Kapiti residents are complaining more often about noisy planes, according to statistics tabled at a recent Airport Community Noise Liaison Group meeting.
In the year to 31 January 2021, there were 61 noise complaints. The total annual aircraft movements for that year was 16,000 – meaning there were 3.8 complaints for every 1000 aircraft movements. That compares to the previous statistics available for the period 1 July 2018 to 31 March 2019 where just eight complaints were made at a rate of 0.42 complaints per 1000 movements.
“Although the number of aircraft movements has been decreasing, we’re seeing a marked increase in complaints from nearby residents,” said Kapiti Coast Airport chief executive Chris Simpson.
“The complaints are broadly made up of people who’ve taken exception to noise from pilots flying in the evening or early in the morning, from emergency aircraft operations, as well as those who’re just unhappy with the noise despite it being from planes operating as usual during normal daylight hours,” Simpson said.
The group, which is convened by Kapiti Coast District Council’s regulatory services manager, meets to consider and make recommendations to the airport manager about aircraft noise issues and any concerns that arise from activities at Kapiti Coast Airport.
Members of the group include independent chair Murray Bell, iwi representative Jack Rikihana, community representatives Don Day and David Blair, Paraparaumu-Raumati Community Board member Jonny Best, a Kapiti Districts Aero Club representative, Kapiti Coast Airport manager Simon Lockie, KCDC general manager regulatory services James Jefferson and his secretary Amanda Cottrell, and KCDC regulatory services officer Joseph Sule.
In light of the increase in complaints, KCDC’s James Jefferson recommended that Kapiti Coast Airport provide information to the public about the spike in complaints.
The minutes of the meeting, once approved at the next meeting, can be found here: https://www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/services/a-z-council-services-and-facilities/airport-noise-complaints/minutes/
Noise complaints can be made by phoning (04) 918 3434 or by e-mailing manager@kapiticoastairport.co.nz
For goodness sake, the airport was there first!!! The complainers should never have shifted there, as it makes sense to me that airplanes make noise.
I have lived right next to the airport for about 20 years and I would say that the noise has abated over those years not got worse.
So as the noise has abated I think people’s propensity to complain has increased.
Even if they closed the airport those complaints would surface somewhere else.
Ignore them, the airport was there first.
This nonsense that the airport was there first has nothing to do with complaints. If noise is annoying people, their views should be considered. The main issue for me is circuit pilot training: There may be up to 3 or more aircraft circuit training at one time for hours on end, and this can be disturbing for many of us who live close by and have to endure the endless engine noise going round and round and round! There also seems to be more helicopter activity which adds to the continuous noise. There were many fears of noise pollution from the new freeway/expressway, but the aircraft noise is far greater than the noise from the freeway.
In addition, I do wonder about the efficacy of training pilots over large residential areas, schools, colleges, etc.
We are super lucky to have the airport and it’s services! I personally don’t enjoy having to travel to Wellington airport to travel! Let’s not lose our airport over intolerance and then regret it terribly later!!! Surely people new about the noise when they bought the home they chose to live in?