A MEETING on Friday is expected to intensify the fight to keep the Hills free of excessive aeroplane noise, with Pearce MHR Judi Moylan leading the charge.
Hills residents noted the altered flight paths in March, when changing wind conditions revealed unexpected changes in flight paths, which came into effect in November following a Federal review.
Ms Moylan formally requested an explanation and briefing on the changes from Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, with no response until last month.
In a letter, the Minister insists most of the new and altered routes are over national park and farmland, rather than homes, despite acknowledging more frequent air traffic over Bickley, Chidlow and Glen Forrest.
Making no apologies, he said the changes helped route all arrivals to the eastern side of Perth Airport and stakeholders and the airport noise committee were “regularly advised” and consulted.
Ms Moylan insists there was negligible consultation, and communities were kept in the dark until it was too late.
“I read the minutes of the past three meetings and at no time was this ever discussed, other than a presentation of some maps that you would never understand unless you are skilled in airline route marking,” she said.
“The residents have not been taken seriously, and this flippant response by the Minister is not good enough.”
Her promised briefing was finally scheduled for Friday morning, when she and the Members for Swan and Canning were to meet three Air Services Australia representatives and one from Perth Airport.
Glen Forrest resident Peter Bourne said he hoped they would simply agree to scrap the flight path changes.
He also refuted Mr Albanese’s claims Kalamunda was unaffected, saying Paulls Valley is one of the worst off.
The Minister’s spokesman Jeff Singleton said he expected local representatives to have kept their communities informed during the two-year review.