TRAINEE PILOTS OVER PORT STEPHENS



Halt Un-necessary Military Aircraft Noise    HUMAN in Port Stephens

The Department of Defence (DoD) has announced it will be introducing the new Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) jet to the RAAF Base Williamtown in 2017. This jet will be 2.5 times louder then the current military jets in use. The DoD has released the Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF) for this jet and it shows more homes surrounding the base and the Salt Ash Weapons Range (SAWR) will be un inhabitable and noise attenuation measures will be necessary for new dwellings. The value of existing homes have dropped dramatically. The SAWR is used for application practice attacks for air to surface gunnery and bombing practices by the F/A-18 and the Hawk Lead In Fighter jets.  Methods of attack on SAWR are carried out by four to six aircraft flying at extremely low altitudes and high speeds over homes, schools and businesses, non stop. 105 dBs have been recorded at the front door of some homes and 92 dBs inside. Residents from Salt Ash, Oyster Cove, Tanilba Bay, Mallabula, Lemon Tree Passage, Bobs Farm, Grahamstown, Campvale and Medowie through to Swan Bay and parts of Raymond Terrace are inflicted with extreme noise which has great effects on people’s general health and well being. It is so extreme that it prevents normal conversation, listening to television and radio. Telephone conversations are impossible; children cannot sleep or study inside or outside their homes, schools or businesses. Working outside dwellings on days when jet fighter aircraft are using the SAWR is impossible. For an average of 2.5 days per week/115days per year, we are living in a "war zone". Nowhere else in Australia are citizens subjected to this military action "necessary for the defence of Australia".

The use of the SAWR has to stop. We need your support.
Please sign our petition. Thank you