Curfew 4 Canberra
Curfew4Canberra (C4C) was formed in January 2008 in response to Canberra Airport’s proposal to massively expand its operations to include a 24-hour passenger and freight hub, and become Sydney’s second airport. Unlike Sydney, Canberra doesn’t have a night-time curfew to protect sleeping hours from aircraft noise. Up until now there has simply been no need for a curfew because of little demand for night-time aircraft. Canberra Airport’s history as an air force base has also meant the skies have remained open, with little adverse impact on residents.
All this would change under Canberra Airport’s proposal that would see bigger planes with much greater frequency throughout the night. Canberra’s communities have united around the need to protect our peaceful and quiet amenity from an unreasonable and unnecessary encroachment by Canberra Airport. C4C’s objections to the proposed 24-hour freight and passenger hub can be summarised as follows:
- Night-time aircraft noise poses a major public health risk. There is clear evidence of a link between night-time exposure to aircraft noise and increased blood pressure, even if you don’t wake up (see European Commission’s HYENA study and their article published in European Heart Journal, February 2008)
- Canberra’s peaceful and quiet residential amenity is highly valued by its residents. Background noise here is very low, particularly at night.
- Current aircraft noise protection measures are grossly inadequate for the proposed increase in noise footprint
- There is inequity in dumping night-time aircraft noise in Canberra that would not be allowed in Sydney because of their curfew.
We look forward to your support in our campaign.
more about us
Jenni Savigny
President
Curfew 4 Canberra Inc.
Contact C4C
