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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Noise sharing is a way to distribute aircraft noise so that no single community is exposed all the time. Rather than concentrating flights over the same few areas, the Noise Sharing Plan would distribute air traffic across different flight paths and runway operating modes, giving communities more regular breaks from aircraft noise.

A Noise Sharing Plan guides how aircraft noise is managed and shared across the communities surrounding Melbourne Airport. Noise-sharing strategies aim to distribute aircraft noise exposure and give communities periods of respite. 

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 across communities around the airport, outside of peak periods and when weather conditions allow. These variations are called “operating modes ”.  

Community feedback will help shape the preferred operating modes. 

The Noise Sharing Plan will provide guidance on the use of runway operating modes to share noise. This will be shaped by community input on how and when they should be used. ​

To learn more about runway operating modes see our fact sheets.

Victoria’s population is growing, and Melbourne Airport’s new parallel north-south runway is necessary to support the long-term increase in passengers, freight and aircraft movements. By 2042, more than 76 million passengers are expected to use Melbourne Airport each year. The additional runway will support this growth, but it will also result in some parts of Melbourne experiencing new or changed aircraft noise. 

When aircraft noise impacts for the third runway were first modelled in the Third Runway Major Development Plan, they focused primarily on use of the two north-south runways. Now, because of this approval condition, the Noise Sharing Plan will explore runway operating modes that also include the existing east-west runway, to help to share aircraft noise more evenly. 

Noise Sharing Plans are not about equal distribution of flights over all affected communities, but about managing aircraft noise in a way that provides communities with periods of respite and supports community wellbeing. 

Some areas will experience aircraft noise for the first time, and others will experience more than they currently have – but efforts will be made to share that noise. 

The conditions of approval for the third runway require that Melbourne Airport appoint independent aviation and community engagement consultants to prepare the Noise Sharing Plan. 

Consultants Trax and GHD have been appointed to deliver the Noise Sharing Plan. Trax and GHD have extensive experience working on airspace design and engagement for aviation projects in Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as on major infrastructure Projects. 

The Noise Sharing Plan will take into account both historical and forecast flight and aircraft noise patterns, based on the flight paths outlined in Melbourne Airport’s Third Runway Major Development Plan. 

In addition to this data, Trax and GHD will lead the engagement with stakeholders and the broader community to inform the plan. Stakeholders include but are not limited to: 

  • Local communities 

  • Relevant local councils 

  • Victorian Department of Transport and Planning 

  • Essendon Fields Airport and other airports in the Melbourne Basin 

  • Airlines and operator groups 

  • Airservices Australia, which manages airspace and flight path design and air traffic control 

  • Groups with a special interest and knowledge in airspace design 

Community members will be asked to provide feedback on how runways are used during off-peak periods. This involves technical information, so resources will be provided to help people understand these modes and provide informed feedback. You can provide feedback via this survey or attend one of the online webinars or in-person sessions.

There are both online and face-to-face opportunities to learn more about the Noise Sharing Plan project and provide feedback, as well as written and digital communications. Information about those opportunities can be found here. 

Community input will play a key role in shaping the Noise Sharing Plan. Community will be asked to provide feedback on how runways are used during off-peak periods. 

While community input is highly valued, certain aspects of airport operations – such as flight paths, altitude and timing – are governed by safety regulations and weather conditions. These factors must take priority to ensure safe and efficient air travel. 

Community will also have the chance to review the draft Noise Sharing Plan before it is submitted to the Federal Government for approval. 

Following consultation, the draft Noise Sharing Plan requires endorsement by Airservices Australia before being submitted to the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government for review and approval. 

The Noise Sharing Plan will be developed over a two-year period. 

  • Late 2025: Phase 1 - gather feedback on runway modes, flight paths and noise sharing 

  • Early 2026: Trax and GHD review feedback and prepare the draft Noise Sharing Plan 

  • Mid-late 2026: Phase 2 - public consultation on the draft Noise Sharing Plan 

  • Early 2027: Draft Noise Sharing Plan is submitted for approval to the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government 

There are a variety of options for noise sharing, these can be:​

  • Using different runway operating modes to share noise: the operating modes might be used to manage the impact of aircraft noise on communities surrounding the airport, including providing communities with periods of respite from noise by using different runway operating modes.​

  • Scheduling respite periods for different areas across Melbourne: these might be either throughout the day, on a day-on / day-off program or week-on / week-off scenario. ​

The process of providing respite and noise sharing involves multiple factors. Trax and GHD will be seeking feedback from October to November 2025 to understand the community preferences before drafting the Noise Sharing Plan.​ Learn more about how you can provide feedback here.

Noise sharing can only be implemented once safety, weather conditions and demand allows, and is most achievable outside of busy periods. Busy periods usually align to peak hours in the morning and afternoon. When the airport is experiencing busy periods, noise sharing is not possible.

Respite is a reduction from continuous aircraft noise for a period of time. It doesn’t mean aircraft will not fly overhead, just that the noise will be less frequent and continuous. You may also still hear aircraft noise from other airports around Melbourne and emergency services, but the goal is to give areas a period of relief from regular aircraft noise.

The Major Development Plan for the third runway, which was approved by the Federal Government in September 2024, included concept design flight paths for when the airport begins operations with three runways. These can be seen in our Flight Path and Noise Map, available online.  

Independent consultants are developing the Noise Sharing Plan, which will guide how the airport will share aircraft noise across nearby communities. As part of this work, there will be further refinement of the flight paths outlined in the Major Development Plan. 

Following approval of the Noise Sharing Plan by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Airservices Australia will conduct detailed design, which involves safety assessments and operational validation on the flight paths. Changes at this time will only be made where a safety issue is identified. 

The lines on the flight path and noise map and fact sheets are representative of the average flight path. Aircraft don’t always fly the exact same line. Their flight path depends on the type of aircraft, its weight and speed, the weather, and instructions from Air Traffic Control to manage traffic flow and aircraft safety. Because of this, aircraft can be spread over the area. The lines on the flight path and noise map and fact sheets are indicative of this.

While both plans relate to aircraft noise, they serve different purposes and focus on different aspects of managing aircraft noise impacts. 

  • The Noise Sharing Plan is about how aircraft noise is shared across different communities through the selection of runways and operating modes. Outputs from the Noise Sharing Plan will also define the noise models that will shape the boundaries for the Noise Amelioration Plan. 

  • The Noise Amelioration Plan is about treating buildings that are most affected by aircraft noise. This typically includes fitting noise insulation treatments like double-glazing or acoustic insulation in homes, schools, childcare facilities and health centres in zones of eligibility. 

Melbourne Airport is building a third runway, which will deliver much needed aviation infrastructure capacity for Victoria and help support thousands of new jobs. The new runway will be 3,000m long and will be constructed 1.3 kilometres to the west of the current north-south runway. 

If you have questions about the Noise Sharing Plan, you can contact us: 

Email: newrunway@melair.com.au 

Phone: (03) 9297 1597 

You can also directly contact the independent consultants leading the development and engagement process: