Melbourne Airport: plans for third runway to destroy Keilor house prices, residents say

It could be a scene straight out of the Aussie classic The Castle, but there’s nothing about the vibe for these Keilor locals under a new airport runway flight path.

Melbourne Airport’s new third runway proposal will result in more noise and flights overhead for residents north and south of the airport. Picture: Supplied

For Hannah Robertson her house isn’t only her castle, it’s the investment that will guarantee the financial future of her children.

Now Ms Robertson has an enormous question mark hanging over the viability of the financial sacrifice made by her and her husband — a question mark that circles 250m above her back yard a few times each day.

“Our house is our children’s future – I’m not even ready to go there discussing that question,” Ms Robertson, a long-time Keilor resident, said.

Melbourne Airport on Monday announced a $1.9 billion plan to build a third runway at Tullamarine — an extension that is set to cater for 135,000 flights per year.

But Ms Robertson and others say that the third runway will render their suburb practically unlivable due to the level of noise and pollution.

“You will be able to wave to the passengers as they fly above,” Ms Robertson, who is also the head of the Melbourne Airport Community Action Group (MACAG), said.

Ms Robertson said the third runway would dissect from above Brimbank Park and the shopping village from the air, and will shorten the total distance between the tarmac and the community from 250m to 70m

She said that for her home, the noise would increase from 70 decibels to 90 decibels.

Ms Robertson said she was too concerned to speculate how much money could be wiped from the value of her property.

“The concern now is, how can we sell our home at an adequate value that will allow us to afford the same standard of living somewhere else?”

Ms Robertson said no one from the Brimbank Council or state government had reached out to MACAG, which has more than 700 Facebook members, or to herself.

Multiple businesses approached this week, including Cafe 692 and Senserrick’s Fruit and Flowers, had not received any communication, from any level of government, over Melbourne Airport’s plans.

Alana Bacon, who has lived in Keilor for 33 years with her husband, said she “felt like a voice in the wilderness” because of the disinterest from her local representatives.

“We’re happy where we are — we don’t want to move,” Ms Bacon said.

“If the federal and state government are prepared to spend $10 billion on a rail link to the airport, they can begin by compensating us,” she said.

On Monday, Melbourne Airport chief executive Lyell Strambi did not rule out compensation for impacted homeowners, but said formal discussions were yet to begin.

The council and Niddrie state Labor MP Ben Carroll, were contacted for comment.