Oakville residents hoping to see fewer airplanes flying over their homes should not expect relief any time soon.
A presentation by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) saw the subject of airplane noise discussed at length — with criticism from those representing Oakville and Milton — during Wednesday’s Halton Regional Council meeting.
Increased air traffic over north Oakville and south Milton has generated much resident angst since the private capital corporation NAV Canada, which owns and operates Canada’s civil air navigation service, changed flightpaths in February 2012.
The move was intended to meet new international design standards and provide better traffic flow.
Oakville Ward 4 Councillor Allan Elgar asked what was being done to mitigate airplane noise. GTAA Acting Vice President of Stakeholder Relations and Communications Lorrie McKee said noise levels have been decreasing as airlines invest in new technology.
“We are constantly looking at ways we can mitigate the noise,” she said. “Sometimes the reality is there are limited things we can do.”
McKee said 99 per cent of planes using Pearson International Airport are the quietest models on the market.
Changing flightpaths is something McKee acknowledged municipalities don’t control.
Ward 5 Oakville Councillor Jeff Knoll asked McKee when representatives from Oakville or Halton could be added to the GTAA’s Community Environment & Noise Advisory Committee (CENAC).
The group includes representatives and residents from municipalities affected by Pearson’s air traffic, including Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton.
“This is not getting better and as your traffic increases so does the impact on our constituents,” said Knoll.
“How quickly can you look at that because I think having some kind of representation on this committee from this area, which is so heavily-impacted, would make sense and be a very good PR gesture on the part of the GTAA.”
McKee said the GTAA will look at this subject next year.
Knoll also called on the GTAA to reevaluate its policy where it limits its responsibility for the handling of aircraft noise management and noise complaints to flights operating within 10 nautical miles of the Toronto airport. Currently, noise complaints for aircraft outside this radius go to Transport Canada.
Knoll argued this rule was put in place before the flightpaths were changed.
McKee said the radius is being reexamined and a decision is expected this year.
She said the GTAA would also look at the possibility of installing noise monitors in Halton.
Milton Councillor Colin Best said aircrafts are flying more frequently, and lower, over residential areas in south Milton, and called on the GTAA to investigate.
Ward 6 Oakville Councillor Tom Adams asked McKee if there are more flightpath changes in the works, Halton residents should know be made aware of them.
McKee said there are some changes coming, but would not elaborate, stating NAV Canada is responsible for making such information public.
She noted information, when available, will go on the GTAA website and shared with the CENAC.
Oakville Mayor Rob Burton was critical of the GTAA’s lack of action including local representation in CENAC and poor communications practices.
“You have this noise committee... but you have a complete failure to communicate here. You have got a committee that doesn’t communicate. I don’t know what good it does you to have that committee unless they have some form of outreach. Putting a passive announcement on a website somewhere is not communication,” said Burton.
“Every year you come here, you are self-satisfied. I don’t hear any self-criticism, I don’t hear any plans to improve and I hope by sharpening the criticism here this morning, I can motivate you to go back and focus and fix it now,” said Burton.
McKee had previously stated information about the flight path changes in 2012 was placed in all four major Toronto newspapers.
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