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• • Sustainable Grass is Greener at Essendon Fields

    02nd April 2013

  • Essendon Fields' environmentally friendly reputation is not only well earned, but also one its landscape design team is immensely proud of. Mark McWha - director of award-winning site landscape architect Formium and equipped with 30 years practical experience - is charged with the task of overseeing and instituting the site's broader landscape master plan.

    Over many years, McWha has worked extensively with the directors of Essendon Fields to achieve a landscape environment that tangibly elevates the site's life experience. And the fruits of that relationship are immediately evident upon entering the park's generous open spaces. "Our collective landscaping vision was that of an urban oasis that privileged the use of local materials. It was important to us to harmonise a sense of amenity with a quality, sustainable living landscape. We feel that we have established a site wherein both workers and visitors can enjoy lowmaintenance, attractive and useful outdoor spaces." One important element of this 'worker friendly' commitment is the series of interlinking pedestrian dedicated footpaths that connect the various public spaces and office buildings throughout the Essendon Fields precinct, so providing workers with pleasant avenues along which to take a walk at lunchtime.

    For McWha and his team, the very location of Essendon Fields - situated as it is on Melbourne's northern plains - dictated a full-bodied approach to plant selection when it came to filling the site's garden beds. "We were mindful that the vegetation should be suited to the local climate, growing conditions and soil conditions. Given the prevalence of reactive basalt soils and the quite frequent northerly winds, this can sometimes be a tricky environment for certain sensitive plant species to flourish."

    The choice of Essendon Fields predominating tree - the Ornamental Manchurian pear - was thus a highly deliberate process taking myriad factors into account. Providing a basic contrast to the largely native plant material of the Tullamarine freeway, McWha's theme tree not only exhibits fantastic stress-resistant qualities, but also striking seasonal variety. "These trees are a robust urban species, and hence require very little watering once established. On top of that though, they retain incredible visual appeal, regardless of the time of year. They exhibit massive white blossoms in spring, a flush of verdant green in summer, and then brilliant reds and yellows throughout autumn." Even the very placement of these deciduous beauties was decided with the seasons in mind. "The tree planting throughout the site was very strategic. In the hot months, the pear trees' shady foliage serves to screen buildings and absorb heat, thus saving on air conditioning cost. But in winter, the exposed architectural structure of the leaf-less trees welcomes sunlight in, thus allowing it to penetrate and warm the various building sites." Further, McWha's architectural interplay of pear trees in the English Street precinct is typically considered. "The trees are arranged in diagonal lines, providing entering park goers with a sequence of controlled views that immediately establish a sense of rhythm to the landscape."

    The park's environmental conscience does not end with the implementation of the rarely thirsty Manchurian pear, however. The hard work of diligent landscaper Mark Stanburg, of Supergardens - coupled with an array of cutting edge techniques - have too yielded a great impact on the Essendon Fields site. The use of a new variety of buffalo grass - one that is extremely hardy and retains its colour throughout both winter and summer - has been a positive change in terms of reduced mowing, fertilising and watering expenditure. Ever mindful of minimising wastage, approximately one million litres of water is stored in tanks interspersed throughout Essendon Fields, which are filled via roof rainwater run-off. Drip lines, pop-up sprinklers, stringently monitored moisture levels and check valves - which engage to prevent any excess water wastage - round-out Essendon Fields' water conservation arsenal.

    McWha also takes pride in the use of local Victorian white-grey sparkling granite throughout Essendon Fields. "This quality natural stone comes from a quarry near Castlemaine, and has been fashioned by highly-trained craftsmen. Using such a superior long-lasting product to construct the retaining walls and signs not only reduces our environmental footprint, but really helps to visually unify all of our disparate landscape areas."

    Other practices employed at Essendon Fields have broader community benefits, states McWha, such as the use of bio swale in the grass areas around the site. "The swale depressions in the mediums at the side of the road collect stormwater, which we organically treat. The water is filtered in reed beds before it enters the stormwater pits, so separating it from road runoff impurities, like potassium and nitrogen nutrients off rubber tyres. This means that by the time the water hits Melbourne's creek system, it has been treated, so nullifying the spread of pollution throughout the city's waterways."

    With such environmentally conscious practices already well established - and plans afoot for more, including the potential use of a disused underground tunnel for increased water storage capacity - Essendon Fields' future appears bright (green) indeed.

• • Stand Up and Support a Bully Free Australia!

    16th March 2013

  • The timing was apt for the Bully Free Australia Foundation launch on Saturday March 16, following the 2013 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. 
    Despite the incidence of school yard and workplace bullying reduced by 80% since the 1970s, the pressing need for the community to band together and stand up as a nation for a bully free Australia is stronger than ever. The youth of today face more social pressures than any generation before them due to our reliance on mobile phones, internet and social media platforms in our 24 hour communication way of life.

    Last year alone 2500 people took their own lives in Australia; amongst that figure 450 were children. In more than 80% of these cases bullying was a contributing factor.

    Although these figures are alarming, the aftermath for the families left to cope with suicide is catastrophic. While great work is being done by many organisations working toward eradicating bullying from our society, the official launch of the Bully Free Australia Foundation (BFAF) and the tireless and dedicated work of Moreland City Mayor, Oscar Yildiz and the Board of BFAF will hopefully fill the gaps for these families and substantially decrease these figures into the future. " There is great need for targeted education not just for kids and employees in the workplace, but to teach parents and employers to be aware and tech savvy enough to enable them to identify and respond appropriately to issues where bullying may present imminent dangers.

    "There are huge gaps in the services currently provided, in particular for families that have lost loved ones to bullying. BFAF is committed to filling these gaps" said Cr Yildiz. BFAF is dedicated to addressing the devastation these families experience and bridging the isolation of cultural and linguistic barriers. 
    The issue of bullying deserves prominence in our society and this was clearly reflected on March 16th with Prime Minister Julia Gillard personally attending and speaking out against bullying at the BFAF launch, together with Federal Minister Mr Bill Shorten and BFAF Board Member and Victorian MLC for Northern Metropolitan, Craig Ondarchie.

    An amendment to the Crimes Act in Victoria could now see bully's face up to 10 years imprisonment. A legislative Bill to be passed through the House of Representatives will include a provision from 1 July which will allow individuals bullied at work to go to the Fair Work Commission and have their case heard. 
    Cr Yildiz is extremely grateful to the businesses and organisations that have extended their support both monetarily and actively to date. 
    "The entire Board of BFAF has individually committed their time and thousands of out of pocket dollars. We are truly grateful to the local businesses of Essendon Fields in particular for their support. The management and staff at Essendon Fields have, without exception, been forthcoming and generous with every request we have made. LaManna has provided us the opportunity to further our awareness campaigns, along with so many others that recognise the need for our vital work." Says Cr Yildiz.

    Bullying and violence at school or in the workplace is not acceptable. BFAF calls on your support to fulfill their objectives and create better outcomes for this generation and those to come. Whether financially or through volunteering on one of their 8 sub committees, you and or your place of business can truly make a big difference!

    Every dollar donated to BFAF is monitored and allocated solely to support those in need of help and in defining and cementing a no-tolerance culture of bullying throughout our society. All Australian's are urged to band together to support one another and stand up and lead the world as a bully free nation to save precious lives.

    Bully Free Australia Foundation - 72 Hargrave Ave, Essendon Fields. For further information please call 1800 028 559, visit www.bfaf.org.au or email oyildiz@bfaf.org.au

• • Join the Essendon Fields Fitness Addix where Consistency is key

    01st February 2013

  • When Fitness Addix Essendon Fields turned one at the start of the month, it came as no surprise that its team forsook celebratory birthday cake for more of what they really love to indulge in - training. Indeed, instead of blowing out candles, they encouraged others to 'feel the burn' instead. "We offered a two week trial for our existing members to bring a family member or friend down, who themselves received free trial memberships for the gym."

    Having established Fitness Addix in Brunswick 9 years ago, owner Kelly Britter had felt that the time was right to channel her bespoke fitness programs - with their genesis in boxing training - into a second gym. And in Essendon Fields, Britter not only saw a promoter's dream, but somewhere her gym could go the distance. "It was mainly the growing location that appealed to me initially. I saw Essendon Fields not as a short term fix but a long term investment: we want to develop our business as the site itself continues to grow over the next five years."

    The philosophy pervading Fitness Addix is one that privileges a quality, member-first approach to fitness training. "We're definitely not a commercial type of gym. We are proud to present ourselves as a boutique gym with unique training methods that concentrate on less members, for better results." When focus wanes from the speedball or the heavy bag, it typically falls sharply on each individual client's needs. "We commit ourselves to finding out as much as we can about the person as possible, so whatever we're doing suits them. A class of thirty at Fitness Addix, for example, will be catering to a class of thirty individuals, not a generic set program. The emphasis is on each individual in the class, never the trainer taking charge of that class."

    Britter herself runs approximately four to five classes per week - predominately boxing based ones - at the Essendon Fields facility, with a personal training crew of ten on her staff. "All of our staff work really well with each other and bring different fitness and sporting backgrounds to the gym, which is by design. If one isn't particularly strong in a specific discipline, the next trainer will be, meaning that our staff complement each other to form a very well-rounded instructor group." Whilst she still commits between two and eight hours a day to the new facility, Fitness Addix Essendon Fields is largely managed and overseen by Britter's brother Adam, who has proven a more than adept corner man.

    Popular classes include basic boxing and kickboxing training, cycling and weights, as well as Addix Fit class, a fun (for some!) group fitness freestyle circuit class that incorporates resistance, conditioning and cardio training to form an all-purpose workout. Weight loss and nutritional advice is another of the gym's specialities.

    The Fitness Addix trainers themselves are charged with meeting a simple but strict daily brief: no two classes can ever be the same. Britter is emphatic about this policy's worth. "Other gyms will follow a set program structure, but all of our classes are our own tailored freelance style. Our trainers are responsible for designing the composition of their classes each week and making sure they are different and engaging. This stops boredom, keeps people coming back, and shows that variety is out there so that people don't get stagnant in the way they train."

    As for anybody seeking advice on how to stay trim and healthy during the approaching colder months, Britter keeps coming back to one single word: consistency. "If you can only do one session a week, make sure you consistently complete that one session. If you can do two, make it two. A lot of people go too hard and can't keep up - you have to maintain a routine that is compatible with your lifestyle."

    Those wanting more information on Fitness Addix Essendon Fields' tailored fitness programs can phone Kelly or Adam on 03 9374 3337. 92 Bristol Street, Essendon Fields Ess@fitnessaddix.com.au www.fitnessaddix.com.au

• • Essendon Airport Celebrates the season of giving all year round

    05th December 2012

  • It's hard to believe that 2012 has gone by so quickly. As we compile our summer issue it seems a little surreal that the season of giving and merriment is upon us once more. As Essendon Fields continues to grow in its second decade as a vibrant and assiduous hub attracting a continuous and increasing flow of visitation, Essendon Fields News, a publication aimed at informing and servicing residential and business communities within the municipality, is set to embark on its third year of circulation in 2013.

    In previous years our summer issue has provided readers with an update of the year in review. This year we focus on the community and Essendon Fields involvement and commitment to the people and organisations that make up this progressive area of Melbourne's North West. Essendon Fields started off 2012 offering a fabulous opportunity to win a brand new car of choice from the extensive AutoCentro line up of car dealerships, up to the value of $18,000, just by simply shopping at the centre and collecting tokens from one of the nine participating retailers over a six week period. For lucky winner Margaret Brown, this just required her usual weekly visit to Essendon Fields Shopping Centre.

    "I didn't feel that I was buying anything extra that I was going out of my way to buy. It was just a matter of visiting the shops I normally go to and getting a little sticker for my entry form" said Margaret. Margaret drove away in a brand new Mazda 3 with added extras that has made life taxiing her two young sons around quite a bit easier and in style.

    The competition to win a car courtesy of Essendon Fields was publicised on billboard scooters and through the Essendon Fields website and Facebook Page, but most of Essendon Fields community involvement is not widely known but provides support and partnership to many community programs, local organisations and charities.

    For several years Essendon Fields has been one of the significant sponsors for the Kokoda Trail Breakfast hosted by local Chartered Accountants, Matthews Steer, which this year raised over $22,000towards subsidising the annual trek where members of Victoria Police bridge a connection with "at risk" youth. The Kokoda Trail expedition has been instrumental in turning the lives of young people around and giving them an opportunity to start again on the right path with a better understanding of the role of police as a support system. When it comes to local youth, Essendon Fields has rarely shied away from offering a helping hand. Earlier this year over 1000 show bags were donated to Oak Park Primary School for their school fundraising efforts as well as a host of prizes donated to Penleigh/Essendon Grammar to assist with their fundraising events in both their mid year trivia night as well as their recent October fete.

    Essendon Fields proudly takes part in and partners with the National Breast Cancer Foundation breakfast held in Moonee Valley annually, organised through the Vic Events Committee which incidentally happens to be one of the largest held nationwide and has raised phenomenal amounts of money for this very important cause. The management of Essendon Fields were pleased to provide1000 show bags for the event held at Flemington Racecourse which raised an impressive $72,000.

    Australians love sport and many of our national heroes on the worldwide sporting arena began their careers in local sporting clubs. Essendon Fields stands behind local sport and has provided assistance with equipment and general amenities at Essendon Cricket Club. Essendon Airport terminal received a $100,000refurbishment to revitalise and improve this land mark building ensuring its long-term future for the community.

    Essendon Airport is dedicated to working together and keeping the lines of communication open with the residential community and authorities. As Martin Luther King Jr said, "the time is always right to do what is right." The management and staff at Essendon Fields look forward to a successful year ahead continuing their commitment to the people, businesses and organisations of Moonee Valley.

• • Air Ambulance Victoria celebrates 50 year milestone at Essendon Airport

    18th November 2012

  • Air Ambulance Victoria (AAV) marked its 50th year in our skies with a special celebration at Essendon Airport.

    Over 100 people including Minister for Health David Davis, Ambulance Victoria CEO Greg Sassella, joined past patients and their families, past and current staff including flight paramedics, pilots, navigators, and auxiliary members, members from emergency services and Pel Air as well as representatives from The Royal Children's Hospital.

    Commencing operations in May 1962 with only one rotary wing aircraft and one fixed wing, in its first year alone 12 patients were transported via air, the majority being medical and trauma patients from the Snowy Mountain Hydro Scheme. 
    Fifty years on and Air Ambulance Victoria has five rotary wing aircrafts, four fixed wing aircrafts, 69 Operational staff consisting of MICA Flight Paramedics, Flight Paramedics, Flight Coordinators, and a strong team of pilots, crewman, engineers, trade assistants, doctors, and administrators. Last year AAV made 6,530 transports.

    Ambulance Victoria acting Manager Air Operations Anthony de Wit credits the hard work and vision of those who went before him and his current colleagues who have contributed to making it the world leading aero medical service that it is today. 
    'Air Ambulance Victoria is something that the Victorian community should be proud of and we are at the forefront of pre hospital patient care in Australia and worldwide,' he said.

    'We provide a world class service using state of the art aircraft efficiently maintained by our engineers and flown by highly trained professional pilots and aircrew.

    'Fifty years is an important milestone as we have come from humble beginnings to become one of the best aeromedical services in the world. This has been achieved through innovative and dedicated employees, continued support from the state government and our aviation contractors which in turn means a higher quality level of care and transport for our patients.'

    Manager for Emergency Management and Air Ambulance, Paul Holman believes that working for Air Ambulance Victoria is a privilege for those who strive hard to work there.

    'The performance and the standard we demand of our employees are of the highest quality and it's a lot of hard work to get here and a lot of hard work to maintain that high quality and performance,' he said.

    'We don't settle for second best and it's a privilege to manage Air Ambulance Victoria. 'We've continued to improve our clinical care, our facilities and the way we go about our business. We walk in the shadow of those over the last 50 years and people all over the world use us a model. That's something to be celebrated.'

• • Pharmasave committed to Essendon Fields

    13th September 2012

  • A staunch commitment to community health is the prevailing theme at the newly opened Pharmasave Essendon Fields Pharmacy. Indeed, for co-owner Stephen Zammit, assisting local residents in achieving their best possible medication and healthcare outcomes will always remain a priority.

    "We felt that Essendon Fields needed a good pharmacy in the area - not just something that could fill a void. We pride ourselves on being highly professional pharmacists who go that extra yard for our customers, and offer highly-trained and accessible staff, quality service, low prices and a positive shopping experience for all."

    Zammit is himself no stranger to the area. "I've lived in this part of Melbourne my whole life, and I am proud to be able to help the people who helped me whilst I was growing up by offering a rounded healthcare experience." Nor is this Zammit's first initiative as neighbourhood bastion to the sniffling, puffy-eyed downtrodden. A history of involvement with other pharmacies in the area will only serve to strengthen Pharmasave Essendon Fields Pharmacy's immune system. The Essendon Fields Pharmacy is Zammit's first involvement with the broader 'Pharmasave' brand, though the association has for some time loomed as an inevitable one. "Pharmasave is a relatively new brand, and has been developed because there are a lot of 'old school' pharmacies out there that provide decent service, but are simply far too expensive. Other newer pharmacies might meet the price component on the one hand, but are lacking in terms of service." The marriage with Pharmasave is one that not only provides a competitively priced healthcare product that will benefit the community, but also a salve to professional and ethical peace of mind. "The Pharmasave model gives you that ability to offer a very competitive service without having to compromise your morals or sacrifice your professional principles."

    Zammit's commitment to the traditional values of the pharmaceutical industry is complemented by the store's innovative range of products and services. "Given that we are younger pharmacy owners, we like to think that we are fully aware of what's going on in the industry." Medico packs - weekly packs designed to simplify a patient's relationship with often intimidating quantities of tablets and medicines - are one such innovation, with home medication reviews - a professional service where a pharmacist can actually spend an hour in a patient's home and gain a better understanding of their medical routine - yet another example of a civic-minded approach.

    The 'Medscheck' concept too - where an individual may spend 20 or so minutes privately discussing their medication with a pharmacist in store - further strengthens the community 'safety net'. "We are focused on optimising and bettering medication regimes, and essentially making sure that people are getting the best possible care and medical advice. Many of these ideas are government-based initiatives, and if the government sees value in them, so hopefully will our customers," says Zammit.

    An increased medical awareness is not the only 'value' available for customers at Pharmasave Essendon Fields Pharmacy, however. Low-price private prescriptions are offered at up to 50 per cent discounts, whilst extensive cosmetic and designer perfume ranges are available at 50 to 85 per cent off respectively. A comprehensive range of travel accessories and paraphernalia will also satisfy the needs of any underprepared passengers ready to take to the skies at the adjacent Essendon Airport.

    Importantly, Pharmasave Essendon Fields Pharmacy will be open to the public every day. For Zammit, this community gesture is symbolic above all else. "Not many pharmacies start out being open seven days a week, but we wanted to emphasise our commitment to people in the area from the outset. This is a growing community with new offices being built all the time - there are so many working people in the area, and they deserve quality services in their shopping centre."

    Zammit is mindful of the upcoming requirements that 'hay fever season' inevitably brings with it, with the long, sunscreen-filled days of summer due to pose a fresh challenge soon after. No matter the weather or ailment, however, Pharmasave Essendon Fields Pharmacy will deliver in its duty. "We are proud to offer solutions that keep people well and at work."

• • Essendon Airport Terminal Upgrade

    17th August 2012

  • Essendon Airport provides facilities and services for International and Domestic corporate charter aircraft, aircraft maintenance and emergency air service providers. Combined, these operators undertake more than 53,000 annual aircraft movements.

    Over the past 6 months fl y in and fl y out services have commenced from Essendon Airport to three mining sites across the country situated in Orange in NSW, Prominent Hill in SA as well as the Telfer mining area in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

    In order to adequately facilitate these aircraft movements, Essendon Airport has recently invested $100,000 into an upgrade of the terminal as well as an increase in the aircraft parking capacity to accommodate the increased number of flights and passengers.
    "No major works have occurred to the terminal since 2008 when Level 1, the original terminal restaurant was converted into 6 quality office suites other than that the majority of the building's structure has been untouched since it was first built in 1959," said Airport Operations Manager, Graeme Ware.

    In consideration of the airport's history, care was taken to ensure the terminal upgrade was in keeping with the high heritage value of the building. Finishes for the walls, counters, joinery and even the carpet was kept as close to the original as possible, including the retention of the terminal's natural timber features. Prior to the upgrades there was just one check-in desk for passengers and airway personnel, which has now been expanded to include four check-in counters along with more prominent corporate signage for airlines. In addition, secure baggage handling processes have also undergone improvements.

    Essendon Airport Management consulted with the airlines based at the airport throughout the design stages and all parties are pleased with the outcomes and improvements to this important Melbourne landmark site which will continue to service airway commuters for decades to come.

    "The terminal refurbishment works are rewarding, allowing us to revitalise and improve a landmark building and ensure its long-term future for the community. Essendon Airport is an important facility for Melbourne and is also a gateway for the mining community into Moonee Valley with daily flights serviced by Alliance Airline, and we look forward to the upgrades providing economic benefits including increased employment opportunities for people in Moonee Valley and the greater western suburbs." said Mr Ware.

• • Matthew Steer sponsor another Kokoda Trail 2012

    10th August 2012

  • The Kokoda Trail resonates as one of Australia's most poignant symbols of national sacrifice. But for those who take single file to Kokoda today, the experience invariably transcends mere tribute to those who suffered and died: to walk Kokoda is to walk the recesses of one's own mind. Indeed, personal battles continue to be waged along this undulating 96 kilometers of rugged Papua New Guinean rainforest, seven long decades after the last bayonet was fitted. As Victoria Police Kokoda Trek Program coordinator Inspector Nigel Howard states, "Everyone has a good day - and a bad day - on the track."

    The program, which was initiated in 2007 and comprises an eight day and seven night trek along the Kokoda Trail, is a community-building exercise aimed at breaking down the barriers between police and 'at risk' young people. Disenfranchised youths identified as having low self-esteem, lack of direction or poor school attendance records are specifically targeted for participation, and are joined on the muddy slopes not only by police, but by ambulance officers, sponsors and various youth 'leaders'; themselves carefully selected to act as role models for their contemporaries. In overcoming the mental and physical torture of Kokoda, the program hopes to not only instil genuine self-belief in its graduates, but also assist them in recognising the negative life trajectories of antisocial behavior.

    The Victoria Police Kokoda Trek Program does not only test its young subjects, but all who embark on the arduous journey. 20kg packs provide the exclamation mark on an experience characterized by humid days, freezing nights, screaming blisters, unforgiving mud and mental fatigue. According to Inspector Howard, it is the dispiriting prospect of incline after incline that presents the biggest challenge. "On an average day, you walk up hills. You walk up little hills; you walk up big hills. It is a physically demanding, mind-numbing experience. Above all else, Kokoda tests the resolve of the individual: it forces people to drill into reserves of inner-strength they never knew they had."

    Bridging the hierarchical distance between youth and police is for Inspector Howard, one of the program's most critical aspects. "All societies have youth who are engaged, and youth who are disengaged. Through this program, we seek to build relationships with disengaged youth, and in turn use their networks to impact the broader community. Many young people are ignorant of what police really do and what purpose they actually serve. But after Kokoda, many of them have come to appreciate for the first time the human element of policing."

    In its short history the program has produced a litany of positive outcomes. Successful completion of VCE, acceptance at tertiary level and commitment to full time employment are just some of the success stories, says Inspector Howard. "We always say that when you've walked the Kokoda Track, you can do anything. Kids face challenges all the time, but it's not until they physically conquer the adversity of Kokoda that they seem to realise that other, seemingly impossible life hurdles can be overcome too."

• • Aerorescue - Looking after our national interests 24/7

    31st July 2012

  • AeroRescue is a "Special Missions" aircraft operator who currently supplies dedicated long range fixed wing aircraft for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Operations are conducted from fi ve separate locations throughout Australia. Five heavily modified Dornier 328 turbo prop aircraft, based in Essendon, Cairns, Perth, Darwin and Brisbane provide a sensor and drop platform for a broad range of missions. Aerorescue Essendon was commissioned in December 2006 and since then has responded to over 450 Search and Rescue incidents as well as conducting numerous other taskings for AMSA and its State and Federal affiliates. The aircraft is under the control of, and tasked directly by the Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra with the operation running 24hrs a day, 365 days a year.

    In essence they provide the eyes and ears in the sky for the Search and Rescue Coordinators in Canberra. Their role includes responding to Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), Personal Locator Beacons (PLB), providing a search platform for missing persons, vessels and aircraft, dropping lifesaving appliances to persons in distress in a marine and land environment, acting as an airborne communications and coordination platform for large scale searches and providing Environmental Pollution Response capabilities.

    The aircraft has a range of approximately 6 hours depending on the tasking and can transit at speeds comparable to small commercial jetliners, hence providing a quick response when needed. The aircraft is fitted with a wide range of Electro optical sensors including maritime search RADAR, Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and Enhanced digital cameras, Ultra Violet/Infrared line scanner, a full suite of radio communication equipment, including the ability to act as a direct relay station, and a computerised mission management system. The aircraft is operated by a crew of five, comprised of two flight crew and three technical crew.

    There is a wide range of equipment available to drop from the aircraft including small canisters containing medical supplies, water and communications devices and also large canisters with more varied tools for survival situations such as inflatable life rafts and GPS marker beacons. "We are often asked what people can do to increase their safety when undertaking activities which can be potentially hazardous.

    Depending on the activity we will always advise people to take all appropriate safety equipment, have either an EPIRB or PLB, be proficient in its use and to make sure it is registered with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority" says Luke Hutchinson, Base Manager for AeroRescue Essendon.

    For more information on Search and Rescue within Australia, emergency beacons and registration, go to www.amsa.gov.au or call 1800 406 406.

• • Friendly Skies Over Essendon Airport

    02nd July 2012

  • For the majority of bleary-eyed travellers, airports are a valued means of transit to that next business meeting or - for the luckier ones - that first umbrella-garnished cocktail. Steeped in functionality and structure, the airport's bustle is generally forgotten the moment its visitors collect their last elusive suitcase and make for the taxi rank.

    But for the residents and businesses situated within a close proximity to airports, the relationship with these lively hubs of aerial activity is of necessity a far less fleeting and entirely more complex, one. Indeed, such relationships cannot be placed in a holding pattern when convenient: airports do not simply disappear with the last 'fasten seatbelt' sign, and instead yield a permanent influence on local infrastructure, business and housing.

    Cognisant of the need to better regulate such interactions, the Gillard government made consultation between airports and sometimes-competing airport stakeholders a priority, establishing independently-chaired Community Aviation Consultation Groups (CACG's) in order to better foster productive discussion and dialogue. Created on the back of the government's 2009 'Flight Path to the Future' initiative, these bodies now ensure a formal community voice at each of Australia's major airports, with all federally-leased airports required to institute a CACG.

    One significant development generated out of the establishment of the Essendon CACG is the successful negotiation of the 'Fly Neighbourly Agreement', a voluntary accord espousing resident-conscious practices at Essendon Airport. Implemented twelve months ago, the agreement itself sets out a list of key principles to which its signatories pledge compliance, among them reducing unnecessary engine revs, maintaining a height of above 1000 feet unless arriving or departing the airport, responding to community inquiries about noise in a cooperative manner, and ensuring that environmental awareness and noise issues are included in pilot training. Air services operating out of Essendon are urged to abide by the 'Fly Neighbourly Agreement's' inherently conscientious philosophy, asserts Airport Operations Manager Graeme Ware. "We encourage our operators to sign up to the 'Fly Neighbourly Agreement' so that they might better consider the community they are flying ver."

    And with the issue of noise pollution accepted as a legitimate concern, airport management are wholly committed to a conciliatory approach, having recognised the importance of establishing convivial, reciprocal relationships between the airport and the community that envelops it. "Our business is continuing to grow, and we have to manage that with community expectations. We may not always share the same outlook, but as long as the various parties treat each other with respect, solutions will inevitably reveal themselves."

    Like an air traffic controller brandishing his marshalling wands, Ware is responsible for guiding all manner of complaints and disputes, with a perusal of the CACG's minutes revealing a range of disparate concerns voiced by residents and interest groups - from helicopters operating out of curfew to unsound drainage of airport stormwater. Ware - who once even went to the extraordinary lengths of doing a 'graveyard shift' in a repeat complainant's house in order to best appreciate a particularly sensitive noise issue - remains committed to working with the community. "It is our responsibility to treat residents with empathy and demonstrate a willingness to work with all parties.

    This is the reality of the daily management of modern airports." A gradual increase in helicopter operations, for example, has resulted in the airport instigating directions to helicopters to fly over the less-populated open spaces to the north in order to minimise those residents affected.

    The voluntary nature of the 'Fly Neighbourly Agreement', however, remains a point of contention. Though Sharp Airlines and 15 of the major operators are signed up at this point - including the chief operators of jet aircraft and twin turbo prop aircraft that provide regular commercial services to Victoria - significant omissions remain. The failure of the Police Air Wing and Air Ambulance Victoria to sign the agreement is one issue that has been the subject of some CACG discussion. For Ware, the motivation for spurning the agreement is, in this case, understandable. "Both organisations perform a critical role for Victorians in terms of life-saving processes, and are of the view that their pilots must remain free to make the operational decisions that they need to make. And though they are not signatories, they operate very much in principle with the 'Fly Neighbourly Agreement'. They are mindful of noise issues wherever possible, but don't want to be compromised should a life-threatening situation emerge."

    For Essendon CACG member and Moonee Valley City Councillor Janette Chantry, the 'Fly Neighbourly Agreement' is perhaps best summarised as a work in progress. Whilst firmly opposed to any further expansion of activities at the airport, Chantry is quick to acknowledge recent gains. "Since the introduction of the 'Fly Neighbourly Agreement' there has been a marked improvement from the various operators of planes in and out of Essendon Airport." Further negotiation will be vital, however, in achieving a mutually agreeable standard. "The committee and concerned residents believe that more effort is required from the operators to ensure less noise and pollution over the airport. The residents would like to see more noise monitoring devices installed in Bowes Avenue Airport West and in the Essendon area as well." Cutting back on more superfluous jy flights- as opposed to the more essential emergency air wing services and executive jet aircraft - also remains a key concern for the community.

    Like Ware, however, Councillor Chantry remains optimistic that favourable outcomes can be realised. "The new management at Essendon Airport has endeavoured to improve the relationship between residents and operators and I commend them on their efforts to date."