Airport plan to share the decibels

by SANDI MILLER
21st September 2026

MELBOURNE’S Tullamarine Airport is in the planning stages for a third runway.
As part of the development, Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne) (APAM), which manages Melbourne Airport, is considering the effects that noise will have on surrounding communities.
APAM were required by the federal government to engage independent consultants to prepare a Noise Sharing Plan as part of the approval conditions for the third runway.
With no curfew in place, Melbourne Airport operates 24 hours per day, so many communities are impacted around the clock by intrusive aircraft noise.
The new runway will mean several new flight paths will track over the eastern and northern suburbs, so it may increase aircraft traffic above Manningham and Nillumbik communities.
For instance, Kangaroo Ground currently has about 25 flights per day overhead (with peaks of 79 flights per day), with arrivals at an altitude of around 1,250 metres, which would register 63 decibels at ground level.
By 2047, APAM says this will increase to 59 flights per day (with peaks of up to 119); however, they will be flying at a higher altitude, around 1,900m, and therefore registering at less than 60dB from the ground.
APAM has released a draft Noise Sharing and Airspace Concept Plan for community feedback, with consultation closing on October 2.
The plan explains how runways and flight paths will be used once construction associated with the Third Runway project and Eastern Extension project is complete.
It will be implemented only after all construction work is finished.
The Noise Sharing and Airspace Concept Plan will not eliminate aircraft noise; instead, APAM says it aims to provide predictability and fairness by rotating runway use and flight paths when conditions allow, so no single area continually experiences noise from Melbourne Airport.
The plan aims to vary flight paths to give respite to communities heavily impacted by aircraft noise, with several modes of operation that shift priority of runway use depending on weather, safety, and noise sharing.
Once finalised, the Noise Sharing and Airspace Concept Plan explains how runways and flight paths will be used once the three runways are operating.
Outside of peak periods, it sets out how aircraft movements can be managed so noise is shared across communities, while always keeping safety as the top priority.

Have your say

Feedback is now being invited by the Australian Federal Government on the draft Noise Sharing and Airspace Concept Plan.
Visit participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/noise-sharing-plan to learn more and to have your say.

 

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