WILLIAMTOWN CONSULTATIVE FORUM (WCF)
21 NOVEMBER 2014
1305 – 1415 hrs
(1.05pm – 2.15pm)
NEWCASTLE AIRPORT BOARD ROOM
FIRST FLOOR NEWCASTLE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING
WILLIAMTOWN DRIVE, WILLIAMTOWN
DRAFT MINUTES
Apologies received prior to the meeting
Sharon Claydon, MP Federal Member for Newcastle
Bob Baldwin, MP Federal Member for Paterson
Tim Crakanthorp, MP (NSW) Member for Newcastle
Cr Bruce MacKenzie, Mayor of Port Stephens
Glen Cousins, Director Corporate Services, Newcastle City Council
Roger Stephan, Chief Executive Officer, Hunter Region of Councils
GPCAPT Michael Brown, Director Service Support JSF Division – Defence
Tony Farrell, Director Estate Planning ACT/NSW - Defence
Attendees
A list of Attendees is provided at Attachment A.
Item 1. Welcome and Apologies
Mr Greg Divall, Head Infrastructure, Department of Defence (Defence) and Chair of the
Williamtown Consultative Forum (WCF) commenced the meeting at 1.05pm by acknowledging the Worimi people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and paying respect to their elders past and present. He then welcomed the people attending the meeting and read the list of apologies from WCF members that had been received prior to the meeting.
Cr Tucker attended the meeting in place of Mayor Bruce MacKenzie.
Mr Divall introduced himself and explained that he was the new Head Infrastructure and provided a brief overview of his professional career prior to taking up the position of Head
Infrastructure.
Mr Craig Baumann advised that the reference to Mr Tim Crakanthorp, the new NSW Member for Newcastle, as the ‘Hon’ was incorrect and he should only be referred to as MP. This was noted for future reference.
Item 2. Adoption of Minutes of 11 April 2014

The meeting was informed that a copy of the minutes from the last meeting of the WCF, held on 11 April 2014, had been distributed to all members of the WCF along with the invitation to the meeting and that they were also published on the WCF Website.
The minutes from the 11 April 2014 WCF meeting were adopted without change.
Item 3. Update on Williamtown Advisory Group (WAG)
AIRCDRE Anthony (Tony) Grady provided an update on the meetings of Williamtown
Advisory Group (WAG) which had been held since the last WCF meeting. There was a meeting of the group on 2 July 2014 and the 20 November 2014.
As there were a number of new WCF members Tony provided an overview of the purpose of the WAG which was set up by RAAF Base Williamtown. It has now been meeting for approximately 2 ½ years. Tony also advised that there is another community group, the ‘Salt
Ash’ group which is more focused on issues related to the aircraft noise generated through the use of Salt Ash Air Weapons Range. The two groups focus on different issues.
Tony also advised that noise abatement procedures for civil aircraft have now been put in place and they had been in operation over the last month and a half. The procedure had been put in place after liaising with civil operators. The civil procedures almost mirror Defence procedures. There had been no complaints received from the community to date.
Another issue raised was the signage around the Williamtown area which advises people of
‘Low Flying Aircraft’. The existing signage does not include any reference to the area being subject to aircraft noise. The importance of making people aware of aircraft noise, particularly new residents and people considering moving into the residential areas affected by aircraft noise was discussed. It was agreed that it was an issue that needs further consideration. It was suggested that someone from Defence should liaise with Port Stephens
Council regarding the possibility of erecting new signage.
Helen Horn advised that the existing signs are owned by Defence and are located on road reserves. The installation of the signs was a requirement of a previous Environmental Impact
Study (EIS).
The lack of signage in the Tilligery Peninsula area is of particular concern.
Tony advised that the ‘fly neighbourly’ process is continuing. Defence now has a significant amount of noise monitoring data available to the public from the Noise & Flight Path
Monitoring System (NFPMS). The quality of information available is better that when the system started 3 years ago. The public can access the information from the RAAF web site.
Simon Ryan (Bob Baldwin’s representative) indicated that Mr Baldwin’s office had received positive feed back, but there had been some complaints from the public about civil aircraft movements in the Brandy Hill area.
Tony advised that the noise abatement procedures had aircraft flying up the centre of the Dam and that civil aircraft will arrive and depart over the sea.
Peter Marler acknowledged the work that had been done by the RAAF and Defence.
Item 4. Update from Defence’s New Air Combat Capability (NACC) Project Team

AIRCDRE Anthony (Tony) Grady spoke on behalf of the NACC project team and presented the NACC project team’s power-point presentation (refer attached copy of presentation).
The NACC project is now beyond the 2 nd
pass approval process stage and the Government has committed to the purchase of 72 F-35A ‘Lightning 11’ aircraft. Australia’s first F-35A aircraft has been delivered and is flying in the USA. Australian pilots are in the USA training in the aircraft.
Construction for the project at RAAF Base Williamtown is about to commence. NACC project contractors have commenced preliminary work on the base, with the main construction work due to commence in 2015.
Stage 2 of the RAAF Base Williamtown redevelopment is still subject to Government approval.
Defence is required to address the traffic management issues associated with the construction traffic entering the base, particularly on Medowie Road.
At this stage eight F-35A aircraft are due to arrive at Williamtown in December 2018.
The community consultation undertaken for RAAF Base Williamtown was well attended, with 53 submissions received. A large number of issues were raised in the submissions.
There is still misunderstanding in the community about how noisy the F35J is. It is only noisier while on the ground. It is about the same as other military fighter aircraft based at
RAAF Williamtown whilst in flight.
Simon Ryan asked will the F-35A use the Salt Ash Air Weapons Range (SAAWR).
Tony advised that the F-35A will be using SAAWR, but actual use is not finalized as yet.
Australia will use the F-35A differently to other countries. The level of operations can not be detailed at this point. Gun strafing will not be priority operations.
The EIS supplementary report is still being finalised. It should be completed about mid
December. The time lines for the Commonwealth Department of Environment to finalise the process are not known.
There appears to be an element of mistrust in the community about the way the environmental issues will be addressed.
Tony Grady advised that any questions about the process should be directed to Group Captain
Mick Brown in the NACC Project team.
Paul Hughes asked about the outcomes of the Public Works Committee (PWC).
Jacki Payne read out the PWC conditions.
The four recommendations made by the PWC are;
1. The Committee recommends that Defence continues to work with Hunter Water
Corporation to ensure water quality is not compromised throughout and beyond the project.
2. The Committee recommends that Defence undertakes the appropriate traffic studies and provides then to the Committee, and that construction traffic is suitably managed.

3. The Committee recommends that Defence continues to consult with local communities and interested parties, where possible, to implement measure to mitigate noise impacts.
4. The Committee recommends that the House of Representatives resolve, pursuant to
Section 18 (7) of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, that it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work: AIR 6000 Phase 2A/B New Air Combat Capability Facilities
Project.
Paul Hugh talked about Newcastle Airport’s submission to the PWC highlighting that the two major issues were the taxi-way extension requirements related to the runway extension and the future of sewer treatment plant land.
Item 5. RAAF Update on RAAF Base Williamtown matters
(Note this item was dealt with after Item 9 Newcastle Airport (NAPL) update.)
Item 6. Port Stephens Council update.
Peter Marler (representing Mr Tim Cross, Manager Strategy & Environment, Port Stephens
Council) advised the WCF that Council has prepared of a new (draft) Development Control
Plan (DCP) which includes provisions related to RAAF Base Williamtown & Aircraft Noise.
The draft DCP is due to go on public exhibition in January 2015.
New provisions include a requirement to notify Defence of all new residential development in noise affected areas. Also includes a requirement to notify Defence of all developments which exceed the heights identified in the heights control map supplied to Council by
Defence.
Section 149 (Planning Certificates) identify properties affected by aircraft noise (as identified in the DCP Aircraft Noise Planning Map) and the need to comply with AS2021. Some of the community only want information about land affected by air craft noise and not notifications on 149 certificates as this is considered to devalue their properties.
Tony Grady raised the issue of being able to identify houses that are at potential risk in the future if ANEF contour map boundaries change.
Craig Baumann talked about the NSW (Section 117 Directions under the Environmental
Planning & Assessment (EP&A) Act and Canberra’s (Commonwealth) controls on development near airports. He also made reference to the new clauses in the Port Stephens
Local Environmental Plan (LEP) designed to protect the flying operations at Williamtown.
Wayne Wallis, General Manager of Port Stephens Council, mentioned that there were about
1,100 parcels of land affected by the ANEF 20 to 25 contour in the Port Stephens local government area.
Wayne also mentioned recent conversations between Council representatives and Ms Loraine
Holcroft, A/Assistant Secretary Property Management, Infrastructure Division, Department of
Defence and a letter from the Minister in which matters associated with Council’s decisions in relation to applications for residential development located within the ANEF contours were raised.
Steve Tucker (Port Stephens Councillor, representing the Mayor) mentioned the issues of the residential subdivision on Richardson Road, highlighting the fact that the land was already

zoned for residential purposes and therefore it is difficult to say no to an application for a residential subdivision. Future development within the subdivision will need noise attenuation.
Tony Grady expressed concern that Council does not get the noise complaints. By allowing additional housing within this area it increases the potential for future issues about the properties being affected by aircraft noise.
Jeff Bretag, Strategic Planner, Port Stephens Council provided an overview of the progress of the Williamtown Land Use Strategy. The background to Council’s decision to undertake the preparation of the strategy was the development pressure within the vicinity of the Newcastle airport/RAAF Base Williamtown, such as the McDonalds development.
The economic analysis work and land use constraints/capability investigation undertaken in as part of the development of the strategy have been completed. Indications at this stage are that the land on the corner of Cabbage Tree and Nelson Bay Roads may be the most suitable for development. Consultants have been engaged to develop a draft strategy. The draft strategy will be presented to the project control group in December 2014.
There was some discussion about the tourist development on Nelson Bay Road that was approved under the old LEP. This type of development is not allowed under the current LEP provisions.
Craig Baumann expressed concern about using the land around the airport for warehousing.
He also expressed his concern about in appropriate use of land near the airport.
Jeff Bretag and Peter Marler stated that concern about these types of land use within the vicinity of the airport is why the land use strategy is being prepared.
Jeff Bretag advised that the loophole allowing tourist type development within the area under the old LEP had been closed with the commencement of the new LEP (2013).
Wayne Wallis advised that the Williamtown Aerospace project had won an award (presented in Darwin) for a partnership project.
Cr Tucker Raised the issue of roadwork on Medowie Road, near the new northern entry to the base.
Tony Grady referred to the south eastern runway extension advising that this did not require any change to the Medowie Road alignment. He also took the issue of the roadwork on
Medowie Road near the northern base entry on notice and will get the project team to liaise with Council.
Item 7. Newcastle City Council update.
There were no representatives from Newcastle City Council in attendance to provide an update from Newcastle City Council.
Item 8. NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet update.
Bill Tatnell, Senior Regional Coordinator, NSW Dept of Premier & Cabinet advised that the
NSW Government had made a submission to the Defence White Paper. The submission suggests that the White Paper examine the benefits of establishing and Asia-Pacific general

repair and maintenance hub in Australia to service the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). A regional repair and maintenance hub bases in NSW would showcase Australian high end technology skills to the region and generate export revenue for Australian businesses.
The submission also advised that the current Defence and NSW Government Consultative
Forum, co-chaired by the NSW Dept of Premier & Cabinet, would be an excellent vehicle for more strategic discussion on issues affecting both Defence and NSW, as well as, addressing policy challenges to mutual benefit.
At the local level NSW Trade and Investment (Dept) are working with Lend Lease to ensure that local businesses get an opportunity to work on Defence projects.
NSW Government funding has helped a Hunter company ‘Bohemia Interactive Simulations’ relocate into the Williamtown Aerospace Centre. The company provides simulation technologies to a wide range of military organisations around the world.
There has been a meeting with Telstra regarding the upgrading of telecommunications facilities around the Williamtown area.
Bill also advised that there was no firm timeframe around the release of the Regional Growth
Plan for the Lower Hunter. The plan is scheduled to be finalized in 2015.
With respect to local noise concerns the Department was working with local schools regarding noise issues. Defence has been in contact with local schools.
Item 9. Newcastle Airport (NAPL) update.
Mr Paul Hughes, CEO Newcastle Airport advised that the airport had the busiest day ever in
October 2014 and that business is holding up.
Paul indicated that the terminal building works are progressing and NAPL hopes to get sewer connection completed by end of year.
Paul raised his concerns about the liaison with Defence required when work starts on the construction of the runway extension.
Paul indicated that he believes that there is an issue with the NACC EIS. As the airport is a public space there may need to be a management process to attenuate the noise levels that people using the airport are exposed to.
Tony Grady questioned whether air bridges would be used in future.
Paul advised that airlines do not support air bridges at Newcastle airport. There may be other opportunities for noise attenuation in walkways. The EIS did not address the issue of people using the airport being exposed to high levels of aircraft noise.
The matter of Jet Star’s use of the airport and their cancelling of flights was raised by a member of the WCF.
Paul advised that Jet Star have cancelled some flights. However, Virgin has looked at increasing their flights.

Tony Grady asked a question about the possible replacement of Brindabella airlines flights direct to and from Canberra.
Paul indicated that Rex airlines were taking up some of the demand by providing connecting flights from Sydney to Newcastle but that they were not interested in flying direct into
Canberra. Rex airlines have recently changed their time table, providing more convenient arrival and departure times.
Greg Divall (chair) was about to move on to Item 10 Other Business on the agenda when it was brought to his attention that Item 5 – RAAF update on RAAF Base Williamtown Matters had not been dealt with. Item 5 of the agenda was then considered before moving onto Item
10.
Item 5. RAAF Update on RAAF Base Williamtown matters
Tony Grady provided an update of RAAF Base Williamtown matters. He advised that during the upgrade to the runway disruptions were minimised.
Super Hornets from RAAF Base Amberley flew out of RAAF Base Williamtown while work was being undertaken at Amberley.
150 base personnel have been deployed for operations.
Fund raising activities at the Base had raised $36K for Legacy.
With respect to the future of Fighter World Tony advised that a MOU between Air Force and
Fighter World Committee of Management was being finalised and that the outcome for the future of Fighter World was not far away.
NACC work on the Base is about to commence.
Item 11. Other Business.
Greg Divall (chair) raised the matter of the Australian Community Energy Pty Ltd (ACE) proposal to construct an eight turbine off shore Wind Farm at Stockton Beach. The company had been in contact with Defence in May 2013 seeking comment on the proposal. Defence had been advised by the office of the Hon Rob Stokes, NSW Minister for the Environment that the company had approached that office about the wind farm proposal in October 2014.
Defence has advised both ACE and the NSW Minister for the Environment that the proposal has failed to satisfactorily resolve the aircraft safety issued and operational matters identified by Defence. Defence has consulted Airservices Australia and the Civil Aviation Safety
Authority and both indicated they were opposed to the proposal on operational and safety grounds.
This wind farm proposal does not appear to have been formally lodged with any NSW
Government Department for consideration and approval at this stage.
Port Stephens Council representatives at the WCF meeting indicated they were not aware of the proposal, nor was Mr Craig Baumann, Member for Port Stephens. Mr Bill Tatnell, the
NSW Dept of Premier & Cabinet representative has been briefed at the early concept stage

prior to 2014 and had been informed that ACE Pty Ltd would be talking to Defence representatives and other key interests in developing the wind farm concept.
WCF members at the meeting expressed an interest in receiving further information about the
Stockton Beach off shore wind farm proposal and flight path issues.
A question was asked as to whether the Base was planning any events for the ANZAC
Centenary.
Tony Grady confirmed that some special events were being planned for the Base and Scott
McManus (Base Services Manager) confirmed that there are plans currently being scaled up.
Item 12. Next Meeting
Greg Divall (the chair) thanked attendees for their contribution to the meeting, for discussing issues and bringing about an understanding of the various positions on issues.
It was agreed that the next meeting be held in April 2015.
Meeting closed at 1415hrs.

ATTACHMENT A
List of Attendees
WCF 21 November 2014
NAME
HUGHES , Paul
RYAN , Simon *
TURNER, Michael
TATNELL, Bill
BAUMANN,
*
TUCKER, Steve Cr.
WALLIS,
Jeff
Attendees - Defence
DIVALL, Greg
GRADY, Anthony
McMANUS,
HORN
Wayne
MARLER,
BRETAG,
BEDFORD , Judith
, Helen
Craig
Scott
*
Peter *
DEUTSCHMANN ,
Anthony
PAYNE Jacqui
TITLE
CEO, Newcastle Airport Limited
Senior Advisor to Hon Bob Baldwin MP Federal
Member for Paterson
Advisor representing Hon Sharon Claydon MP
Federal Member for Newcastle
Senior Regional Coordinator, NSW Dept. of Premier
& Cabinet
Member for Port Stephens in NSW Legislative
Assembly
Attending on behalf of Cr Bruce MacKenzie -Mayor of
Port Stephens
General Manager, Port Stephens Council
Port Stephens Council - standing in for Tim
Crossdale, Manager Strategy & Environment, Port
Stephens Council
Strategic Planner, Port Stephens City Council
Head Infrastructure, Defence (Chair)
Air Commodore, Commander Air Combat Group /
SADFO, RAAF Base Williamtown.
A/Base Support Manager, RAAF Base Williamtown.
Assistant Director, Estate Planning ACT/NSW
Assistant Director Environment & Sustainability
NNSW - Defence
Executive Officer, Estate Planning WASANT
ACG HQ Strategic Communications Officer