If you live in Airport West, Keilor East or Avondale Heights, this one's for you. Melbourne Airport wants feedback on how it will spread the noise from its new runway, and feedback closes this Friday, 2 October.
What's happening
Melbourne Airport is building a third runway: a new 3km north-south runway alongside the existing one. Main construction starts this year and it's due to open in 2031.
As a condition of the federal government's approval, the airport has to produce a Noise Sharing Plan. The idea is to rotate how the runways are used outside peak times, so no one area cops the noise all day, every day. It includes proposed changes to flight paths.
The draft plan has been open for feedback since 10 August. It closes on Friday 2 October 2026.
Why it matters here
Moonee Valley Council says the suburbs south of the airport, Airport West, Keilor East and Avondale Heights, are expected to be more affected once the new runway is running. More homes in Moonee Valley will hear aircraft noise than do now.
The council has called for:
- financial compensation for the properties most affected
- more noise monitoring on the ground in residential parts of Moonee Valley
There's also a separate Noise Amelioration Program, which will pay for things like roof insulation, double glazing and better seals in the worst-affected homes. The airport's early work on that has focused on Hume and Brimbank. Which individual properties qualify will depend on updated noise forecasts. If you think your street should be in, now is a good time to say so.
How to have your say
- Look up your street. The airport has an interactive Flight Path and Noise Tool that shows what aircraft activity and noise may look like near your home under the draft plan.
- Give feedback through the airport's Noise Sharing Plan page on its Major Projects Hub: melbourneairportprojectshub.com.au/noise-sharing-plan.
- Questions? The project team takes them at napp@melair.com.au.
You don't need to be an expert. "I live on this street, this is when the planes bother us most, and this is what would help" is useful feedback.
What happens next
The consultants running the process (Trax and GHD) will update the draft based on this round, then consult again in 2027 before it's finalised. So if you miss Friday, you'll get another chance. But the draft is easiest to change now.
We'll keep an eye on it. If you've got a view on plane noise where you live, we'd like to hear it: hello@thevalleylocal.com.au.