Greg Combet, Australia’s minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, said this week that consultation about the environmental impact of the new Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is already underway, almost a decade ahead of the aircraft’s arrival at RAAF Williamtown.
Defence is conducting community consultation about the JSF in the Williamtown area as part of the preparation of a Public Environment Report (PER), he said.
“Accusations made by the Member for Paterson, Bob Baldwin, that Defence is not listening to community concerns about the JSF are completely unfounded,” Mr Combet said.
“Defence is a decade out from introducing the JSF to RAAF Williamtown and is already considering additional measures to minimise the environmental impact of the aircraft.
“These measures include minimizing the use of afterburner take-off, greater use of simulation for training and reduced air weapons range use.
“Defence is also already looking into options for JSF flight paths, and how it can revise flight profiles such as track changes, noise abatement profiles, limiting late night flying or flying during sensitive periods, and minimizing over-flying of heavily populated areas.”
Combet said that the Member for Paterson’s comments were undermining confidence in RAAF Base Williamtown.
“Bob Baldwin is ill-informed and is putting at risk investor and community confidence in RAAF Base Williamtown,” Combet said.
“I am very aware of community concern about the environment around bases. The community has expressed their interest in this project, 200 residents attended public information sessions and 70 formal submissions were received during the PER process. We are listening to the community, and we are taking their concerns very seriously.