WILLIAMTOWN RAAF Base's runway could be extended by 600 metres as part of the defence force's plan to curb excess noise from the yet-to-arrive Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.
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The Department of Defence has done away with a previous plan to extend the runway over Medowie Road to the south-east and come up with this new model.
"Defence commissioned a RAAF Base Williamtown Runway Extension Feasibility Study in 2010 to look at all aspects of runway extensions. This study included the south-eastern runway extension with Medowie Road realignment," a defence spokesperson said.
"This option was rejected due to security and environmental concerns, technical difficulty and the excessive costs above the proposed extension."
Instead the new proposal, which will be within the existing base boundary, will see the existing 2438-metre runway extend 340m to the south-east and 270m to the north-west.
This would result in a runway length of 3048 metres.
The spokesperson said the extension would reduce the impact the jet's noise had on the community.
"The extended runway allows the majority of F-35A take-offs at Williamtown to be conducted without the use of afterburner, which will reduce noise impacts to the base and surrounds. The longer runway will also increase the safety margin for F-35A operations at RAAF Williamtown."
A draft F-35A environmental impact statement has been submitted to the Department of the Environment and will be on public display in the near future.
