Second airport at Richmond: no real solution

"The Rudd government should follow the lead of Oslo, Athens and Hong Kong to solve its airport dilemmas. These cities built alternate airports outside their dense residential centres, linked them with high speed trains and then closed the old airports," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese could help solve some of the political pressures in his own noise afflicted electorate by immediately beginning a site selection process for an alternate airport outside the Sydney basin.

"Sydney Airport sits on a goldmine of 900 hectares of waterfront land. This could be redeveloped for much needed sustainable inner city housing, with the proceeds from its sale funding the new airport and associated rail links.

"Past experience shows that a second airport will not survive without significant subsidies and stringent regulation. 

"An additional airport will be no panacea for the Federal government's woes. It will just give Mascot more elbow room to expand.

"By taking smaller aircraft, a second airport will allow Sydney Airport more capacity for larger planes which will increase the burden on residents living under the flight path.

"The environmental and social costs of Sydney Airport are untenable. With the approval of the new Airport Master Plan this year air traffic is set to grow even more.

"Noise and air pollution as well as accident risks make finding a long term solution critical.

"The Minister for Transport must immediately commence finding a replacement airport, identifying a site outside the Sydney basin," Ms Rhiannon said.

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