Noise insulation promised for eligible homes under Western Sydney Airport flight paths

Taxpayers will foot the bill for noise insulation work in potentially thousands of homes under the flight paths for the new Western Sydney International Airport.

The draft EIS outlined plans to provide noise insulation for properties where overhead aircraft noise exceeded 50 decibels inside a house or workplace.

Taxpayers will foot the bill for ­potentially thousands of homes under Western Sydney International Airport flight paths to undergo noise insulation work or be resumed.

Transport Minister Catherine King released the draft environmental impact statement for the airport on Tuesday, providing further details of flight paths and proposed noise management.

The EIS showed that it was not only residents of western Sydney that would be affected by new flight paths but those in Sydney itself, due to proposed changes at Kingsford Smith and Bankstown airports.

To help placate residents, the draft EIS outlined plans to provide noise insulation for properties where overhead aircraft noise exceeded 50 decibels inside a house or workplace.

Eligible properties would be within a defined area around Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) at Badgerys Creek.

Noise treatment options available to households and businesses at the government’s expense ranged from thicker glass and improving ceiling and roof insulation to sealing gaps around windows and doors.

“Participation in the program will require individual assessment of each property and buildings by noise experts, followed by application of noise treatments to buildings,” the report said. “Treatments will be designed by experts to deliver a 50 decibel indoor noise level. However, this will not be possible in all cases and will depend on the condition and circumstances of each eligible building.”

Anthony Albanese during a visit to the Western Sydney International Airport site in June. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

The threshold of 50 decibels was lower than other airport noise management programs adopted at Kingsford Smith and Adelaide airports, due to the “low background noise” in the area and the fact Western Sydney Airport would operate 24 hours a day.

Properties closer to the terminal could be resumed by the government, but the report noted no homes had been identified within the defined parameters.

The draft EIS also flagged changes for flight training operations and general aviation aircraft using Bankstown and Camden airports.

Due to the introduction of additional controlled airspace to support Western Sydney Airport, there would be less airspace available for general aviation operations, the report said.

“For example, the designated flying training areas currently ­located above the Western Sydney site at Badgerys Creek will not be available when operations at WSI commence,” the EIS said.

It was feared such a change could force some flight training schools out of business, with operators unable to afford the extra fuel required to fly further west for training. Details of flight paths at WSI and Sydney Airport were outlined in the EIS, which was available online at wsiflightpaths.gov.au. Ms King urged residents to read the report and provide feedback via the website, or directly in community sessions.

As well as the noise impact of flight paths, the EIS covered the effect on biodiversity, health, greenhouse gases and First ­Nations and heritage sites.

“Communities are well placed to understand how they may be affected, and engage and provide feedback on the draft EIS now,” Ms King said.

Due to open in late 2026, the airport is expected to accommodate 10 million passengers in its first seven years of operation.

Originally published as Noise insulation promised for eligible homes under Western Sydney Airport flight paths