Editor:
I read the article about the airport expansion (Coast Reporter, Sept. 17) with mixed feelings.
From an economic perspective, it may or may not improve things. Operating expenses and future maintenance are sure to affect Sechelt taxpayers. Business may benefit, but I suspect not as much as is trumpeted.
In my opinion, this is more an attempt to entice population growth to fill all those new neighbourhoods that are being built.
We're hellbent on becoming just another bedroom community to Vancouver, but hey, the more the merrier right?
One subject that hasn't been addressed yet, is noise.
I have resided in Davis Bay for 20 years and during that time I have noticed an increase in the number of recreational aircraft buzzing our neighbourhood during takeoff especially. By the look of their flight path, it appears they are headed to Vancouver, climbing and banking steeply immediately after leaving the ground. I can't begin to describe how annoying it is to listen to a plane at full throttle a couple of hundred feet above my head on a weekend morning, while trying to enjoy a coffee outside, or inside for that matter.
With an expansion, I hope our illustrious leaders have given thought to a noise abatement bylaw that would prohibit flying over residential neighbourhoods. Considering the orientation of the runway, this would not be a difficult task.
Davis Bay in particular is already overburdened with noise and air pollution from highway traffic. Adding more of it from air traffic will certainly not add to the quality of life where I live.
Dan Brambilla
Davis Bay
