Hobart Runway 30 - Airservices Australia Board of Management
Dear Airservices Australia,
RE: details regarding Airservices Australia Board of Management
Our Board, as our governing body, is responsible for deciding the objectives, strategies and policies we follow, and ensuring that we perform our functions in a proper, efficient and effective manner. In particular the Board committee that deals with sustainability,
environment and community.
Please provide copies of Board minutes from July 2017 - April 2024 that includes references to Hobart Airport Flight Path changes 2017 to present.
In particular I am requesting minutes that refer to:
- Environmental assessments that would have been completed
- Runway 30 RNP-AR
- other tabled and discussed issues around community engagements, lawsuits,
flight path decision-making, noise and emissions.
Yours faithfully,
Cathy Minnucci
OFFICIAL
Dear Ms Minucci
Airservices Australia (Airservices) acknowledge the receipt of your request for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) which has been given the reference FOI 24-34.
You have requested access to the following documents:
Copies of Board minutes from July 2017 - April 2024 that includes references to Hobart Airport Flight Path changes 2017 to present.
In particular I am requesting minutes that refer to:
- Environmental assessments that would have been completed
- Runway 30 RNP-AR
- other tabled and discussed issues around community engagements, lawsuits,
flight path decision-making, noise and emissions.
The statutory period for processing your request is 30 calendar days commencing from the day after the day the request for received, in this case 11 April 2024.
However, if your request captures documents that contains information concerning the business, commercial or financial affairs of another organisation or individual (third party), Airservices is required to consult with these third parties concerned before deciding on the release of those documents: see section 27 of the FOI Act.
If consultation is undertaken with third parties, the initial 30-day period for processing your request will be extended by a further 30 days (see section 15(6) of the FOI Act).
Airservices may impose a charge for the work involved in providing access to the documents you requested. We will notify you of any charges in relation to your request as soon as possible, before we process any requested documents.
Please note that subject to certain exceptions, information released under the FOI Act may later be published online on our disclosure log (http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/abou...).
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at foi+AEA-airservicesaustralia.com .
Kind regards
Ben
FOI Coordinator
Alan Woods Building, 25 Constitution Ave
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
airservicesaustralia.com
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
Dear Ms Minnucci
Your Freedom of Information Request +IBM- Notice of consultation requirements
I refer to your email dated 11 April 2024 in which you requested access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) to the following documents:
Board minutes from July 2017 - April 2024 that includes references to Hobart Airport Flight Path changes 2017 to present.
In particular I am requesting minutes that refer to:
- Environmental assessments that would have been completed
- Runway 30 RNP-AR
- other tabled and discussed issues around community engagements, lawsuits,
flight path decision-making, noise and emissions.
Third party consultation
As your request covers documents which contain information concerning the business affairs of an organisation, Airservices is required to consult with the third party concerned (under section 27 of the FOI Act) before making a decision on the release of those documents.
If the third party being consulted objects to the release of relevant documents concerning them, Airservices will take their submissions into account when making a decision on whether to grant you access to the documents.
Extension of FOI processing timeframe for consultation
In accordance with subsection 15(6) of the FOI Act, the period for processing your FOI request has been extended by 30 days to enable Airservices to undertake the third party consultation.
Kind regards
Ben
FOI Coordinator
Alan Woods Building, 25 Constitution Ave
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
airservicesaustralia.com
OFFICIAL
Dear MBX FOI,
Thank you for your reply,
It seems that when any request heads towards the mandatory 30-day reply period, an extension is requested...in this case a further 30-days.
I am in no position to assess what is actually going on your end, so I can only trust that your reply Ben,
as ASA FOI Coordinator, is truthful.
So, in trusting that it is truthful, I will patiently wait another 30 days for your reply that addresses my request.
Yours sincerely,
Cathy Minnucci
Dear Ms Minnucci
Please find the attached notice of charges in respect of your FOI request.
Kind regards,
Ben
FOI Coordinator
Alan Woods Building, 25 Constitution Ave
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
airservicesaustralia.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Cathy Minnucci <[FOI #11323 email]>
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2024 4:39 PM
To: MBX FOI <[Airservices request email]>
Subject: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Hobart Runway
30 - Airservices Australia Board of Management
CAUTION: This email was sent from an external email address. Do not click
any links or open any attachments unless you trust the sender and know the
content is safe.
Dear MBX FOI,
Thank you for your reply,
It seems that when any request heads towards the mandatory 30-day reply
period, an extension is requested...in this case a further 30-days.
I am in no position to assess what is actually going on your end, so I can
only trust that your reply Ben,
as ASA FOI Coordinator, is truthful.
So, in trusting that it is truthful, I will patiently wait another 30 days
for your reply that addresses my request.
Yours sincerely,
Cathy Minnucci
Dear MBX FOI,
Good afternoon, Ben,
Thank you for your time in looking for documents that address my request.
I do not believe in the interests of all concerned that I should have to pay for this information.
The Airservices Australia Board of Management, is responsible for deciding the objectives, strategies and policies that ASA follow.
In my opinion, the ASA Board committee that deals with sustainability, environment and community have failed in their responsibility to the thousands of residents whose home is currently being crop dusted by low flying aircraft at or around 1,000ft. We are being subject to extremely high levels of aviation noise, ultra-fine particles and aviation soot and flight volume levels from ZERO to above 10,000 flights per year. No mandatory environmental impact assessments were undertaken.
I humbly request you release the BOM documentation without imposing any cost so that we can fully understand what processes were undertaken to inflict this enormous health and safety burden on our communities.
Hoping ASA BOM will re-review their role and hold those ASA Executives accountable and move this flight path.
Yours sincerely,
Cathy Minnucci
OFFICIAL
Dear Ms Minnucci
Your Freedom of Information Request +IBM-Decision to waive the charges.
I refer to below FOI request and notice of charges.
On 27 May 2024, I informed you that you were liable to pay the amount of +ACQ-134.89 to process your FOI request.
On 29 May 2024, you requested the charges be waived on public interest.
I have considered your submission and have decided to waive your charges as per your request.
Please note the processing time for your request was on hold until a decision with respect to charges was made, as such the due date for your request is now 17 June 2024.
Kind regards
Ben
FOI Coordinator
Alan Woods Building, 25 Constitution Ave
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
airservicesaustralia.com
OFFICIAL
Dear MBX FOI,
Ben,
The waiver of the fees is appreciated.
I will continue to now wait for the BOM documents.
Yours sincerely,
Cathy Minnucci
OFFICIAL
Dear Ms Minnucci
Please see attached access decision in respect of FOI 24-34.
Regards
Marcus Bourget
Authorised FOI Decision Maker
Alan Woods Building, 25 Constitution Ave
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
airservicesaustralia.com
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
Dear Ms Minucci
I write further to email of 17 June.
I am still liaising with my colleagues in respect of your request (which
is likely to involve discussion with third party entities).
In these circumstances, I should be grateful if you could confirm your
agreement to an extension for our response until 8 July 2024.
Please note, we also have on file two email addresses from you which are
connected to this request. Please could you confirm which is the
appropriate one to use?
Regards
Marcus Bourget
Authorised FOI Decision Maker
Alan Woods Building, 25 Constitution Ave
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
airservicesaustralia.com
OFFICIAL
From: MBX FOI <[Airservices request email]>
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2024 12:31 PM
To: Cathy Minnucci <[email address]>; MBX
FOI <[Airservices request email]>
Subject: FOI 24-39
OFFICIAL
Dear Ms Minucci
I write further to your FOI request FOI 24-39 which requested:
“all documents that directly related to the previously installed Noise
Monitors in Primrose Sands and Connelly's Marsh TAS. This would include
location, supplier, calibration levels, actual noise data, results and
findings that were used in ASA's decision making for these areas.”
I am still actioning this requesting and sourcing relevant documentation
from my internal stakeholders. Unfortunately, one of those stakeholders
(who’s input I need to action this request) has been on leave.
Accordingly, I am not going to be in a position to issue an access
decision before the due date (which is today) and write to seek your
agreement to a 21-day extension for the processing of this request. The
revised due date would be, 8 July 2024.
Please can you confirm your agreement to this extension of time by return.
Of course, if I can action your request before this time I will do so.
Regards
Marcus Bourget
Authorised FOI Decision Maker
Alan Woods Building, 25 Constitution Ave
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
airservicesaustralia.com
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
Dear Ms Minucci
I write further to email of 17 June.
I am still liaising with my colleagues in respect of your request (which
is likely to involve discussion with third party entities).
In these circumstances, I should be grateful if you could confirm your
agreement to an extension for our response until 8 July 2024.
Please note, we also have on file two email addresses from you which are
connected to this request. Please could you confirm which is the
appropriate one to use?
Regards
Marcus Bourget
Authorised FOI Decision Maker
Alan Woods Building, 25 Constitution Ave
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
airservicesaustralia.com
OFFICIAL
From: MBX FOI <[Airservices request email]>
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2024 12:31 PM
To: Cathy Minnucci <[email address]>; MBX
FOI <[Airservices request email]>
Subject: FOI 24-39
OFFICIAL
Dear Ms Minucci
I write further to your FOI request FOI 24-39 which requested:
“all documents that directly related to the previously installed Noise
Monitors in Primrose Sands and Connelly's Marsh TAS. This would include
location, supplier, calibration levels, actual noise data, results and
findings that were used in ASA's decision making for these areas.”
I am still actioning this requesting and sourcing relevant documentation
from my internal stakeholders. Unfortunately, one of those stakeholders
(who’s input I need to action this request) has been on leave.
Accordingly, I am not going to be in a position to issue an access
decision before the due date (which is today) and write to seek your
agreement to a 21-day extension for the processing of this request. The
revised due date would be, 8 July 2024.
Please can you confirm your agreement to this extension of time by return.
Of course, if I can action your request before this time I will do so.
Regards
Marcus Bourget
Authorised FOI Decision Maker
Alan Woods Building, 25 Constitution Ave
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
airservicesaustralia.com
OFFICIAL
Dear MBX FOI,
Thank you, Marcus,
You have requested an extension of time until 8 July 2024 to provide further information in regard to BOM documents.
I note this FOI request was made on the 11th of April 2024, and this is the second extension request allowing you a further three weeks on top of the 30 days extended in May.
Once again, I can only hope that your extension request is truthful, and in saying that I am happy to wait again.
In regard to two email addresses, please use the bigpond address attached to this reply.
Yours sincerely,
Cathy Minnucci
Dear MBX FOI,
FOI 24-34 - initial request was on the 11th April 2024
I note : Some BOM documents were provided but heavily redacted.
You requested more time to allow you to follow up on discussion with 3rd party entities, which was accommodated.
It is now the 27th August 2024 - well over 3 months since my original request.
Do you have any further documents?
Thanking you
Cathy Minnucci
OFFICIAL
Dear Ms Minnucci
According to our records, we provided documents to you on 17 June 2024.
If you have not received them, please confirm and I will review and make arrangements.
I note however that 24-34 related to Board minutes and records. I do not recall any BOM documentation falling within the scope of the request?
Marcus
Marcus Bourget
Acting General Counsel
M: 0422 555 007
Alan Woods Building, 25 Constitution Ave
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
airservicesaustralia.com
Important: This message may contain confidential or legally privileged information. If you think it was sent to you by mistake, please delete all copies and inform the sender.
OFFICIAL
Dear MBX FOI,
This is well overdue,
You have provided some BOM minutes, but I can see no information that directly address my original request:....see below.
Please provide copies of Board minutes from July 2017 - April 2024 that includes references to Hobart Airport Flight Path changes 2017 to present.
In particular I am requesting minutes that refer to:
- Environmental assessments that would have been completed
- Runway 30 RNP-AR
- other tabled and discussed issues around community engagements, lawsuits,
flight path decision-making, noise and emissions.
I find it extraordinary that your BOM has NO RECORDED INFORMATION or DISCUSSION in any BOM meeting minutes around the major Hobart Flight path changes, that also included a legal lawsuit.
It would suggest that information is being withheld.
Can you please confirm if this is the case?
Thanking you
Yours sincerely,
Cathy Minnucci