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10.2 Identification of Issues
The proposals identified in this Master Plan for
implementation during the next 20 years provide
for additional runway capacity and incremental
extensions to various facilities and infrastructure
services. Although these projects will have a varying
degree of impact in the environmental areas listed
in the previous section, they are expected to be
manageable with the implementation of appropriate
environmental management controls through the
Environmental Management System (EMS) process.
Environmental issues that might reasonably
be expected to be associated with project
implementation include:
• Effects on landform;
• Impact on flora and fauna;
• Removal of trees and significant flora;
• Impact on cultural and indigenous heritage sites;
• Demolition and construction impacts;
• Ecological Sustainable Design;
• Climate change; and
• Downstream and on-airport effects of increases
in stormwater discharge.
The following section assesses these impacts and
indicates plans for managing them. The assessment
of in-flight aircraft noise impact and external land
use planning is discussed in Section 9.1. Melbourne
Airport has prepared an Operational Safety Policy
to control noise from aircraft ground running for test
purposes. This document specifies procedures to
minimise the level of noise exposure to the airport
environs. An area can be made available on the
airport for a noise attenuation facility, should this
be required in the future.
10.3 Plans for Dealing with
Environmental Issues
Melbourne Airport has chosen to adopt the
International Standard for Environmental
Management Systems ISO14001 (2004) as the
standard against which its EMS will be audited,
Melbourne Airport successfully achieved
re-certification in June 2007. The EMS enables
the formulation of policies and objectives, taking
into account legislative needs and information
about significant environmental aspects.
Landform
The two areas most affected by the development
proposals will be the presently undeveloped south
and south-east areas of the airport and the areas
of the airport where future runway construction
is planned. The construction of the new east-west
runway and associated taxiway system will require
filling across Arundel Creek. There will be a
requirement to pipe Arundel Creek underground
in the fill areas.
Earthworks to provide the required runway and
approach surfaces for a new north-south runway
will significantly alter the western hillside of the
Grey Box Forest area.
When constructed, the proposed runways and
taxiways will emphasise the comparatively flat nature
of the airport site and remove the present landform
patterns in these areas.
The changes in landform to result from the
development proposals are unavoidable but are
consistent with other sites developed for airport
and industrial purposes.
As mentioned above, extensive earthworks involving
deep cut and fill areas are required for construction
of either of the proposed future runways. At the
appropriate time, steps will be taken to assess the
stability of batters and to ensure by trimming and
plantings that final batters are visually acceptable.
Excluding new pavement areas, topsoiling and
grassing of all other disturbed areas will be
undertaken.
Proposed developments in the south and south-east
areas will remove the slightly undulating rural
character of these areas. The airport operator’s
consent process covers a range of issues, from
building envelopes and architecture to landscaping
and the need for development and ongoing
operations to be conducted in accordance with
the Melbourne Airport Environment Policy.
