By Michael Newhouse
THOUSANDS of Brimbank properties near Melbourne Airport have had strict anti-noise building restrictions lifted, after the State Government announced changes to the airport overlay earlier this month.
Planning Minister Justin Madden introduced the new Melbourne Airport Environs Overlay, which has been developed to ensure that development around the airport is insulated against aircraft noise now and in the future.
Under the new overlay 4148 properties across suburbs such as Kealba, Keilor Downs, Keilor and Keilor Lodge have been excised from the overlay area.
Those properties are no longer subject to the old regulations that placed tight controls on new development and ensured that property extensions complied with noise insulation standards.
The change is likely to promote development in those suburbs previously tied down by the planning provisions, according to Horseshoe Bend Ward councillor Kathryn Eriksson.
“In that sense taking it out of the overlay will allow more development, and it will also have a result of allowing homes to be built that might not have adequate noise protection for the future,” Cr Eriksson said last week.
Cr Eriksson, who represents Brimbank on the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee, said she wasn’t convinced that removing the 4000 houses around the Keilor and Kealba areas was wise.
“It’s just one of my concerns that some zones could potentially be affected in the future will not be protected,” she said.
At some point the State Government may have to fund soundproofing for buildings affected by aircraft flight paths, Cr Eriksson said.
Although there has been a large decrease in the number of Brimbank properties covered, 428 properties have been added under the new overlay, mainly around Taylors Lakes and Sunshine North, taking the total number affected to just over 4000.
A spokeswoman for Brimbank City Council said the council didn’t believe the new boundaries and restrictions would affect demand for property, development or house prices in the areas covered.
But she said the stricter controls would place a greater burden on the council’s planning department, which would have to deal with more planning permit applications for new dwelling or large extensions thanks to the changes.
Announcing the new controls, Mr Madden said the controls were a safeguard so people don’t build or extend their homes in ways that put them at risk of excessive aircraft noise in the future.
The new overlay covers about 10,000 properties across the cities of Brimbank, Hume, Melton, Moonee Valley and Whittlesea.
