may pay to youtube some Essendon activity to counter the miss-info offered by the anti airport clowns. The activity may be medical flights off loading for example...

[Bendo]

Here you go, kiddies!

Keep Essendon Airport Open (http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=5489&uid=16571130817#/group.php?gid=16571130817)

Posting in here (PPRuNe) might make you feel good, but it will have zero effect on the PR campaign they're running.

Posting on the KEAO facegroup will probably have the same effect, but non-aviation people might read it

Posting on the CEAG facebook page might actually be effective in substituting objective facts for the hyped up outrage spouted by CEAG :ooh:

Of course if it's counter productive and just draws the ants we can bin it too :ok:

[Flying Binghi]

"Posting in here might make you feel good, but it will have zero effect"


Bendo, I disagree. Post in every forum you can :) :ok:

[Roger Standby]

Gotta laugh, if you follow the links through to the signature page, the google ads at the bottom are promoting Helicopter trial flights.. Gold!!!

[silversaab]

Some good photos wesky, but I'm fairly certain there were some aerial photos that had even less houses - no luck for me on google yet.

I expect these good folk can assist..

http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/

[Teal]

Plenty of old Essendon Airport pics online from the State and National Libraries, but you can't link to them or otherwise use the images without permission. The Airways Museum presumably has permission to use some of those images.

[neville_nobody]

There is a very old video clip for the bee gees song 'Spicks and Specks' which I believe was filmed at Essenden Airport. No houses in those days just bushland.

[Cap'n Arrr]

Haha! Just logged on to facebook, there are 13 for keeping the airport open group, and just the one (the guy who started it) for closing the airport. :D

Maybe d***heads are in the minority after all. 1/14 isnt bad.

[Azz]

I just emailed the 'close essendon airport' people this message;

I dont understand? You move next to or nearby an airport and then complain about the noise or danger, etc. So if you went and bought a house near a train line would you start a campaign to have the train line ripped up? Essendon airport has been there well before any of your houses were built, if you don't like it I suggest you move somewhere else. I currently do my flying at Moorabbin airport and believe me, it's 20 times busier than Essendon, yet none of the nearby residents complain, simply because the airport was there first, and they know that. There's a reason why houses that are near airports, train lines, freeways, etc, are cheaper than those that aren't. Maybe you guys should have thought of that before you bought your houses.

Interesting to see if they respond?

[Teal]

More bullsh*t ranting from this lunatic fringe group...."the public outcry is at fever pitch" they claim! WTF!

Ruling on Essendon Airport up in air - Leader News: Melbourne community news (http://www.mooneevalleyleader.com.au/article/2008/07/07/38509_mvv_news.html)

Ruling on Essendon Airport up in air

Anna Prytz
07Jul08
http://www.mooneevalleyleader.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2008/07/07/N02MV403A1.JPG
Close Essendon Airport campaigners.

PUBLIC outcry calling for the closure of Essendon Airport is reaching fever pitch but a Federal Government announcement is not expected to be made for at least six weeks.
Members of the Close Essendon Airport Campaign (CEAC) gathered at Niddrie Community Hub last month to discuss the continuing use and proposed expansion of the airport.
More than 100 people attended the meeting, all demanding the immediate closure of the airport.
CEAC member Helen van den Berg said residents were fed up.
"This has been an issue for a long time. The increased noise pollution and fumes over homes must stop," Ms van den Berg said.
"In August 2001, we had a rally and shadow minister for transport at the time, Martin Ferguson, said unequivocally that the airport did not need to be open and would in fact close.
"We want to know Government aren't going to go back on this pledge by approving the new master plan, which would worsen the problems."
Despite the pressure of the group's requests, a date for the Government decision regarding the Essendon Airport's Master Plan remains elusive.
Transport Minister Anthony Albanese received the airport's submission but a late State Government submission has drawn out a decision.
"The Victorian Government handed their submission in late so now we're awaiting the airport's response to this," said Mr Albanese's spokesman, Jeff Singleton.
"Once we receive their response, the clock starts again and the minister will have 50 working days to either approve or reject it," Mr Singleton said.
Ms van den Berg said that, no matter what the outcome of the Federal decision, CEAC and other parties would not stop fighting.

[vee1-rotate]

i really think its about time that a proper Keep Essendon Airport Open group is established...if these people keep at it, god knows what could happen, with the voice coming from one side only. I am a local and would be happy to do whatever it takes to keep the airport open, just need someone of high caliber to take the lead!

[Howard Hughes]

From what I have seen most of the noise in the Essendon area comes from the jets on a right base for 34 at ML! A jet at 3000ft has a much larger noise footprint than a 172 at 500ft...:rolleyes:

PS: Their evidence seems scant at best, a few accidents many years ago and they haven't even put forward any evidence regarding 'fumes'! What f&#@ing fumes?

[wesky]

...and they live behind a freeway :)

It is very sad.

[Awol57]

I lived in Airport West for 12 months, on the extended centreline of RWY 26 (maybe 1.5km from the airfield) and I very rarely heard any aircraft noise. Most of the Air Ambulance flights were pretty high by my house, the most noice came from POLAIR operating in the area and the Calder FWY.

Whinging nancies I reckon.

[nig&nog]

Has there been a study done on how much pollution all the additional housing or development that would occur would affect the area if the airport was to close. With the already congested roads and old infrastructure, how would it handle the influx. I remeber only 10 years ago the whole essendon area sewage system going under major repairs because it hadnt been touched since early 1900's. lots of those old ceramic pipes still laying under ground.

Nig

[Mr. Boeing]

How abvout some of us get some letters off to the editors of the daily papers?

[flyinggit]

A friend of mine who lives near the airport said that Essendon Airport is going ahead big time with many new buildings going up, doesn't sound like it's going to be closed anytime soon?
A plane can crash many miles from an airport, airports are only one spot where they can crash, how about we ban planes all together, would there then be clean air, a safer environment & noise free places? I doubt it!.

If the police are there and the Ambulance service one would think that to move them would mean Tulla perhaps & then I guess that would create delays to commercial flights both international & local?

Airporst around Syd here are always being looked upon as future developments I reckon , nowhere is safe anymore from the mighty dollar


FG

[Cap'n Arrr]

Howard - it's in their benefit for no evidence to be put forward, as there is no evidence to suggest that aviation fumes are any different than car fumes.:ok:

I agree completely that it's dangerous that only one side is getting attention, as the powers that be may think that it's what everyone wants. Any suggestions on top of forming a "Keep Essendon Airport Open" ?

I believe there was something similar done at BK by flying schools, started by DW of Basair. Anyone know if that's having any success? (slightly different aim I know)

[Centaurus]

There was a case in England a few years ago where a bunch of airport noise whingers were almost successful in getting a small airfield closed down. A smart lawyer then addressed their meeting at council chambers and advised them that their names had been noted and when a member of the group advertised his/her house for sale, they would be forced to declare to any buyer that aircraft noise or crash danger was the reason for selling. Of course this would scare away prospective buyers. The noise complaints soon faded away.

[Walrus 7]

If Lindsay wants to keep EN, then EN will stay. If the government doesn't approve the master plan then it will be lawyers at ten paces, and I suspect the government will lose in the courts, given that the courts would probably rule it unreasonable to allow land to be zoned for use as an airport then to prevent the land to be used for that reason. If the government wants to re-zone the land and terminate the lease, then they will owe Lindsay 99 years of lost income.

On the other side of the coin, it is now so expensive to use EN that's its value to aviation now has to be bought into question. There is no doubt about its value to Linfox.

Walrus

[Bevan666]

My aircraft is based at essendon, mainly due to it being the closest airport to home. I do not class it as 'so expensive'. Yes, they charge me $33 a landing, but parking is free (on a nice hardstand). With my usage, it is far cheaper at Essendon than Moorabbin, where they would charge me ~$3k to park a year on the grass.

Bevan..

[Walrus 7]

Bevan,

Itinerant aircraft get punished badly. It can cost up to $50 to use EN because they do pay a parking fee of $15 on top of the $30 landing fee. There's also a terminal navigation fee, but I'm not sure how much that is.

Walrus

[Teal]

As one small action against this lunatic fringe group, can I suggest that you all hit the link below (same link at post number 15), then scroll down to the bottom of the newspaper article where you can submit your own comments/feedback. There are only two comments so far (so much for 'fever pitch') - one in favour and one against. The person in favour of closing Essendon is actually the spokeswoman of this group and is quoted in the article!

Ruling on Essendon Airport up in air - Leader News: Melbourne community news (http://www.mooneevalleyleader.com.au/article/2008/07/07/38509_mvv_news.html)

[vee1-rotate]

I have posted a comment as well, hopefully it shows up soon.

[compressor stall]

Can someone supply the movements in a given week at EN with a breakdown of aircraft type?

Then it would be simple to calculate the total fuel burn (considering engine type) at takeoff fuel flow for 10-30 seconds that the aircraft would be over the surrounding suburbs (depending on aircraft type).

Then compare that with VicRoads data of the number of vehicles travelling along the Freeway. Calculate the cumulative fuel burnt in a week for all cars (east and west) travelling along the section of the freeway start at Bell St and finish at KPDrive in the west).

That should blow their argument out of the water. To rub salt into the wound, add the Tulla Freeway. Then add Bulla Rd, etc etc....

A call to arms - who can get this data?

It needs to be done properly and each source has to be referenced in a proper scientific manner. Remember you are not creating arguments against rational people, you have to have every i dotted and t crossed.

CS

[vee1-rotate]

heres a start CS.

Movements at Australian Airports (http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/reports/maa.asp?id=2008)

Gives monthly movement totals, broken down, for all Australian airports.

Good to see a few more people have commented on that article, not sure if they are from here, good to see nonetheless

[compressor stall]

The following are rough calculations, and I invite people to refine the very broad data that I have used.

Let's use February data as listed above - 296 movements over 7 tonnes, 3448 below 7 tonnes - this divides nicely by 4 (yes I know it was a leap year, but good enough for now) giving: 74>7000kg and 862<7000kg.

Note movements are defined as a takeoff or landing.

Using the formula: Movements (n) * time in sec (t) /3600 *fuel burn (lt/hr) gives the total fuel for the period.

Let's start with the movements over 7 tonnes. Most are probably GLEX and GIVs. TOGA fuel burn of 1000kg/hr(?) and from start of takeoff roll to "outta there" in 30sec. On landing, 500kg/hr(?) - and 30 sec for approach and landing. That averages at 750kg/hr for 30 seconds per movement - 937lt/hr.

Sooo... 74*30/3600*937 = 577 lt per week.

Now for less than 7000kgs.

20% turboprop (172 movements @ 350lt/hr for 35 sec) = 172*35/3600*350=585lt
40% piston twin (344 movements@ 100lt/hr for 45 sec) = 344*45/3600*100=430lt
40% piston single (344 movements @ 45lt/hr for 45 sec) = 344*45/3600*45=194lt.

Total fuel burnt in the skies around EN airport in one week is 1786 litres.

Now it's 6kms from Bell St to either Airport West Westfield or Keilor Park Drive. How many trucks travelling along the freeway will burn this amount of fuel?

A semi travelling at 100km/h will burn 50lt(?)/100km. That's 3 litres to travel the 6kms.

1786/3 = 595 trucks per week. That's 87 a day. 3 per hour.

So from these rough calculations it shows that just THREE (3) trucks per hour driving along the Freeway from Bell St to Airport West will burn the same fuel as all the aircraft using EN airspace.

Then there's the rest of the trucks, all the cars and all the other streets!

Please comment and correct the assumptions I have made above...


This is a powerful statistic and needs to be refined, vetted and publicised.

Can an ATC provide a further breakdown of the AC types using EN and thier frequency?

[Cap'n Arrr]

Looking back at that article, theres 11 comments now. Helen van den Schnitzel is still the only one FOR closing the airport.

CEAC = FAIL:ok:

[OZBUSDRIVER]

CS, if it helps, Heavy trucks burn on average 50l per 100km. So, using your calcs that is about 560 trucks which would trundle past the merge every couple of hours every day of the working week.

[thunderbird five]

Of the three major aircraft accidents at Essendon.... has anyone here twigged: none of them actually happened at Essendon airport.....:cool:

[compressor stall]

Thanks OZBusDriver, recaculating using your info suggests that it's only 3 trucks per hour over the 6km route that gives the same fuel burn as all the aircraft using EN.

An even MORE damning statistic.


If ENs runways are turned into factories and warehouses, the net pollution traffic will INCREASE as it's fair to say that warehouses and factories etc being operated would have more than 3 trucks hour in an out.

[Teal]

Ironically I was at Essendon today and heard local liberal MP Kelvin Thompson on AM radio news calling for the airport's closure because of the 'lack of a bufferzone'. Couldn't find a press release or anything on his website so it must have been just a 10-second audio grab to raise his profile in the electorate. Interestingly, I noticed brand new houses in streets adjacent the airport entrance (York Street, etc), which makes a mockery of claims that residents only bought into the area thinking the airport was about to close.

BTW, for anybody interested, at 7 York St you will find the 'TAA Museum', hidden away next to the QF Training Managers offices. Much to my son's disappointment it was closed today, as was the Airways Museum on the airport itself.

[Cap'n Arrr]

Just saw this pearler of a comment on the article mentioned on the previous page, by a Keith Thomas of Gladstone Park:

Dear Sir or Madam, Glad to see someone who is focusing on the issue at hand, and not have their heads up in the air (pun not intended). Me - well, I'm just a new-age-urban-warrior Not-In-My-Back-Yard (NIMBY) campaigner, who likes to sit on his back in the garden on sunny weekends and do nothing but whinge about other peoples' business and things that make the world go round.

When the weather is bad my telly drowns out all of life's nasty noises. I live next to a motorway and am sick and tired of the noise all those cars, buses and trucks make. I have written to my MP, demanding that he take immediate action to severely curtail vehicular movements on the stretch of road passing my house. The local rail network is now under increasing pressure (from me) to cut down on its traffic - or face complete closure. I simply don't want this kind of noise on my doorstep. I find it unacceptable that a diesel-powered locomotive, pulling thousands of tons of freight, aggregates, animals or people should be permitted to rumble and thunder through my neighbourhood. The disturbances caused by trains must stop.

The terrible noise of children at play, in the neighbouring school, was reduced somewhat from the initial 87db, following my vociferous representations to the Education Authority. After a short period at around 57 db, the level of noise increased, back to the original 87db and, as a result, the school has been closed down - on my insistence. So far, my memo to the Pest Control Department of my local counil has not been actioned. It contained details of a certain bird species which, since the start of spring, has been waking me at dawn with its "mating call". This is noisy AND disgusting and I have, therefore, suggested that the council employ marksmen, lay poison or humanely capture the creatures and release them to a bird sanctuary, where they will be unable to cause distress to taxpayers, like myself. My MP is in agreement.

More recently, I have enlisted the help and assistance of Mrs Sytner (wife of Frank, the BMW dealership boss). Together, we will fight to prevent cows from mooing to one another and making smells in the countryside outside of normal waking hours. Pollution of rural areas should not be tolerated by people who have paid a premium to live in the country. As soon as we have raised sufficient funds, our activities will be broadened to include lobbying the Federal Parliament to fund the latest genetically modified sheep larynx. This new bioresearch project will virtually eliminate "baa-ing" noises from the country - making it a more peaceful place to live in.

[Teal]

Excellent.

The Sydney article at this link (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/30/1059480413111.html) is five years old but still worth a read.

Excerpts:

Sydney Airport has been at Mascot since 1921, when most of the houses they bought at a discount because of the noise had not yet been built.The scenario goes that when people from the leafy suburbs move into inner Sydney, they find life noisier than in the old neighbourhood. But instead of adapting to their funky new surroundings, they set about rearranging the furniture, complaining to councils, police and the EPA about noises from enterprises that were operating before their own homes were a twinkle in a developer's eye....new neighbours in townhouses built within the last five years are making life hell. At least one in pyjamas has been bombarding shop-owners and council with complaints about the noise from early-morning bread and milk deliveries...Sounds familiar.

[vee1-rotate]

there's another boring article on the close essendon campaign in this weeks leader newspaper. Seems they must have some good friends working in the paper to be a able to get so many articles published of their nonsense. Interestingly, they Are holding a meeting at the essendon keilor college on July 23rd which I am thinking of attending incognito to see what they are going on about. Would suggest some other ppruners to come along as well.

[Carlos169]

Someone really needs to start a "Save Essendon Airport" group with some facts to show people just how moronic this "community group" is.

People out there probably think that because there is no visible opposition to these morons that they must have a valid point.

I started bleeding from my brain and knew that death would soon follow if I continued to watch that moronic you tube video of their's. People like this are far more dangerous to people's health than the airport is.

I bet that logic, reason and basic maths would be beyond them.

[Teal]

Couldn't see any new references to Essendon Airport at the Leader's online pages. At least the online comments in response to their 7 July article are now running 13 to 1 in favour of keeping the airport open.

[Flying Meat Cleaver]

Wheres Chopper!? We need Chop Chop to organize some natural selection of these people. Obviously there is a chromosome missing somewhere here.
F:mad:ing Idiots.:ugh:

FMC.

[gandt2]

I wonder if they will print it???? lol

Wow!!!! I'm impressed. More than 100 residents! Until recently I lived for ten years on Pascoe Vale Rd almost directly under the approach path for Rwy 35 at Essendon. I knew when I moved into the house that the airport was close by. I saw aircraft flying over when i inspected the property. I actually factored that into my decision before i moved in. I now have some simple questions...Were these 'more than 100 residents' too dull to consider this? Did they not notice the aircraft before they chose to live in such close proximity to an airport? Did they not look at a Melways and say to themselves, "Gee, thats rather close to Essendon Airport!"? Did they not associate an airport with aircraft? Are these fools really my neighbours? Now before the 'more than 100' accuse me of moving due to aircraft, I have purchased property in Gowanbrae! Almost directly under the approach to Rwy 17, close to the airport! but further away from Pascoe Vale Road which is a far greater producer of noise and air pollution! To the 100, I beg of you please please please think before you speak! Idiots!

[flyinggit]

Does anybody actually know how long these '100' or so have been active enough to seriously want Essendon Airport closed? Looking at Google Earth Mapping seems like there are a lot more than 100 living very close & yet only a handful of 'noisy' residents are doing (trying to) anything about it.
Aviation, semething that was embraced many many years ago by our founding fathers who realised that flying was the only way to cover vast distances within this great land in a timely manor, let us now close & seriously restrict airports 'cause they are too noisy for the few then decide how we can transverse this land without disturbing anybody!
Progress, sometimes people put a minus in front of it!



FG

[bushy]

The last word destroys what could be a good response.

[OzFlyer07]

Save Essendon Airport Group (http://www.saveessendonairport.com/)

[bullamakanka]

Hi All

As you can see from the "cut and paste" from the close essendon airport group there is a public rally coming up. How about we all head down in uniform, or even better, do a fly past on the day.

I live about 300m to the north of the approach to runway 26, just prior to the outer marker. There is a great view from my decking of aircraft on approach to land. It is supurb!!! I dont want them closing it down.

I have meet some of the people behind the campaign. They really have no idea what style of aviation the airport supports. There blanket response to every thing is move it to tulla! The other suggestion they made in my discussion with them was that the RFDS aircraft must have quieter engines installed ?? They are very emmotional about the issues and are difficult to have a logical conversation with.

I wonder if they realise that half of the aircraft that overfly the pasoce vale area are on approach to runway 34 at Melbourne, not essendon? They cite air pollution as a major issue. I expect a few heavies overflying will produce more pollution than the light aircraft movements into Essendon. Does this mean they will try and shut Tulla also?
The heavies also have a fair bit of airframe noise at this point. Just as much as the lighties.

The group is really selfish, just wanting to make their own street a little quiter and apparently safer. Yet they expect other suburbs surrounding Tulla, Adelaide, Sydney, parafield, bankstown etc to harbour these "issues".

Another gripe they had was the "threat" of an aircraft landing on their house. I was delighted to point out the the guy that his daily drive to work posed him much greater risk, yet he was happy to do that 5 days a week!

Rant over.

Bulla






Come to Close Essendon Airport
Public Rally

Show your support

Sunday 31 August 2008
On the 26 August 2001 (and at each subsequent election) the ALP
Shadow Minister for Transport Confirmed that a future ALP Government would

CLOSE ESSENDON AIRPORT

THE COMMUNITY HAS HAD ENOUGH!No more Clayton’s Curfew
No more Jets and Helicopters
No more Aircraft Noise and Fumes
No more Air Crashes at Essendon Airport
No more Taxpayer/Ratepayer Subsidisation of ‘Fat Cats’ airport

Speakers will include the Hon Kelvin Thomson MP – ALP

GATHER AT 12.30 pm Corner Keilor & Treadwell Ave Niddrie
DEPART at 1pm for a Walk to Essendon Airport
[Melways Map 16-B11 and Tramstop 52]
Bring family, friends and your protest sign

CONTACT: CEAC INCORPORATED 9379 1185

[airtags]

an interesting exercise would be to map those homes sold/purchased within the last 8 years and match the addresses to the proponents of the protest - people bought cheap because of the airport proximity then (like in SYD) - they want everyone to compensate them.

I don't care what anyone says but Mike Falls' DC3 cruising in at dusk on a summer's evening with the CBD skyline in the background is a magic image that stops traffic, ............I'd even bet that the most passionate airport opponent would (quietly) agree.

Did however note that the airport protestors are a little light on solutions of where to park the Air Ambulance, Police, AMSAR, and the odd Skycrane in the bushfire season. As for the token pollie attending....well light on is probably an appropriate description.

Maybe offer the protestors a raffle for a ride around the city in a JetRanger or Squirrell with funds going to the RFDS might be a good counter point on the day! :E

[compressor stall]

Um....Why don't we turn up with some save EN airport signs?

Look at my calcs on the previous page - the fuel burned by all the aircaft using EN equals three trucks an hour from Bell St to West Ring Road.

CS

[Cap'n Arrr]

YES! Please do, there's 6 days left, how many people in the area can we get to show up (I'll be in another state unfortunately).

Imagine the crushing defeat when there are more people there trying to keep the airport open than close it!:ok::E

Invite your friends and take photos!:D

[nomorecatering]

Count me in. Will be there in full uniform.

[Capt Wally]

Oh I can't wait, I'm on shift that day & maybe I'll do a few engine run ups more than normal in those 'noisy' engines:E If I get the chance I'll wander down to the rally in my ambo uniform & perhaps get a say with a typical story like this.
Sorry maddam yr father (whom lives in a distant rual town of Vic) passed away from his injuries whilst out on the farm 'cause I/We where not allowed to takeoff 'till 7am the following morning (instead within an hr of his accident) due the new enforced curfew. He passed away whilst enroute I believe because it was thought, by some, that taking off in a timely manor to save another human being would disturb those few others whilst watching TV game shows !!!!:ugh:
To think that these few really believe in closing EN will make a scrape of difference to their pathetic lives!:bored:

At least we can take solace in the fact that EN won't be closing down in the near future despite the silly selfish & idiotic beliefs of the uneducated.

CW

[bullamakanka]

I think i might go along. My sign will read something like this..

Close Essendon Airport
Close the Air Ambo's
Close Polair
Close Amsar
Shut down a vital link to our regional cities
Cripple general aviation
Remove vital service from our community
It will increase my homes value by 15% !

[Carlos169]

http://www.saveessendonairport.com/ is not working.

[Carlos169]

Their silly website states that JET A-1 fuel is:
May be irritating to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Breathing of high vapour concentrations may cause dizziness, light-headedness, headache, nausea and loss of co-ordination. Continued inhalation may result in unconsciousnessFirst of all this and other examples relate to direct contact with the fuel OR concentrated vapors which I doubt these householders would experience.
Second of all I was wondering how much Jet A-1 is actually used and stored at Essendon? I was under the impression that the average aircraft at Essendon would not use JET A-1.

Someone needs to inform the fuel company local to Essendon airport about the rally and get some representatives down to the demonstration with large shinny graphics and posters comparing fuels and how much pollution they actually receive off the freeways running around the airport.

A bit of logic, reason and basic maths will probably be like daylight to vampires for these people...

[fritzandsauce]

Maybe Tiger should move outta Tulla and move into Essendon :ok:

LOL

I hope their protests make it to TV so we can see what the bogans look like :yuk:

[JonathanR]

...and it is certainly my view that the Essendon Airport site has outlived its aviation usefulness and that its future lies in non-aviation activities...

Given this man is a politician, we need to change his view. We could all chip in ten bucks or something and make a positive contribution to his views.

Perhaps I could sell 'paradigm change' shares on eBay, and donate the proceeds to Kelvin's 're-education'. I'll work on it, and report back.

[Cap'n Arrr]

So do you think there'll be enough to outnumber the loud minority?:E

[tio540]

My ex brother in law bought an house under the approach to Rny 26 at En several years ago. I said at the time, "Don't you think the aircraft noise might bother you?" He said that it was like the railway lines, that you get used to it.

Two weeks later he was on the committee to close the airport. The point is he only bought there because houses were cheap. :bored:

[Teal]

I'm puzzled as to how the key organiser (Ms. Van Den Berg) can hear aircraft, let alone smell their fumes (allegedly). The online white pages shows her at Spring Street in Niddrie, about 200 metres from the Calder Highway, with Keilor Road and Fullarton Roads straddling the freeway, along with highway on-ramps and exits. Up the road in the big Interchange for the highway and Western Ring Road. The noise and fumes from the massive volumes of traffic there must be horrendous. You couldn't pick a worse location if you wanted peace and quiet, and fresh air! :ugh:

[OZBUSDRIVER]

A perfect protest would be to fly in to EN and meets these :mad: at the front gate and protest these so and soes trying to shut down our community.

[Giggles aircraft]

The protest has been held and has concluded. Only about one hundred people turned up, including about 20 kids with their parents. Kelvin Thompson and Judy Madigan did most of the speaking about nothing we haven't all heard before.

Pretty much a non-event really. It'll be interesting to see if Judy and Kelvin win pre-selction of their seats for their next election. Word has it they're on the outer within their own party ranks.

[Capt Wally]

Lousy WX & the fact that when it comes crunch time as in an actual attendance of a protest the masses stay at home, a place where they are the safest, outside a plane could fall on them at any time !:bored:
I was at work today & didn't see 'em b4 I left but they are fading away like the paint on our planes !:bored: It would take years to wind up ops at EN anyway so if that be the case I reckon we ought to have all the crashes for the next 50 yrs done over the next year or so right on their houses, of course killing nobdy just wrecking a few outhouses & disturbing their 'home & away episodes'!:E
One of our guys was bailed up by a couple of the wankers down the local street the other day wearing his monkey suit & when asked about closing the airport he said bloody oath, dangerous place it is I certaintly wouldn't want to live next to that place with all the danger. He said they where somewhat lost for words, didn't know what to say! Had to laugh, no answer for his response, empty heads they are, still they are a source of entertainment I guess for us:ok:


CW

[fritzandsauce]

ABC News website just posted

About 100 people have attended a protest at Melbourne's Essendon Airport calling for the facility to be closed.
Organisers say residents want the property developed for affordable housing, student accommodation, retirement housing and commercial businesses.
Helen van den Berg from the Close Essendon Airport Campaign says the airport is a hazard, and it is not just a case of people being woken up at night.
"The AV-gas fumes have become a very serious issue to people, they're keeping their windows closed, and they're noxious and toxic," he said.
"The safety concern with an airport thats runways are too short... there's no buffer zone between the residential and the runways, we've already had three terrible accidents in this area, and there's the fear of more."

[Teal]

Channel Seven's coverage of the 'protest' can be found at the link below:

YouTube - Essendon Airport protest group (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-4phmVqkXY)

Feel free to comment.

[Led Zep]

I much prefer the smell of burnt avgas to burnt unleaded...unleaded stinks!

[OZBUSDRIVER]

I think these idiots need to rent their noses out to the EPA if they are that sensitive.

[AirBumps]

Hey guys,

I've done a search but haven't seen this mentioned here on PPrune... Feel free to lock/delete if it has been

Get the place heritigate listed, now theres a good idea!

Save Essendon Airport (http://www.saveessendonairport.com/)

Go in and sign the petition.

AB

[Jet Crew]

The Close Essendon Airport Group (http://www.closeessendonairport.com)

I have only just come across the above group trying to close down Essendon airport. I trained at Essendon in the good old days !!

I was just searching to see if there is anything more on them and I found another group who is the opposite

The Save Essendon Airport Group (http://www.saveessendonairport.com.au)

P.S I am new to this forum so hope it's not against the rules to post websites but thought it is something that concerns all of us.

[John Eacott]

Here are some interesting links: Melways for 1966,

Essendon Airport (http://www.custommaps.net/images/016.jpg)

and just for fun,

Tullamarine Jetport (http://www.custommaps.net/images/005.jpg) and Moorabbin Airport (http://www.custommaps.net/images/087.jpg) :ok:

Note the tram terminus into Essendon Airport, good old Lancefield Road, and as for Moorabbin :hmm:

[Jet Crew]

The Save Essendon Airport Group (http://www.saveessendonairport.com.au) seems to be working hard to save the airport.

I see they have redesigned there website and they are running radio commercials across the major radio networks.

There petition has gone up to 72 in less than 18 hours, I wonder when they start there TV commercial as it says its about to be launched.

[VH-XXX]

This was in the news today...

ESSENDON Airport has suffered a major blow with the Brumby Government stepping up its push to transform the lucrative site.
Premier John Brumby confirmed in State Parliament that the Government wanted to close the airport.
He said it was government policy to close the site in the medium to long term but he did not say when.
He was responding to a Coalition question about Victoria's submission to a national aviation inquiry.
The submission states: "It was evident in the 1950s that Essendon Airport had already been constrained by residential development that had occurred during the early 20th century.
"Curfews at Essendon Airport have resulted and, while the airport remains operational, these need to remain."
It said the Melbourne 2030 plan recognised the airport's specialised functions "related to aviation, freight and logistics but notes that in the medium term this facility should be closed as an airport and transformed into a significant employment and residential precinct."
Opposition industry and state development spokesman Richard Dalla-Riva said the move would cost thousands of jobs.
He said the airport was an important transport hub and should be preserved.
"It's a disgraceful decision by a government that should be more worried about holding on to jobs than destroying people's livelihoods," he said.
His comments follow recent concerns in the Essendon area about the safety of the airport.
Many residents want the airport closed because of the danger of crashes.

[Teal]

"...it was government policy to close the site in the medium to long term but he did not say when."The 'long term' can be a long time...at least as long as the lease that was signed between the current airport operators and the Federal Government - 50 years plus a 49 year option!

"The submission states: "It was evident in the 1950s that Essendon Airport had already been constrained by residential development that had occurred during the early 20th century."Rubbish. There was very little residential development in the area when the airport first opened. A cursory examination of early airport photos confirms that.

[Cap'n Arrr]

Many residents want the airport closed because of the danger of crashes.

If you're that paranoid about aircraft crashes, perhaps moving next to an airport isn't the best choice you could have made.:rolleyes:

Perhaps if they moved away from the airport they'd find all this stress would go away.

On a similar vein, at my old school someone DID move away from the airport (shock horror:eek:), and moved into a property way out in whoop whoop. One day we got an angry phone call, as on of our aircraft did a PFL using one of her paddocks, and she was mighty upset that "we'd found her again!":E

[Capt Wally]

ah let 'em close it, nearly 60 yrs by their (Govt) reckoning as a 'medium to long term' plan is an awful long time & is fine by me. All the current residents complaining will either be dead & deaf by then anyway!:ugh:
I love to think that every time a plane takes off at EN & pi**ses off a resident they are living in hell! ahhh there is a God afterall:E


CW

[John Eacott]

FFS, what planet is Brumby on? Does he really think that Lindsay is spending all those $$$$$$ on infrastructure at EN to see it knocked down because of Labor Party 'policy' :hmm: If Brumby thinks that sort of approach will swell the coffers with Donations from Linfox, he's even more stupid than he looks :ugh:

Drive around EN tomorrow, and look at the new hangars, offices, roads, etc. LF didn't get his $billions by putting that sort of dosh into a lost cause :p

[Capt Wally]

Just as another slant on it John maybe, just maybe good 'ole Mr Fox ('cunning' name hey?:)) would like to see the place close down, as in the flying side of it in the future. Then he & Becton group I think it is would have a 99 yr lease in total on very prime real estate returning huge sums of money that perhaps might not have been allowable/achievable if it where not an airport in the first place? Either way Mr Fox will be very pleased in the end I believe. And I'm talking about 10 yrs to close the place down as far as planes go anyway & that to him (Mr Fox due his current age) is a long time !:) Just thinking out loud, where highly influential businessmen & the Govt are involved (as we saw during WW3) there would be much 'sus' dealings I'd say! Something is not quite right there, time shall tell all am sure:)

CW

p.s...........Brumby? put a red nose on him dress him in a funny suit & you have the ideal CLOWN !:yuk:

[airtags]

Agree John
it was a stupid pitch from Brumby although to be fair he is only echoing the mindless meanderings of two Permanent Heads of Dept and a few of their inept party prefered flunkies who blindly believe that the Melbourne 2030 plan is the universal saviour for our over governed city.

Melbourne 2030 itself is a flawed academic concept that fails to make the link between infrastructure and economic growth. In terms of 2030, EN is a sideline issue that barely rates a mention -

Spring Street should be more concerrned with sound planning and consider the integration of transport nodes with supply chain/DC development [as demonstrated by other states and even Local councils eg., Albury's integration of road/rail to facilitate Woolworths DC & the resultant agglomerated development.]

EN is prime located infrastructure whose environs have been eroded by successive poor planning decisions and short term politics.

Sadly to be successful in politics you need a firm robust opinion but to be really successful you need to be able to change it often - this 'annoucement' by Brumby is nothing more than a 'position' test for pending elections and a means by which leverage support from a faction within the local council (which quite coincidently has an election shortly)

AT
:E

[Teal]

Finally...some serious media coverage about the push to save the airport:

Save Essendon Airport Group counters community opposition | The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24330860-23349,00.html)

Save Essendon Airport Group counters community opposition

Steve Creedy, Aviation writer | September 12, 2008

A NEW group has launched a website, advertising campaign and petition aimed at saving Melbourne's Essendon Airport.
The Save Essendon Airport Group aims to counter recent moves by community activists from nearby suburbs to force the airport's closure.
The Close Essendon Airport campaign has called on the federal Government to oppose plans to expand corporate jet flights and develop new hangars. It argues public health and safety are at risk.
But the Save Essendon Airport Group says the airport, north of Melbourne central business district, serves a vital function as home to Victoria's air ambulance fleet, the Victoria Police Air Wing and fire-fighting aircraft.
They say the airport is a link to regional destinations and a convenient gateway to the city for business people.
They also argue that alternatives such as Moorabbin and Avalon are too far away and that shifting traffic from Essendon to Melbourne Airport would result in delays to passenger jets.
The group has already launched newspaper advertisements to support their argument, has a radio campaign poised to go and is looking at television campaigns.
Spokesman Lincoln Robinson said airport supporters had been discussing ways of counteracting pressure from their opponents for some time.
He said a rally last month had provided the final motivation. He was incensed by claims that the airport was dangerous.
Mr Robinson said the airport was established in 1922, long before residents moved in, and incidents quoted as evidence of the danger of an aircraft hitting a residential area were more than eight years apart.
"In relation to accidents, pollution and noise, there's more on the Tullamarine freeway," Mr Robinson said. "And Essendon Airport has a curfew."
Mr Robinson said the group would not be protesting in person but would work in the background to counter the Close Essendon Airport campaign.
"This group's out there saying it's dangerous and everything but there's not... a group out there that's doing the media and doing the other side of the argument and getting other facts out there," he said. "That's what we aim to do."
Mr Robinson was reluctant to say who was funding the campaign but said it was backed by "individuals putting in money" rather than companies.
He said regional carrier Sharp Airlines, which flies three times a day to the airport and is mentioned on the group's website, was not a financial backer.
But the new group may be fighting an uphill battle.
The Victorian Government told its federal counterpart in its submission to the federal aviation white paper that it expected Essendon to be closed "in the medium term".
This is despite a decision to build more air ambulance facilities there in the short term.
The submission said the airport had already been constrained by residential development early last century that had resulted in curfews.
"In this context, Melbourne 2030 recognises the current role of Essendon Airport in providing specialised functions related to aviation, freight and logistics, but notes that in the medium term this facility should be closed as an airport and transformed into a significant employment and residential precinct," it said.
This week, Victorian Premier John Brumby reaffirmed this was still government policy. "It (the submission) repeats almost verbatim that the Government's policy is that in the medium to longer term, Essendon Airport should be closed, and that has been the consistent view of the Government," he told the Victorian parliament.
Victorian Nationals leader Peter Ryan condemned the plan as a disgrace.
"Mr Brumby's confirmation that Labor will seek to close the airport 'in the medium term' will come as a blow to the aviation community who use the facility and the workers who are employed there," he said.
"This will also shock country and regional communities for whom Essendon Airport is a vital transit point in and out of Melbourne."
Mr Ryan said the airport had a rich history and had welcomed Charles Kingsford Smith, the Queen and the Beatles.
But it was the airport's present role that justified its retention. Numerous operators relied on it to provide charter and freight services and flying schools trained there.
The Save Essendon Airport Group's website is www.save essendonairport.com.au (http://www.saveessendonairport.com.au)

[kreugers]

maybe good 'ole Mr Fox ('cunning' name hey?) would like to see the place close down, as in the flying side of it in the future. :ok::ok:

Too right Wally. A source tells me he was lobbying the State Government about 6 yrs ago trying to have the aviation side moved to the old Laverton AFB and when that wasn't likely, Point Cook. May yet happen, although with 3000 houses approved for the northern boundary of YMPC and RWY 04/22 lighting now DCMSD, it's also on its last legs.:sad:

[B123456789]

Save Essendon Airport. The petition is going well. Keep up the good work.:)

[Jet Crew]

:ok: Good on you guys !!

I noticed the petition is up to 349 :D

[Teal]

From today's Weekly Times (online). Put this in your diaries if you can attend.


Essendon Airport supporters to meet
Lyndal Reading, October 7, 2008

SUPPORTERS of Essendon Airport will hold a public meeting to pressure the State and Federal Governments to leave the airport open.
Victorian Nationals leader Peter Ryan will address the public meeting, to be held at the main terminal on Friday, October 17 at 3pm.
The Save Essendon Airport Group is concerned about the future of the air ambulance and fire fighting appliances based at Essendon if the airport were to close.
The group has also raised concerns about the future of regional air services based at Essendon airport.
During the past month more than 640 people have signed an online petition of support for the group.
More information from the Save Essendon Airport Group website. (And please sign the petition if you haven't already done so).

Save Essendon Airport (http://www.saveessendonairport.com.au/)

Regards

T

[Capt Wally]

It's great to see/read some positive actions being taken to stop the few who think that EN is a threat to their idilic like in the burbs!

I'll bare my A** in the middle of Swanston St (in ML) if they close EN within 5 yrs, more like 10 yrs but ya never know the slimy pollies (''Dumby" for Eg) might have some clout over time.


CW

[Jet Crew]

Just looking at the TV news video on the website, seems like it would shut down Sharp Airlines. watch the video here (http://www.saveessendonairport.com.au/dl/win.wmv)

[FFG 02]

It is a lengthy article but hopefully puts a positive spin on the services located at Essendon.:D

From here to emergency: saving lives on the move | theage.com.au (http://www.theage.com.au/national/from-here-to-emergency-saving-lives-on-the-move-20081011-4ysq.html?page=-1)

However, maybe this is what the "Close Essendon Airport brigade because I want my property values to go up" need to read.

PETER Norton doesn't remember arriving at Stawell Hospital, so he can't say why he carefully pulled his blue-green Falcon into a space in the car park instead of driving straight to the emergency department door. Probably because it seemed the right thing to do.

It was 9.45am.ASSOCIATE unit manager Di Perry saw him coming. He was thick set with a full beard and in clear distress. He couldn't talk, only signal, and when she looked into his throat she saw why. His uvula, the grape of flesh dangling at the back of his mouth, was red and horribly swollen.

Ms Perry called Dr John Osborne-Rigby, the on-call emergency physician, at the Stawell Medical Centre. He was at the hospital in three minutes.

Peter, 51, appeared to have epiglottitis, a rare infection of the cartilage at the opening of the windpipe. His enlarged uvula was flopping backwards and forwards at the base of his tongue.

"It was a giant sort of thing. Inflamed and bloody-looking," says Dr Osborne-Rigby. "I've not seen one as big and fat and juicy as that thing for — well, ever."

They got Peter to the resuscitation room and injected him with antibiotics and steroids and put him on an adrenalin nebuliser to shrink the blood vessels. But nothing seemed to work. If the swelling worsened it would choke off his airway and he could die.

He needed to be intubated — to have a flexible plastic tube pushed down his trachea to provide mechanical ventilation — and he needed to have the procedure urgently.

Ms Perry called in anaesthetist Dr Adnan Rasheed, who was in the hospital working on the theatre list. Addi, as he is known by his colleagues, is small, gentle and — usually — softly spoken. Then he saw his patient.

"And it was 'Oh, ****!"' he says. "That was my first impression, but I couldn't show it on my face because as an anaesthetist you must be the last person to stress… He was in a mess. He was a very difficult case."

Peter had a short, thick bull neck, a characteristic dreaded by anaesthetists because it makes intubation difficult. His epiglottis and uvula were so enlarged, Dr Rasheed could not see past to his airway. He was aspirating muck into his lungs and even without X-rays it was clear he had pneumonia.

Worse, the 35-bed country hospital did not have the fibre-optical equipment needed to see behind the blockage so they could position the tube. Dr Rasheed called in surgeon Ben Yokhanis, in case it was necessary to perform an emergency tracheostomy, cutting a hole directly into Peter's windpipe.

"His life was in danger," Dr Rasheed says. "It's a matter of hours or minutes, who knows? His throat is so badly swollen if it closes and he can't breathe, it's life-threatening. And he was heading towards that."

It was time to seek outside help.

It was 10.25am.WHEN the phone rang in the couple of offices that is Adult Retrieval Victoria, based in the Metropolitan Ambulance Service building in South Melbourne, it set off a series of communications like a string of firecrackers. Each was aimed at saving the life of Peter Norton, 240 kilometres away.

Every week the service takes almost 50 similar calls. Around half of them set in train the same chain of medical and logistical operations that were now focusing on Peter.

Adult retrieval is a 24/7 lifeline to time-critical and critically ill patients and their doctors throughout the state. It has brought an equity of care to all Victorians. A single phone call can result in expert advice and assistance and, where necessary, retrieval by air or road of such patients and their transfer to a high-end unit at a Melbourne or major regional hospital.

Each patient is collected and accompanied by specialised teams of clinicians and paramedics.

The improved service began in November last year with the transfer of an existing retrieval service into the Metropolitan Ambulance Service. It has seen the system streamlined and made more service- and community-focused, says its director, Dr Marcus Kennedy. Within its first six months, the rate of retrievals doubled to about 520 — exactly the number of retrievals in the entire 2006-07 financial year — but as the result of only slightly more calls to the service.

"If you look at one thing that's made a monumental difference, it's by implementing a state-of-the-art communications capacity, which is all through being part of ambulance," he says.

Under the previous system calls would go through the St Vincent's Hospital switchboard and be channelled to a co-ordinator working on a mobile phone. Now, using a single statewide 1300 number, all calls go through the ambulance service's communications system and the adult retriever's call takers.

"Any time a referring doctor rings they'll be put on to a co-ordinator within two or three minutes," says Dr Kennedy.

"We can conference six or eight conversations at any one time with half a dozen people on them if we need to. Literally what happens is the hospital will ring us, give us the clinical information, and we'll provide them with immediate clinical advice at a high level.

"But we'll then leave them to look after the patient while we find a critical care bed, organise a platform — an aircraft or a vehicle — and get a retrieval physician or a MICA paramedic organised to get out there and get them. They really just need to ring us, hand it over, and we do the rest."

So when Dr Osborne-Rigby phoned at 10.25, he was patched through to the service's co-ordinator Dr Andre Vanzyl. They discussed Peter's symptoms and difficulties. At 10.32 the first calls went out looking for an intensive care bed. The service does three ring-arounds each day — at 11am, 6pm and midnight — to keep tabs on bed availability across the state, and things were tight. Bendigo was first port of call, but had nothing.

But whatever happened, Peter would have to be moved. Stawell Hospital does not have the capacity to keep a patient on mechanical ventilation. At 11.12 Adult Retrieval called the Air Ambulance Base at Essendon to check if a plane was available.

It was 11.25am.JACK Spencer was in the right place at the right time. A long-time senior emergency physician at The Alfred hospital, Dr Spencer has been one of the pool of 25 retrieval physicians for the past six years. But he has been doing retrievals, here and overseas, since he was a registrar.

"It's probably the great variety and almost the challenge of sometimes thinking outside the box," he says. "Saying, 'How the hell am I going to get this person with that condition from here to there. Can I do it?"'

But this Tuesday he was filling in, swapping the on-call shift with a colleague who had a funeral to attend. And, by coincidence, he was at an information session for Adult Retrieval staff at Essendon airport, directly across Nomad Road from the Air Ambulance, when his mobile rang. He crossed the bitumen, pulled on a blue flight suit and called Stawell.

Dr Rasheed told him he had made two attempts to get a tube in but had failed because of the upper airway obstruction. "That got me a little bit anxious," says Dr Spencer. He thought they'd needed to go to theatre for an emergency tracheostomy.

At Stawell, Autumn Brearley-Norton was more than a bit anxious. She paced outside the curtains of the resuscitation room listening to and catching glimpses of the drama within. She'd been called at her new job around 10.15. When she'd arrived Peter had been on the nebuliser mask.

He couldn't talk but scrawled a single-word note. It read: "Settlement?" and it took a moment to work out. She and Peter had bought a house after moving from Canberra at the end of July and settlement was due soon. She told him that was the least of his concerns and he wrote another note. It said "Sorrrrrry".

They'd been married for 13 years, the second time around for each. Peter was quiet, almost shy, and hated to inconvenience anyone. But he was giving the staff at Stawell plenty of work.

The Emergency Department there is not manned. When an urgent case comes in, responders are drawn from throughout the hospital. To care for Peter, the theatre list had been closed and nurses had been pulled from the wards. As well as the three doctors and Di Perry, unit manager Betty Newman, a theatre nurse, and a recording nurse had been called in, and Enid Smith, deputy director of clinical services, was overseeing them all and doing her best to comfort Autumn.

As time progressed, Dr Rasheed was worried at the failure to intubate. He needed to see inside the airway beyond the blockage, but without a fibre optic bronchoscope, he would have to find an alternative. "It was Addi's idea to try to adapt a cystoscope," says Dr Osborne-Rigby, "and you really don't want to know where that one goes."

A cystoscope is used to look into the bladder. It was wonderful lateral thinking, but the instrument was too short to reach as far as it was needed and guide in a tube.

"In a situation where you're not winning, to save a life you'll try anything," says Dr Rasheed. "But now I was thinking, 'I've fired all my guns. What next?"'

It was 12.58pm.KYM Anquetil put the red and white Superking Air 200C on to the runway at Stawell and taxied in past a couple of brutal-looking crop-dusters. She'd been flying professionally for 18 years. For half that time she'd been with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which contracts the planes and pilots to the Air Ambulance.

She liked the variety, challenge and the sometime drama of retrieval work. Such flights were classified Med One, with priority over all others. "You have a Qantas jumbo that's flown 15 hours from LA," she says. "But if we're up, too bad, they might have to wait another 15 minutes."

She'd taken off from Essendon at exactly midday, with Dr Spencer and MICA paramedic Neil Burden. An ambulanceman for 33 years, he'd started with the Air Ambulance in 1993. Now flight co-ordinator, he only gets to fly eight weeks in every year.

There was a taxi waiting to take the crew and three large bags of equipment to the hospital. They walked into the resuscitation bay about 1.08pm. Peter was sedated, paralysed and breathing through a tube. Dr Rasheed had finally managed to intubate him only three minutes before, using a laryngeal mask, which sits over the back of the throat.

"I was glad that God saved him from having his throat cut," he says. "Glad we'd maintained the airway, and very glad that as soon as I finished I saw the retrieval team. And you say, 'Oh yes. Thanks God'."

Peter was still in a rocky state, says Dr Spencer. His blood pressure was low and he gave him fluids and inotropic drugs to bolster it. He asked Dr Rasheed to put in an arterial line, had him catheterised to drain fluids and hooked up to an adrenalin infusion in case his blood pressure dropped again. He "shotgunned" him with antibiotics.

Now it was a matter of packaging him up. The hope with retrieval is to have to do next to nothing with the patient while they are in the confined space of the aircraft, says Dr Kennedy.

"They need to be tidy, all lines accessible, everything secure. At the end you want the patient tucked up like a baby in a bassinet with a little umbilical cord of support wires, pumps and stuff coming out of them."

"So now," said Dr Spencer about 1.50pm, "we'll just wrap him up and get out of Dodge — and go all the way to Dandenong." Adult Retrieval had found a free intensive care bed at Dandenong Hospital.

The staff at Stawell were not sorry to see them go, but glad they'd been there. "Retrieval is such a great facility," says Dr Osborne-Rigby. "It's a terribly stressful situation when you're up in a place like this by yourself and to have someone taking care of the organisation, final beds and bits and pieces, it takes a big weight off."

It is also about equity of access, he says. There is a vast gap between metropolitan and rural Victorians in their access to high-end health care. Adult Retrieval helps bridge the gap.

It was 3.35pm.THE Superking touched down at Moorabbin where an ambulance was waiting. The 70-minute flight had been largely uneventful, but there had been moments of worry on the tarmac at Stawell. The machine monitoring Peter's breathing had begun emitting a series of alarming beeps.

The cuff, a small balloon at the end of the endotracheal tube that seals the airway, had developed a leak and Dr Spencer had to keep blowing it up: "If the cuff had failed totally, we'd have been in a bit of a dodgy situation. I would have had to change the tube in-flight, which is not an, um, optimal situation. It would have been a bit sphincter-tightening, if I can put it that way."

It was another week before Peter came off artificial ventilation in the ICU at Dandenong. Staff there had to re-intubate him twice, a difficult process that had them in deep admiration of Dr Rasheed's ingenuity with the cystoscope, says associate unit manager Rose Jaspers.

Ear, nose and throat specialists had found that on top of the infection, Peter had undiagnosed sleep apnoea from a soft, floppy airway. "He had three things running against him: a difficult airway, the apnoea and the swollen uvula," says Ms Jaspers. "And all those things in the one area are not compatible with living."

It was two weeks before Autumn could take him back to Stawell. She'd driven home as the ambulance took Peter to the airstrip, to prepare for the longer drive to Dandenong. "Everyone was so good at the hospital, that it wasn't until I was home that it all sank in and I started to cry," she says. "That's when I thought, 'I almost lost him'."

Peter remembers next to none of it. The week of unconsciousness, the regime of drugs and perhaps a little lack of oxygen to the brain has left him "a little space cadet-ish", says Autumn.

But he's grateful and is talking of delivering cases of wine and boxes of chocolates to all involved.

"Aren't they amazing," he says. "Not only did they save my life, they did it all while I was taking it easy."

[The Mr Fixit]

First of all I lived under the flight paths of Essendon Airport for over 30 years and only ever saw one accident that involved the deaths of civilians.
I also lived there when then there was bugger all houses around it but in time because the land was cheap people bought up.
Now people say close it down so they can profit, it seems that the things Australians loathe the most they become when their profit/money is involved.

THIS IS ONLY ABOUT GREED, GREED AND GREED NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT ABOUT PUBLIC CONCERN, IF IT WAS THERE WOULD BE ACTUAL FACTS AND FIGURES OF NEAR MISSES, ACCIDENTS ETC PLASTERING THE NEWSPAPERS.
ALL I SEE IS PROFITMONGERING HOMEOWNERS AND POLITICIANS LINING THE STREETS IN PROTEST.
OH HOW THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR PERVERTS THE SOUL

SHAME SHAME SHAME GREED GREED GREED

[Capt Wally]

'FFG' thnxs for posting that link, that's exactly what does go on quite a lot. I doubt sadly though that the Close Essendone Airport Action Group would nother read it in it's entirety or even comprehend the importance of it all, they have but one agender, to have EN closed, such stories will have little impact on their desires unfortunetly.
I've had 23 week prem twins onboard after an urgent flight, far more upsetting than any other story that could be told here, very sad indeed but these 'fools' would be as cold as the driven snow!

Bring it on I say, I would love to show up these fools for what they are trying to achieve, & for what? to have their homes values increase & or sleep better at night? It's enough to make a grown man puke:yuk:
I think the bigger fools are the likes of "Dumby", pollies only do one thing exceptionally well, feather their own nests along the way!



CW



CW

[Jet Crew]

From Moonee Valley Leader (http://moonee-valley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/essendon-airport-friends-fire-up/)

Essendon Airport friends fire up

THE Save Essendon Airport Campaign is gathering momentum with about 600 people signing an online petition. Supporters of Essendon Airport are meeting this week to hear Victorian National Party leader Peter Ryan speak about what his party would do to keep the airport open.
Despite opposing lobby groups locking horns over the airport’s future, a decision date remains elusive. Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese’s spokesman, Jeff Singleton, did not return the Leader’s phonecalls.
Save Essendon Airport Campaign member and Strathmore resident Kevin McGowan said the meeting was not designed to “gather the faithful” but to show there was support for the airport’s operation. “Those who would have the airport closed are only thinking of themselves,” Mr McGowan said.
“Given the other crowd has been jumping up and down, if those of us on the other side don’t say anything people might think no one wants it to stay open.
“The airport is a very important piece of infrastructure for Victoria and for our air ambulance and police air wing.” Close Essendon Airport Campaign group member and Niddrie resident Helen van den Berg said “only a few” of the names on the group’s online petition were people who lived in the local area.
“They have no right to dictate to us that we should live in a noisy environment with aviation gas pollution and an airport that isn’t safe,” Ms van den Berg said.
“We stand by our right to live in a clean, safe environment.”
Mr Ryan said he had heard the views of people around Victoria who wanted to keep the airport open and had raised it in Parliament.
The Save Essendon Airport Campaign meeting is on Friday, October 17, at 3pm at the Essendon Airport terminal building.

[A. Le Rhone]

If she wants to "live in a clean safe environment" why is she living next to a Freeway?

Perhaps Innaminka might be better.

The airport is a red-herring.

[Jet Crew]

The supporters meeting is tomorrow (Friday) at 3PM in the main passenger terminal, who is going?

:ok: I am.....

[Capt Wally]

Am keen to go also, am on night shift though but as long as you guys can put up with my snoring I ought to be there:ok:


CW

[Jet Crew]

CW

Look out mate the Close Essendon weirdo might put in a complaint that your snoring is to noisy!!

I have been doing some research on that women who is the "voice" of the close idiots and it seems she likes to get her nose in everything. She even tried to stick her nose into the desalination plant !!

God help us ! :mad:

[Lasiorhinus]

I'll bring coffee, Wally, and if you fall asleep I'll poke you to wake you up!:ok:

[Capt Wally]

ok 'Las' ya gunna poke me hey?...........me thinks/hopes yr a sheila:E
Off flying right now so ya might have to jab me in the ribs to keep me awake!:bored:


CW

[Teal]

I'll be there too. :ok:

[Lasiorhinus]

Sorry to disappoint, Wal, I'm not, and I was actually talking about bringing a fuel drainer to poke you with.... or one of those hot dogs from Hollie's - they might work..

:ouch:.

[Jet Crew]

Hollies?

Is that the cafe at YMMB ?

Rings a bell for some reoson

[Lasiorhinus]

No, its the cafe at Essendon. :ok:

[Jet Crew]

That explains it

I thought it was one of them. I don't take note of the names I just eat the food :ugh:

[Teal]

The meeting went well. I'd estimate there were over 100 people in attendance and various persons of note, including National Party of Victoria leader, Peter Ryan, expressed their concerns about attempts, (and Victorian Govt policy), to close the airport. In particular, the impact of closure on emergency service operations (air ambulance, police and fire fighting aircraft), regional airline services, pilot training, and local job losses was also addressed. TV Channel HSV7 took footage so there may be some coverage in tonight's news services. In addition there should be some private footage of the meeting on Save Essendon Airport (http://www.saveessendonairport.com.au) website shortly.

Well done to the organisers. :D It's a good start in the fight to save the airport, and to expose the irrational rants and misinformation spread by those self-interested individuals opposed to the airport's continued operation.

[Jet Crew]

the meeting video is on there website now :ok:

[Carlos169]

I just received an email from the Save Essendon Airport Group.

Apparently parliament will not accept online partitions and want real signatures. This is a shame as they were reaching the 1000 signature mark online.

It would be great to see us all get behind them. You can download a signature form from the website:
www.saveessendonairport.com.au (http://www.saveessendonairport.com.au/)

Please get a copy and get your family, friends and colleagues to sign it and send it back to the Group!

Thanks.

[Capt Wally]

Good feedback there 'carlos169':ok:

I wasn't able to attend (due pushing out zzzzzzz's) but does anybody know if there where any of the CEAG's fools where there? Probably where but laid low due to perhaps a lynching in public!

Anyone want to hazard a guess as to how long it would take to move ALL flying ops to other airfields if EN ever did get the go ahead to be shut down?
I'd say 3 years min, probably more. Tulla would be the only solution for the Emerg services of EN but boy wouldn't that change the daily dynamics of Tulla's movements.
I spoke to a woman a little while ago now just off the cuff at the supermarket now at EN whilst I was on shift one W/E & wearing my 'monkey suit' (hence I was a target for her). She said we (as in the fools at CEAG) will be fighting to the death to have EN closed. She also mentioned once I said moving the Emerg services would have to be very well thought out that the Helicopter ops could just move to the hospitals where it would be closer for them anyway. Obvioulsy I wasn't going to explain to her what's involved with having 24 hr access at a hospital for WX reasons alone 'cause she simply had no idea like the rest of her following:ugh: This just goes to show what fools we are dealing with.

If it ever does close it won't be due to them it will be a Govt decision 'cause they will benifit money wise not safety wise. The Govt will just use the CEAG as a reason to justify the closure with the general public having no idea.(if it ever does happen).
For now if I could make more noise overhead their homes I would but I guess we don't want to go down that track & join them at their low level!


CW

[Jet Crew]

CW

I believe there was one fool there, I could not work it out as I saw him signing the petition when it was going around. You should hear the crap he was saying.

Go to the group website Save Essendon Airport (http://www.saveessendonairport.com.au) down the bottom click on youtube channel and you can watch the meeting there. Click on questions and you can watch the fool. He had no hope of winning his argument! :ok:

Had to laugh at one comment "helicopters are faster than a king air" :ugh: He also made the comment "not everyone here is wanting the airport open" Strange because there was a vote at the end and everyone put there hand up :mad:

PS The online petition is still valid, they are going to run two petitions as the online one can be used as a miscellaneous document. So sign the online one and download the written one :ok:

[Capt Wally]

Okay thanks "JC", I gathered there might be a fool or two attending the meeting. His comments are typical as to why they will never close EN airport because of a special interest group who have no idea, as I said if EN was to (if ever) close it would be due Govt reasons, still stupid as well!



CW

[Lasiorhinus]

The lone voice who wanted it closed really stood out... and in the "show of hands" at the end, I did notice his hand was the only one raised for "not in favour" of keeping the airport open.

Thrust of his argument was along the lines of helicopters being better than kingairs - without an understanding of the full system of the air ambulance.

Oh, and he questioned why the people who worked at the airport work at the airport... I'm not sure why he was questioning that, but he did.

[Carlos169]

Just received another email update from the Save Essendon Airport Group.

Apparently the Petition Form on the website cannot be used and an updated one is now available for download from www.saveessendonairport.com.au (http://www.saveessendonairport.com.au/)

[trashie]

I spent 8 years in the 90,s as part of the team fighting for the retention of Essendon Airport. John Sharp was all for closing the airport, and DS failed to support it as President of AOPA telling me when he was walking through the terminal at Essendon after landing their himself, it was a lost cause (He doesn't back things he thinks he can't win). However, with logic and economic sense on our side, meetings with the PM, Tim Fisher and Sharp and the local Libs and Nats, we convinced the government to retain it at the time. Much time was spent in CB lobbying both sides courtesy of transportation by the sadly missed owner of GAM. Even Bob Sercombe the local member at the time in the quiet of his office indicated that while he had to make some noise he did not want to see the airport go.

All our surveying at the time indicated that over 80 percent of locals were happy with the airport it was only the vocal minority led by Thompson and Maddigan that caused the angst. However, when debated on radio and TV they could only fall back on emotive BS and incorrect facts

On one occasion we switched all air ambulance and bank aircraft flights into Tullamarine on their return during peak hours. The minimum holding time was 56 minutes stretching to 1:30 hours. Traffic into Tullamarine now I believe would be greater than it was in the late 90's.

Best of luck to the current Save Essendon crew and stick to logic and facts

[Teal]

The lone voice who wanted it closed really stood out...Strangely, he signed the petition. Hard to fathom. I was however rather alarmed to hear him afterwards talking about shooting down planes overhead his home in East Keilor (and he made a motion as if holding a rifle and pointing it into the air). I don't think he was serious but it was still of concern to hear such words uttered.

[Capt Wally]

Sheeez 'Teal' obviously this lone fool is a real DH! If he was to stand at a security check point at Tulla for Eg & say the same words I wonder how long he would last ? It gets laughed off almost at such a meeting but wouldn't be too funny said at an international airport.
Interesting excercise there about switching the ambo planes & bank planes to Tulla back in the 90's. Would love to do that now, the Kaos it would create would for once & all put paid to the idea of closing EN & moving certain ops to Tulla. What we need is a dissabled A/C (no one hurt of course) smack bang in the middle of EN's two intersecting rwy's, say at about 6pm friday during wx so low that only ILS's are seeing A/C land in the ML terminal area. This meaning that only Tulla would be available for at least the ambo's & possibly the bank pkanes, (excluding AV) oh not too mention Fox's jet. There would be a God afterall if that could be arranged just to prove a point if nothing else!
Still for now my job will be ther at EN for many years yet, besides am looking fwd to standig there on our new observation deck to score ldg's as they arrive onto rwy 17:E

CW

[Jet Crew]

Good on ya save essendon group :ok:

MEDIA RELEASE

Kelvin Thomson MP Federal Labor Member for Wills
Minister approves Essendon Airport Master Plan

Kelvin Thomson, Member for Wills, today expressed his disappointment at the Government’s decision to approve Essendon Airport’s Master Plan. “Essendon Airport is past its use-by date as an airport. It is surrounded by built up, long established residential communities from all sides, flight approaches and take offs.

It has a history of aircraft accidents, in particular light aircraft, which have claimed lives”, Mr Thomson said “In 1978 a family of six was killed when a light aircraft crashed into their home at the southern end of the North-South Runway. “In 1986 six people died when an air ambulance crashed after taking off and in 1993 a Hawker de Havilland struck power lines just after take off and hit the rooves of four adjoining houses before diving into the front yard of the next house.

“I am disappointed the Government has approved the Master Plan and not instructed Essendon Airport Pty Ltd to put forward revised plans to relocate aircraft. “The Draft Master Plan public feedback process received approximately 180 submissions, 80% of which I understand called for the relocation of aircraft from Essendon. “As part of the approval however I am pleased the Minister has listened to the local community through the public feedback process and announced new measures as part of the approval”. The Minister has advised airport management the Government has no plans to relax the curfew.

The Minister has asked airport management to establish a Working Group to examine and report on the impact of aircraft movements and how aircraft noise can be better managed. “The Minister has personally invited me to take part in Working Group and I have accepted. “I will work with the other members of the Group including EAPL, Air Services Australia, the Department of Transport and Infrastructure and Bill Shorten to continue representing my constituents and find practical ways to reduce noise, fumes, improve safety and other impacts that residents have raised concern about”.
The Working Group has been allocated specific tasks to report to the Minister on by April 2009 which include; • Ways to better manage and monitor the aviation noise impacts at Essendon Airport;
• The most effective options to reduce the noise impact on nearby residents, while maintaining the viability of Essendon Airport, including:

o analysing the current aircraft mix, which aircraft generate noise of most concern to nearby residents and exploring whether the mix might be altered to reduce the community impact;

o analysing whether runway usage might be altered to reduce noise impacts;

o better management of Fly Neighbourly flight paths and noise abatement zones;

o identifying specific noise buffer zones and techniques to better shield local residences from airport operations; and

o the establishment of an airport operated community consultation committee for ongoing dialogue on airport issues, including on-airport developments and noise management. The Working Group will provide analysis on the impact of each option on the community, the operations of the airport, airport users and the wider transport/ freight network. “My joint submission to the Essendon Airport Draft Master Plan with State Member, Judy Maddigan, and my submission to the National Aviation Review recommended measures be considered to promote more effective dialogue between the local community and the airport.

“The establishment of the Working Group shows the Government has paid some regard to the concerns raised by the local community. “The announcement of these measures is a direct result of the strong community campaign that local residents have undertaken and I will continue working on behalf of my constituents to ensure their concerns are addressed through the Working Group”,

Mr Thomson concluded. Friday 31st October 2008 Media inquiries: Anthony Cianflone from Kelvin Thomson’s office 9350 5777 or 0419 386 950 Anthony Cianflone Electorate Officer Office of Kelvin Thomson MP Federal Member for Wills Ph: (03) 9350 5777 Fax: (03) 9350 6613 Mobile: 0419 386 950 Email: [email protected] www.kelvinthomson.com.au (http://www.kelvinthomson.com.au/)

[VH-XXX]

Master Plan Approved For Essendon Airport
The Hon Anthony Albanese MP: Today I approved the Master Plan for Essendon Airport Pty Ltd and asked airport management to establish a Working Group to examine and report on the impact of aircraft movements and how aircraft noise can be better managed.

The Master Plan sets out the strategic direction and intended uses for the next 20 years, and I have advised Essendon Airport management that the Government has no current plans to close the airport or relax the curfew.

Essendon Airport Pty Ltd has a 50 year lease, with an additional 49 year option, to operate the airport.

Essendon Airport is important for general aviation and supports valuable emergency services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Air Ambulance Victoria and the Victoria Police Air Wing. The airport is also an important access point for many rural and regional travellers.

I acknowledge the ongoing community concern regarding noise and other impacts caused by aircraft operations, and I have requested Essendon Airport management to work with Airservices Australia, my department and local Federal Members of Parliament Kelvin Thomson and Bill Shorten to find practical ways to reduce these impacts with targeted strategies.

I have tasked the Working Group to find practical ways to reduce the noise and other impacts with targeted strategies, and to report to me by April 2009 on:

*Ways to better manage and monitor the aviation noise impacts at Essendon Airport;

*The most effective options to reduce the noise impact on nearby residents, while maintaining the viability of Essendon Airport, including:

* analysing the current aircraft mix, which aircraft generate noise of most concern to nearby residents and exploring whether the mix might be altered to reduce the community impact;

*analysing whether runway usage might be altered to reduce noise impacts;

* better management of Fly Neighbourly flight paths and noise abatement zones;

*identifying specific noise buffer zones and techniques to better shield local residences from airport operations; and

*the establishment of an airport operated community consultation committee for ongoing dialogue on airport issues, including on-airport developments and noise management.

The Working Group will provide analysis on the impact of each option on the community, the operations of the airport, airport users and the wider transport/freight network.

Key features of the Master Plan include:

*Aviation activity levels are not predicted to increase in the coming years;

*Upgrading the existing terminal building to reinstate its original purpose and significant heritage value;

*New hangars, including those designated to accommodate the Victorian Police Airwing and Air Ambulance Services;

*Aprons, hangars and ancillary support areas including offices, amenity areas and maintenance facilities;

*Progressive improvement to the appearance of the airport, including landscaping and upgrade of buildings;

*Support for the introduction of an Orbital Bus service, scheduled to commence in January 2009, which will connect the Bulla Precinct with the Essendon Rail Station;

*Low-level office buildings within a landscaped setting complete with off-street car parking; and

*A range of additional commercial activities may be permitted so long as they do not limit or affect aviation activity.

The Airports Act 1996 requires each operator of a leased Federal airport to submit a draft Master Plan for the Minister's approval. Master Plans are subject to a thorough public consultation process and must take into account issues raised during the comment period.

Separate major development plans must be prepared if the airport wishes to undertake major development work.

Essendon Airport Pty Ltd is now required to publish the final Master Plan within 90 days of approval and make copies of the plan available to the public.

Source: Dept of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

[Jet Crew]

Just received a email from the Save Essendon Airport Group. As the Government has now announced Essendon Airport will not be closing they have decided to take down there website to prevent confusion with people thinking the airport is still goner close.

They also said the group will remain together and if the **** hits the fan again they will relaunch there website and jump into gear again.

Rest assured the group is not falling to bits they are just taking down there website as the airport is now safe. They will still work hard in making sure Essendon remains.

The Close Essendon Airport idiots keep there website online but never update it with there crap story's.

[AirBumps]

Great work and congrats to the Save Essendon Airport Team.

Well Done! :ok:

[bullamakanka]

Thats great news for everyone, yipee :ok:

[Capt Wally]

Yes well done to the group who brought common sense to the forefront:D




CW:ok:

[Teal]

A big thanks to Lincoln for his efforts and energy. :D

It will be interesting to see how the local rag (Moonee Valley Leader) writes up the story this week. Kelvin 'Cliche' Thompson will no doubt claim again that the airport is past its 'use by date'.:ugh:

[Jet Crew]

Essendon Airport to stay open says Federal Government - Local News - News | Moonee Valley Leader (http://moonee-valley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/leader-has-all-the-melbourne-cup-action-covered/)
Essendon Airport to stay open says Federal Government


ESSENDON Airport will remain open despite community pressure to close it.
Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese approved the controversial master plan for Essendon Airport last Friday.
``I have advised Essendon Airport management that the Government has no current plans to close the airport or relax the curfew,’’ Mr Albanese said.
``Essendon Airport is important for general aviation and supports valuable emergency services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Air Ambulance Victoria and the Victoria Police Air Wing.’’
Member for Wills Kelvin Thomson said he was ``disappointed’’ by the decision. ``Essendon Airport is past its use-by date as an airport,’’ Mr Thomson said.
``It is surrounded by built-up, long-established residential communities from all sides, flight approaches and take-offs.’’
Close Essendon Airport Campaign group member and Niddrie resident Helen van den Berg told the Leader last month neighbours should not have to ``live in a noisy environment with aviation gas pollution’’. ``We stand by our right to live in a clean, safe environment,’’ Ms van den Berg said.
Mr Albanese acknowledged community concern and promised to establish a working group ``to examine and report on the impact of aircraft movements and how aircraft noise can be better managed’’.
Save Essendon Airport Campaign member Kevin McGowan said it was the right decision. ``Essendon Airport really is a vital piece of infrastructure for the state of Victoria .’’

[Jet Crew]

Airport set to stay put - Local News - News - General - Moonee Valley Community News (http://moonee.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/airport-set-to-stay-put/1350457.aspx)


Airport set to stay put

FEDERAL Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Anthony Albanese has approved the master plan for Essendon Airport.The plan sets out the strategic direction and intended uses of the airport for the next 20 years.
Mr Albanese has told Essendon Airport management that the Government has no current plans to close the airport or relax any curfews.
Essendon Airport will keep its 50-year lease, with an additional 49-year option, to operate the airport.
Under the much-awaited decision, airport management have been asked to establish a working group to examine and report on the impact of aircraft movements and how aircraft noise could be better managed.
Mr Albanese said the airport was important for aviation and supported valuable services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Air Ambulance Victoria and the Victoria Police air wing.
"I acknowledge the ongoing community concern regarding noise and other impacts caused by aircraft operations, and I have requested Essendon Airport management to work with Airservices Australia, my department and local federal members of Parliament Kelvin Thomson and Bill Shorten to find practical ways to reduce these impacts with targeted strategies," he said.
The decision is expected to have a mixed response from the Close Essendon Airport Group, which has been lobbying for the airport's closure, and the Save Essendon Airport Group, which formed to fight for aviation services based at the site.
Wills MP Kelvin Thomson said he was disappointed with the decision.
"Essendon Airport is past its use-by date as an airport.
"It's surrounded by built-up, long-established residential communities from all sides, flight approaches and take-offs.
"It has a history of aircraft accidents, in particular light aircraft, which have claimed lives."
Mr Thomson said the community wanted aircrafts relocated.
"The draft master plan public feedback process received approximately 180 submissions, 80 per cent of which I understand called for the relocation of aircraft from Essendon."

[Capt Wally]

.....................................Mr Thomson said the community wanted aircrafts relocated.
"The draft master plan public feedback process received approximately 180 submissions, 80 per cent of which I understand called for the relocation of aircraft from Essendon

The above statement I find particulary ammusing. What less than a 150 local fools represent as Mr Thomson said "the community"? Give us a break:ugh:
At least one thing was of interest to most that read the past events here, it did entertain us for a while & showed what a SMALL minority of the good people that live in & around EN Airprot are really like!:ugh:
Now can we all get on with it? More noise, more polution....yippeeeee:ok:


Cw

[glekichi]

Careful what you wish for Capt Wally ;)

What we need is a dissabled A/C (no one hurt of course) smack bang in the middle of EN's two intersecting rwy's,

That one tonight wasn't all that far off!

[Capt Wally]

................wasn't me boss:E I no bend yr plane!

Ah what's a flat tyre anyway? They are only to cushion the impact:-)
We had two birds up during the little event here at EN, fortunetly none of an urgent nature:-)
I bet the fools at Close En are hoping mad they can't use this lattest incident to bolster their failing (now failed) attempt to close EN. Just imagine if this had have happened at Tulla, one place these fools suggested we move to!:ugh: Anyway water under the bridge now, hope they drown in their tears:E


CW

[damo1089]

of course the only solution is to bombard their website with refresh requests until it overloads their server :rolleyes:

[Jet Crew]

That Helen Van Der Berg women likes to stick her nose into everything !!!

Look she has started another group because she couldn't win the Essendon fight !!!

This women has to much time on her hands !!!

Toxic 'bomb' - Local News - News - General - Cranbourne Journal (http://cranbourne.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/toxic-bomb/1362267.aspx)

Front Page - Terminate Tulla Toxic Dump Action Group Inc. (http://www.tullatoxicdump.net)

A PROTEST group that lobbied for the closure of the Tullamarine landfill says Brookland Greens is a toxic time bomb because of its sandy soils.Terminate Tulla Toxic Dump Action Group will rally in front of the Environment Protection Authority's city offices at noon today and is urging Brookland Greens residents to join it in the fight for improved landfill regulations.
Group secretary Helen Van den Berg said Cranbourne residents would be in the same boat as Niddrie residents, who were now living with toxic leaks because of "inefficient" lining and rehabilitation works.
"Why the heck they didn't give the Brookland Greens dump side liners is very hard to understand," she said.
"They had made that mistake at Tullamarine in the 1970s and found out in the 1980s that side liners were necessary. Given that the Cranbourne geology is sand which leaks laterally, it was even more critical for Brookland Greens."
Mrs Van den Berg said Cranbourne residents should join Niddrie protesters in their fight against the EPA's "incompetence" and in their push to tighten landfill regulations. The group has called for world's best practice in landfill management.
Mrs Van den Berg said 67 cancer cases detected in recent years in residents living within 2.5 kilometres of the Tullamarine tip suggested a link between leaking landfills and ill health.
Group president Kaylene Wilson said Cranbourne's tip crisis should serve as a warning for the thorough sealing and monitoring of the Tullamarine toxic landfill.
"The EPA has agreed to put a cap on the leaking Tullamarine tip but instead of a 2.35-metre cap they have only agreed to a one-metre cap - they should be cleaning up to maximum extent achievable but have compromised everyone's health and safety."
Casey councillor Steve Beardon urged Cranbourne residents to join forces with their north-western Melbourne counterparts. "There is definitely strength in numbers and the more noise we make about this, the more chance of a good outcome."

[Jet Crew]

Bad News !!!!

I have just received a email from Lincoln Robinson and he advised me that he was contacted by the Australian Airports Association saying that someone spoke to Albanease and he said nothing is set in concrete and there is still a chance of closure !!!


Save Essendon Airport Group (http://www.saveessendonairport.com.au)

[Capt Wally]

Well if that's the case 'jetcrew' then it's time to move to TULLA, where we can create havoc of a different nature. For now though $25Mill for a new EMS centre all but finished at EN means at least a few years left here to buzz the local fools:)



CW

[Jet Crew]

Source: www.saveessendonairport.com.au (http://www.saveessendonairport.com.au/)

On Friday 31st October the Minister for transport the Hon Anthony Albanese approved the Master Plan for Essendon Airport. The master plan sets out the strategic direction of the airport for the next 20 years. The full media release can be downloaded here (http://www.anthonyalbanese.com.au/file.php?file=/news/SSNQBLQNDCRSRUXSAWLEFSJO/index.html).

Now this result is great news for the Save Essendon Airport Group and all our supporters, however this does not mean our job is over and the airport is safe. The Save Essendon Airport Group will continue to work our hardest in ensuring that Essendon Airport does in fact remain as an operational airport.

The group will temporarily take a back step from the media and focus on ensuring that Essendon Airport remains operational. Rest assured that our group will continue to fight for the future of jobs, industry, tourism, emergency services and of course Essendon Airport itself.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our many supporters who over the past few months since we were formed have come on board and helped us make this campaign possible.

Without the assistance of our many supporters this campaign would not have been possible, a special thanks to Malcolm Sharp, Kevin McGowan, Peter O'Rorke, Essendon Airport Pty Ltd, and of course all our supporters!

The Save Essendon Airport Group would like to advise all supporters that the group website will be taken offline and will be re-designed to reflect the latest announcement.

PLEASE NOTE: The Save Essendon Airport Group will remain an operational group and will continue to ensure that Essendon Airport does remain an operational airport. The Save Essendon Airport Group can be contacted by mobile phone on 0437 078 832. The Save Essendon Airport Group hope to have a new website reflecting the saving of Essendon Airport online in the future.

[Jet Crew]

hmmm sorry to dig up an old post, but the idiots wanting the airport closed are starting up again, and i notice the save groups website is back up Save Essendon Airport Group (http://www.saveessendonairport.com.au) so looks like there goner fight the people wanting it closed.

:mad:

[aujetpilot]

There active again www.saveessendonairport.com