Facilitated by
Noise Sharing Plan
The third runway will increase the number of flights needed to support Melbourne’s travel, trade and economic growth. This means some communities will experience aircraft noise for the first time, while others may experience more than they do today.
The Australian Government requires the development of a Noise Sharing Plan as part of the approval of the third runway project.
Independent consultants, Trax and GHD, have been engaged by Melbourne Airport to develop the draft Noise Sharing Plan.
The draft plan aims to provide a clear and consistent framework for how aircraft noise will be managed across Melbourne when the three-runway system is operational.
The draft Noise Sharing Plan is now open for community review and feedback from 10 August to 2 October 2026.
Project timeline
September2025
Feedback on Noise Sharing Plan engagement approach
Late2025
Feedback gathered to inform the draft Noise Sharing Plan
August – October2026
Public consultation on the draft Noise Sharing Plan
Early2027
Digital simulation and validation of flight paths
Mid-late2027
Draft Noise Sharing Plan updated and open for further public feedback
Early2028
Draft Noise Sharing Plan submitted for approval to the Federal Government
Post approval
Airservices Australia will conduct detailed design, safety and operational assessments on flight paths.
2031
Third runway becomes operational.
Understanding aircraft noise in your area
Use our interactive Flight Path and Noise Tool to see what expected aircraft activity and noise may look like near your home. The tool can help you:
See the nearby flight paths expected when Melbourne Airport’s three runways are operating
Better understand how aircraft noise may change in your area
Explore different runway operating scenarios
Frequently Asked Questions
A Noise Sharing Plan guides how aircraft noise is distributed and shared across the Melbourne communities. Noise sharing strategies aim to give communities periods of respite from continuous aircraft noise.
The Noise Sharing Plan considers how operations can be varied, such as alternating which runways are used and what times they are used – so that noise is distributed more broadly across communities outside of peak periods and when weather conditions allow. These variations are called “runway operating modes”.
The Noise Sharing Plan is designed to:
Share aircraft noise across Melbourne communities.
Provide regular breaks from concentrated noise where possible.
Explain how decisions about flight paths and runway use are made.
Minimise impacts to communities while meeting operational, weather and safety requirements.
Yes. With the introduction of the third runway, flight paths will change and some communities will experience more noise than they do today. The draft Noise Sharing Plan outlines these changes and what it means for communities.
Enter your address into the interactive Flight Path and Noise Tool to understand changes near you.
From October – December 2025 Melbourne communities and aviation stakeholders across were invited to provide input to help shape the draft Noise Sharing Plan. 574 online survey responses were received.
A summary of feedback from the 2025 engagement period was shared in April 2025 with the community. See the engagement summary.
A curfew is not being considered as part of the Noise Sharing Plan. This approach is consistent with the Commonwealth Government’s 2024 Aviation White Paper, which focuses on managing aircraft noise through planning, operational measures and community engagement, rather than introducing additional operating restrictions that would limit airport capacity.
Upcoming consultation opportunities
Date/Time | Location/Event Type | Target suburbs | Register your interest |
|---|---|---|---|
Wednesday 12 August 6:00pm-7:00pm | Online Webinar #1 | All of Melbourne | |
Monday 17 August4:00pm-7:00pm | Hughesdale Community Centre162 Poath Rd, Hughesdale 3166 | Hughesdale, Murrumbeena, Carnegie, Oakleigh, Oakleigh East | |
Wednesday 19 August4:30pm-7:30pm | Central Park Community Centre80 Lonsdale Circuit, Hoppers Crossing 3029 | Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, Truganina, Wyndham Vale | |
Thursday 20 August4:00pm-7:00pm | Keilor Community Hub704B Old Calder Hwy, Keilor 3036 | Keilor Downs, Keilor, Taylors Lakes, Caroline Springs, Burnside | |
Saturday 22 August11:00am-1:00pm | Gasworks Creative Precinct21 Graham St, Albert Park 3206 | Albert Park, Middle Park, St Kilda, St Kilda West | |
Tuesday 25 August4:00pm-7:00pm | Hampton Community Centre14 Willis St, Hampton 3188 | Sandringham, Brighton, Hampton, Black Rock | |
Wednesday 26 August3:00pm-6:00pm | Laverton Community Hub95–105 Railway Ave, Laverton 3028 | Altona Meadows, Seabrook, Laverton | |
Saturday 29 August11:00am-4:00pm | Newport Community Hub11–13 Mason St, Newport 3015 | Newport, Spotswood, Williamstown, South Kingsville | |
Tuesday 1 September6:00pm-7:00pm | Online Webinar #2 | All of Melbourne | |
Thursday 3 September4:00pm-6:00pm | Romsey Community Hub96 Main St, Romsey 3434 | Romsey | |
Friday 4 September 9:00am - 1:00pm | Diggers Rest Community Pavilion48 Plumpton Rd, Diggers Rest 3427 | Diggers Rest, Bulla | |
Saturday 5 September10:00am-2:00pm | French Street Hall47A French St, Lalor 3075 | Kingsbury, Lalor, Thomastown, Epping | |
Monday 7 September5:00pm-7:00pm | Mentone Activity Hub29 Venice St, Mentone 3194 | Mentone, Parkdale, Cheltenham, Moorabbin, Heatherton | |
Wednesday 9 September4:00pm-7:00pm | Hawthorn Arts Centre, The Chamber Room360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn 3122 | Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Kew, Camberwell, Richmond | |
Thursday 10 September3:00pm-5:30pm | Gisborne Community Hall8A Hamilton St, Gisborne 3437 | Gisborne, New Gisborne | |
Saturday 12 September1:00pm-4:00pm | Ratcliff Community Hall1A South Rd, Airport West 3042 | Essendon North, Essendon, Strathmore, Airport West, Pascoe Vale, Ascot Vale | |
Tuesday 29 September 11:00am - 2:00pm | Drop-in session | Fraser Rise Childrens and Community Centre46 City Vista Circuit, Fraser Rise VIC 3336 | Fraser Rise, Taylors Hill, Kings Park, Delahey, Sydenham, Caroline Springs | |
Wednesday 30 September 4:00pm - 7:00pm | Drop-in session | Braybrook Community Hub107–139 Churchill Avenue, Braybrook VIC 3019 | Braybrook, Maribyrnong, Footscray, Maidstone, Sunshine | |
Thursday 1 October 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm | Drop-in session | Goondawarri Neighbourhood House8 Gullane Drive, Sunbury VIC 3429 | Sunbury, Diggers Rest, Wildwood |
Community and Stakeholder Engagement Plan
July 2026
The Community and Stakeholder Engagement Plan has been updated to include an additional phase of engagement in 2027 prior to it being finalised and submitted for approval.
September 2025
The initial Community and Stakeholder Engagement Plan was released for feedback. Following community input, updates were made to improve access and communication, including more email updates, engagement activities near public transport, and the development of clear fact sheets explaining aircraft noise management.
Latest videos
Introduction to the Noise Sharing Plan
Learn about the Noise Sharing Plan, a requirement of the Federal Government’s approval of Melbourne Airport's third runway. This video explains why the Noise Sharing Plan is required and how you can provide feedback to help shape the plan.
Overview of current operating modes
Learn about the carefully planned process of runway mode selection. This video explains the important factors taken into account when choosing which runways to use, the different airport operating modes currently used at Melbourne Airport and how often they are used.
Understand how modes can be used to share noise
Learn how runway modes can be used to share noise across different parts of Melbourne, and how this can be used to provide periods of respite for residents.
How to use the interactive Flight Path and Noise Tool
Learn how to use the interactive Flight Path and Noise Tool, to see how aircraft noise may change in your area over time.
Why do commercial planes fly where they do?
Learn about flight paths, including how they're designed to keep aircraft safely separated, how they help manage the flow of air traffic.
How aircraft noise is measured using N-above metrics
Learn about N-above metrics, and how they're used to show how aircraft noise is experienced in a particular area.
Fact sheets
Past webinars
Noise Sharing Plan Webinar (23 October 2025)
As part of the engagement for the Noise Sharing Plan, GHD and Trax led a webinar on 23 October 2025. View the Q&A from this webinar.
Noise Sharing Plan Webinar (13 November 2025)
A second webinar on the Noise Sharing Plan was led by GHD and Trax on 23 November 2025. View the Q&A from this webinar.
More information
If you have a question about the Noise Sharing Plan, please email engagement@ghd.com.
Consultation
Melbourne Airport has appointed independent consultants Trax and GHD to deliver the Noise Sharing Plan.
This includes leading the community and stakeholder engagement, with the aim to support diverse views being heard and captured in the development of noise sharing options. Trax will also develop and evaluate the technical airspace design and operating strategies, leading the engagement with industry stakeholders.
The draft Noise Sharing Plan is now available for public and industry feedback from Monday 10 August to 11.59pm on Friday 2 October 2026.
This is the second round of consultation, and we invite communities, stakeholders and industry to review the draft plan and have their say.
Upcoming consultation sessions
Location | Date/Time | Target suburbs | Register your interest |
|---|---|---|---|
Webinar #1 | Wednesday 12 August 20266:00pm-7:00pm | All of Melbourne | |
Hughesdale Community Centre162 Poath Rd, Hughesdale 3166 | Monday 17 August 20264:00pm-7:00pm | Hughesdale, Murrumbeena, Carnegie, Oakleigh, Oakleigh East | |
Central Park Community Centre80 Lonsdale Circuit, Hoppers Crossing 3029 | Wednesday 19 August 20264:30pm-7:30pm | Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, Truganina, Wyndham Vale | |
Keilor Community Hub704B Old Calder Hwy, Keilor 3036 | Thursday 20 August 20264:00pm-7:00pm | Keilor Downs, Keilor, Taylors Lakes, Caroline Springs, Burnside | |
Gasworks Creative Precinct21 Graham St, Albert Park 3206 | Saturday 22 August 202611:00am-1:00pm | Albert Park, Middle Park, St Kilda, St Kilda West | |
Hampton Community Centre14 Willis St, Hampton 3188 | Tuesday 25 August 20264:00pm-7:00pm | Sandringham, Brighton, Hampton, Black Rock | |
Laverton Community Hub95–105 Railway Ave, Laverton 3028 | Wednesday 26 August 20263:00pm-6:00pm | Altona Meadows, Seabrook, Laverton | |
Newport Community Hub11–13 Mason St, Newport 3015 | Saturday 29 August 202611:00am-4:00pm | Newport, Spotswood, Williamstown, South Kingsville | |
Webinar #2 | Tuesday 1 September 20266:00pm-7:00pm | All of Melbourne | |
Romsey Community Hub96 Main St, Romsey 3434 | Thursday 3 September 20264:00pm-6:00pm | Romsey | |
French Street Hall47A French St, Lalor 3075 | Saturday 5 September 202610:00am-2:00pm | Kingsbury, Lalor, Thomastown, Epping | |
Mentone Activity Hub29 Venice St, Mentone 3194 | Monday 7 September 20265:00pm-7:00pm | Mentone, Parkdale, Cheltenham, Moorabbin, Heatherton | |
Diggers Rest Community Pavilion48 Plumpton Rd, Diggers Rest 3427 | Tuesday 8 September 20269:00am - 1:00pm | Diggers Rest, Bulla | |
Hawthorn Arts Centre, The Chamber Room360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn 3122 | Wednesday 9 September 20264:00pm-7:00pm | Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Kew, Camberwell, Richmond | |
Gisborne Community Hall8A Hamilton St, Gisborne 3437 | Thursday 10 September 20263:00pm-5:30pm | Gisborne, New Gisborne | |
Ratcliff Community Hall1A South Rd, Airport West 3042 | Saturday 12 September 20261:00pm-4:00pm | Essendon North, Essendon, Strathmore, Airport West, Pascoe Vale, Ascot Vale |
Consultation to date
More than 550 people across Melbourne have helped shape the Noise Sharing Plan so far.
Between October and December 2025, communities and aviation stakeholders across Melbourne were invited to share feedback to inform the draft Noise Sharing Plan.
A summary of what we heard throughout the engagement period can be found here.
The draft Noise Sharing Plan will be made available for further feedback in August 2026.
This page is to provide people who are in the aviation or general aviation industry with Noise Sharing Plan information specific to their operations. It includes upcoming engagement opportunities including in-person sessions and online webinars.
Register for an in-person consultation session
Register below for a 45-minute, 1-1 in-person consultation session with the team to learn about the draft Noise Sharing Plan and provide your feedback.
Location | Date/Time | Register your interest |
|---|---|---|
CAE Building, Moorabbin Airport | Tuesday 18 August 2026 10:00am – 5:00pm | |
Essendon Fields Terminal Building Conference Room | Wednesday 19 August 2026 9:00am – 2:00pm | |
Essendon Fields Terminal Building Conference Room | Tuesday 8 September 2026 9.30am – 5:00pm | |
CAE Building Moorabbin Airport | Wednesday 9 September9:00am – 12:00pm |
Register for an aviation industry online webinar
Location | Date | Register |
|---|---|---|
Online | Monday 24 August2:00pm – 3pm | |
Online | Thursday 27 August12:00pm – 1:00pm | |
Online | Thursday 27 August6:00pm – 7:00pm |
Contact Us
Have a question about the project which isn't answered elsewhere or would you like to provide comment or feedback? Send us an enquiry using the form on this page.
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