Bankstown Airport Southeast Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Corridor

Statement of Need


The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), in conjunction with Airservices Australia (Airservices), is proposing to reclassify a portion of airspace southeast of Bankstown Airport. This reclassification will allow more aircraft flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to utilise the airspace southeast of Bankstown airport.

Visual Flight Rules (VFR) is a method of flying commonly used by helicopters and light aircraft where the pilot uses visual reference to the ground or water to navigate their flight.

This would enhance safety, reduce congestion, and provide more equitable access to airspace around Bankstown Airport.

For the latest information on the proposed changes please refer to the project updates section below.

To stay updated on this project, please enter your email address in the ‘Stay Informed’ tool on the right-hand side of the project page and click ‘Subscribe’ (if you're accessing this page on a mobile device, you may need to scroll down to find this tool).

If you require translation services, you can contact the free Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to call Airservices on 1300 301 120. You can also translate this page into multiple languages by clicking on the "select language" button in the top right corner and selecting a language from the drop-down box.

Statement of Need


The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), in conjunction with Airservices Australia (Airservices), is proposing to reclassify a portion of airspace southeast of Bankstown Airport. This reclassification will allow more aircraft flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to utilise the airspace southeast of Bankstown airport.

Visual Flight Rules (VFR) is a method of flying commonly used by helicopters and light aircraft where the pilot uses visual reference to the ground or water to navigate their flight.

This would enhance safety, reduce congestion, and provide more equitable access to airspace around Bankstown Airport.

For the latest information on the proposed changes please refer to the project updates section below.

To stay updated on this project, please enter your email address in the ‘Stay Informed’ tool on the right-hand side of the project page and click ‘Subscribe’ (if you're accessing this page on a mobile device, you may need to scroll down to find this tool).

If you require translation services, you can contact the free Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to call Airservices on 1300 301 120. You can also translate this page into multiple languages by clicking on the "select language" button in the top right corner and selecting a language from the drop-down box.

  • Publication of Step Two Community Engagement Summary

    The Community Engagement summary for feedback received during Step Two of community engagement on the proposed design is now available. To view the Community Engagement summary click here.

    Airservices and CASA are now considering and reviewing the feedback received to determine if or how to proceed with the airspace changes. If the proposed airspace change is progressed, another round of community and industry engagement on the project is due to occur in early 2025.

  • Conclusion of Step Two community engagement

    Community consultation on the proposed design for the Bankstown Airport Southeast VFR Corridor has now concluded. We would like to thank everyone who provided feedback.

    Feedback from the community on the proposed design will be reviewed and shared with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), who has also consulted the aviation industry about the proposed changes.

    We are working with CASA to consider all feedback received from both the community and aviation industry, and what additional changes should be incorporated into the preferred design.

    Step Three community engagement

    Step Three community engagement will commence in early 2025, and the community will be able to provide their feedback on the proposed preferred design during this time.

    When Step Three community engagement commences, materials such as factsheets and the interactive map will be updated to reflect the preferred design and will be available on the project webpage. In-person community engagement sessions will also be held in several locations, to provide an opportunity for the community to ask questions and provide their feedback.

  • Proposed design open for feedback

    We are pleased to share the proposed design for airspace changes to the southeast of Bankstown Airport. The proposed design and changes are now open for community review and feedback. You can read about the changes and review the design in the following documents:

    There is also an accompanying Visual Flight Rules (VFR) factsheet that can be viewed here.

    You can also use our interactive map tool using the tabs above to search your address or view a location in relation to the proposed changes.

    You can also view the frequently asked questions (FAQs) here. To translate the FAQs into another language, simply click on any of the FAQ questions on the bottom right side of the webpage (if you are accessing this on a phone, it will be located at the bottom of the page), which should lead you to the FAQs page. Then click on the “select language” option in the top right, and select a language from the drop-down box. The FAQs has the same functions as the webpage and are entirely translatable.

    Please submit your feedback on our feedback page. Feedback closes on 22 October 2024.

    We have also published our Options Development Methodology and Assessment Criteria (ODMAC) that explains the factors considered in developing the proposed design and the criteria used to assess it.

    Additionally, we have updated the Initial Community Engagement Plan (CEP) published in June to incorporate feedback received, including consideration for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities within the change area and adding more engagement channels. The Final CEP outlines our proposed engagement through to implementation of the proposed changes.

    A reminder that registrations for our community engagement sessions (4 September to 28 September 2024) are open. We look forward to seeing you at a session and to receiving your feedback.

  • Date changes to upcoming community engagement sessions

    Due to unforeseen circumstances, the following community engagement sessions for the project will be rescheduled:

    • Engadine Community Centre – Thursday 29 August 4pm-7pm

    • Moorebank Community Centre – Saturday 31 August 12pm-3pm

    The new dates for these sessions will be:

    • Engadine Community Centre – Thursday 26 September 4pm-7pm

    • Moorebank Community Centre – Saturday 28 September 12pm-3pm

    To view other available in-person and online sessions and to register your attendance, please click here.

  • Community engagement sessions released

    We are pleased to provide the details of our proposed airspace design community engagement sessions. We will be hosting seven community drop-in sessions at the following locations.

    Date

    Time

    Venue

    Address

    Thursday 29 August

    4pm-7pm

    Engadine Community Centre

    1034/1036 Old Princes Hwy, Engadine

    Saturday 31 August

    12pm-3pm

    Moorebank Community Centre

    Maddecks Ave &, Nuwarra Rd, Moorebank

    Wednesday 4 September

    4pm-7pm

    Alfords Point Community Centre

    8R Coachwood Cres, Alfords Point

    Saturday 7 September

    2pm-5pm

    Revesby Workers’ Club

    2B Brett St, Revesby

    Wednesday 18 September

    4pm-7pm

    Panania Scout Hall

    21 Wilson St, Panania

    Thursday 19 September

    4pm-7pm

    Wattle Grove Youth Centre

    2071 Australis Ave, Wattle Grove

    Saturday 21 September

    12pm-3pm

    Stapleton Avenue Community Centre

    3A Stapleton Ave, Sutherland


    Come by anytime within the 3-hour time period to view preliminary design information and speak to Airservices staff. If you are not able to attend an in-person session, we will be hosting online sessions on the following dates:

    • Monday 23 September 12pm-1:30pm
    • Tuesday 24 September 6pm-7:30pm


    If you would like to attend a community drop-in or online session, please register here. A meeting link for the online sessions will be sent to all registrants prior to the event. Translation services via the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) will be available at all in-person sessions.

  • Conclusion of Step One Engagement

    Community engagement on the draft Community Engagement Plan (CEP) has now concluded. We would like to thank everyone who provided feedback. This has been considered in developing the final CEP which will be available on the project webpage later this month. Updates to the CEP include:

    • Translation services information to be provided where possible
    • Providing clear information about the proposed changes
    • Additional newspaper advertisements
    • Refining the design and target of social media tiles, and increasing the volume of social media advertising


    A lot of the feedback received during this engagement related to requests for more information and details about the proposed changes, design, and associated impacts. This will be shared later this month as we commence step two of our engagement program.

    Step two community engagement

    Information about the proposed change, including an interactive map, factsheets, and documents such as the Environmental Impact Assessment and Options Development Methodology and Assessment Criteria, will be published as part of step two community engagement.

    We will also be holding in-person community engagement sessions in a number of locations to enable discussion of the proposed changes. The location and times of the in-person community information sessions will be published in the coming week.

  • Project commencement and next steps

    What is happening now?

    Airservices Australia is currently in the early planning and information sharing phase. This involves seeking your feedback on the best way for us to engage with the community about the proposed changes to the airspace southeast of Bankstown Airport. For more information on the proposed changes and our engagement approach, please refer to the draft Community Engagement Plan. We invite you to provide your feedback on the plan by Monday 29 July 2024 using the survey form below, or via email or post:

    What are the next steps?

    Airservices will undertake detailed community engagement in late 2024. At this time, there will be more information about the proposed changes, factsheets, FAQs, an interactive map, and in-person community engagement sessions where a technical specialist will be available to answer any questions.  

    Feedback on the draft Community Engagement Plan now, will allow us to better engage with the community as the project develops.

    However, feedback from the community on our engagement approach, engagement schedule and the proposed changes is always welcomed by the team at Airservices. You can contact us via email or post as per email and postal address above.

Page last updated: 09 Dec 2024, 10:04 AM