[See Heinemann Atlas Third Edition, page 90 - Victoria: Melbourne Region (location, map reference B3)]
In 2000 Impulse Airlines, a 'cut-price' airline, commenced its operations from Melbourne's Essendon Airport. The airline was given the go-ahead to use this airport by the Federal Government. This decision followed a dispute with Ansett Australia that led to Impulse being prevented from using Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport. Impulse Airlines was making eighteen flights a week from the airport and was using 19-seat turbo-propelled aircraft. The decision prompted a group of local residents to increase their campaign to have the airport closed. In the past twenty years there have been three major accidents at Essendon and two of these have involved multiple fatalities. Apart from the fear of further accidents, residents' concerns included pollution, noise and the build-up in commercial and private road users. They gained the support of local and state politicians and wanted the Federal Opposition Labor Party to join their campaign. The lack of community consultation angered the local residents. They accused the Federal Government of acting in a secretive way. The residents were also concerned that the granting of landing-rights to one 'cut-price' airline was the beginning of further rights being given to other smaller airlines.
In August 2001 the Essendon Airport lease was sold to a major transport company for $A22 million. Plans were announced to develop a large scale business complex which will include office buildings, shops, other commercial buildings and warehousing. No residential development is planned as part of this venture. At the moment the 305 hectare Essendon Airport site has 140 buildings and 130 tenants. The completed development will still include a general aviation airport. The new lessee already owned and operates six similar major business parks including airports near Melbourne, and in Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland.
Figure 3 The location of several Australian airports, for example Sydney, Adelaide and Essendon creates noise and safety issues for the residents of nearby suburbs.
Figure 4 Adelaide Airport - the eastern boundary is only 4 kilometres from the CBD.
(See Heinemann Atlas Third Edition, page 54)
