Testing times: Fed up Coast residents demand aircraft noise testing sites

Ominous distant rumbles instantly invoke dread in former Coast councillor Bruce Dunne as he braces for an impending roar that invades his hillside home.

Sunshine Coast Airport's flight paths are causing community concern as locals wait for aircraft noise level testing to begin.

Ominous distant rumbles instantly invoke dread in former Coast councillor Bruce Dunne as he braces for an impending roar that invades his Yandina Creek home.

"You can hear them from a while away, they're starting to back off the jets, it's not just a couple of seconds," Mr Dunne said.

"If you're on a phone call or Zoom or something, even with all the doors closed, you've just got to say 'sorry can you standby for a few minutes'?"

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"It's not just a plane flying off in the distance - it's right on top of my head."

Mr Dunne said on Tuesday about a dozen Sunshine Coast Airport flights invaded his living space.

"We chose to live in a natural, rural environment," he said.

"I live on rural land on a hill some 400ft above sea level, with the planes coming in at what 1000ft - yes I am impacted."

His concerns were backed up by other residents desperate for flight path reviewing authority Airservices Australia to carry out its announced flight noise monitoring in their locations in the hope of achieving changes to improve their lifestyle, health and environmental outcomes.

Coast locals have not been backwards in letting their feelings be known about the impacts of flight paths on their lifestyle

"Please pick 79 Toolborough Rd, Yandina Creek," Mary Jane McDonald posted on community lobby group Flight Path Forum's Facebook page.

"They fly directly above our house at less than a 1000ft."

Michele Horne had a similar plea.

"Choose my place in Tinbeerwah please," she posted.

Michelle Howell asked the testing be carried out at Bursaria St in Peregian Beach.

"Really noisy here," she posted.

Doonan residents Carol Short's post said she bought her house more than 20 years ago for its tranquillity.

"The peace and quiet are no more," she said.

Flight Path Forum spokeswoman Lynne Saunders said her group wanted the testing to be undertaken "as soon as possible".

"Flight Path Forum have identified a number of sites where there could be data loggers set up," she said.

Ms Saunders said her group was waiting to see what Airservices Australia eventually came up with.

An Airservices Australia spokeswoman said the noise monitoring would begin when air traffic had increased enough to ensure reliable analysis of aircraft operations and associated aircraft noise.

"At this stage the time frame will depend on when operations stabilise in the wake of the impact of COVID-19 restrictions and subsequent border closures," the spokeswoman said.

"We continue to monitor traffic to help inform us of the appropriate timing of these activities.

"We are now conducting a feasibility study to identify potential zones for the placement of short-term noise monitors in preparation of these activities which we expect will commence later in the year."

Originally published as Testing times: Fed up Coast residents demand aircraft noise testing sites