Plane noise loudest in Mudjimba, Cotton Tree, Marcus Beach: new data

The Sunshine Coast’s noisiest suburbs have been ranked as residents push to change flight paths from the new airport runway. See the list

Airplane noise in suburbs under flight paths from the new Sunshine Coast Airport runway have increased drastically since the infrastructure was upgraded, according to a Sunshine Coast Daily investigation.

Some suburbs are now recording noises from planes that can be compared with a running blender, hair dryer or alarm clock.

The revelation comes as residents are pushing for flight paths to change, saying just minor tweaks could reduce the noise for some people.

The investigation, which was conducted over two weeks, found Mudjimba topped the list with 87db, followed by Cotton Tree with 82db and Marcus Beach with 81db.

A hair dryer can go over 90db while average blender is 70-80 decibels loud.

The data was compiled with mobile phone app Explane which was developed by Dutch-not-for-profit organisation Schiphol Watch and enables users to measure and upload decibel readings from planes.

Explane’s developer said measurements taken on the app could be out by as little as two or three decibels, but can be affected by background noise including birds or passing vehicles.

The investigation’s data is comparable with recordings from Airservices Australia (ASA) flight noise monitors installed in Mudjimba, Yandina Creek and Eumundi.

They show Mudjimba recorded readings as high as 86db, followed by Yandina with 76db and Eumundi with 62db.

The monitors were installed after the opening of the extended runway at Sunshine Coast airport in 2020.

Community group Flight Path Forum (FPF) has submitted a series of proposals to ASA, calling for additional flight paths to be added and tweaks to existing ones to alleviate the “noise burden” for residents in heavily affected areas.

FPF president Marian Kroon said Yandina Creek had been the most impacted area with average noise levels having increased from 30-74db.

“Not only is it the noise level it’s the frequency of the flights, that’s why we’re keen to share them to reduce the noise burden,” she said.

The group’s submission comes after 299 complaints were sent to the aircraft noise ombudsman in 2019 about the flight paths and lack of public consultation, prompting ASA to put out a request for community feedback on the routes.

Flight Path Forum president Marian Kroon.

National infrastructure management firm Palisade Investment Partners acquired a 99-year lease for the airport from the Sunshine Coast Council in December 2017.

An airport spokeswoman said the company understood there had been changes for some people since the new runway opened.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with the community as we want to see an outcome that balances safety, operational considerations and is in the best interests of our community,” she said.

ASA is expected to hold a community meeting to discuss further option in coming months.

An ASA spokeswoman said it was reviewing all submissions and thanked the community for its engagement.

“Airservices is exploring all opportunities within our remit to minimise noise impacts, where safe and operationally feasible,” she said.

The new flight paths include a departure route southeast over Mudjimba, Cotton Tree and Alexandra Headland, and arrival routes southwest over Marcus Beach and Castaway Beach, and southeast over Eumundi and Yandina Creek.

FPF proposes a west arrival and departure and once beyond the forest region a track towards the south and another towards the northwest.

FPF treasurer Colin Ingram said the group’s proposed flight paths would benefit the wider community and the airport.

“I think it’s a good package for them, it’ll be very helpful and will divide up the number of flights between more people,” he said.