As part of delivering the third runway, Melbourne Airport has appointed independent health experts from Deakin and Liverpool universities to draft the terms of reference for an independent study into the health impacts of aircraft noise on communities surrounding the airport.
The Community Health Study is the first of its kind at any major Australian airport and will collect data before Melbourne Airport’s third runway opens and for 20 years after.
The independent experts were appointed in January 2025 through consultation with the Melbourne Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group. The initial draft Terms of Reference for the Community Health Study were submitted to the Federal Government in September 2025 as required by section 5.1 of the third runway conditions of approval. Melbourne Airport then worked to finalise the draft Terms of Reference and submitted them to the Minister in 2026 to meet section 5.5 of the conditions of approval for an approved Terms of Reference.
Once approved, they will be published on the Melbourne Airport website.
A separate team of health experts will be engaged later to conduct the health study according to the terms of reference. This team will be identified in 2026 (depending on the timing of Ministerial approval of the terms of reference), again through consultation with the Melbourne Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group.
There will be opportunities for community engagement, and you can find out more at https://iht.deakin.edu.au/project/m3r-health-study.
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