Airservices given deadline to get moving on alleviating aircraft noise for Brisbane residents

Federal Transport Minister Catherine King has given Airservices a hurry-up on measures to tackle aircraft noise over Brisbane as locals’ complaints increase.

Federal Transport Minister Catherine King has told Airservices it must speed up its response to Brisbane Airport’s noise action plan, and has given the air traffic control body until November 30 to implement a key change.

Under the change Airservices will have to prioritise greater use of simultaneous opposite direction parallel runway operations (SODPROPS) to ensure more flights land and depart Brisbane Airport over water, and fewer services fly over residential areas, weather permitting.

Ms King said she understood aircraft noise “was a source of frustration for communities living under the flight paths around the airport”.

“That is why I have now issued a written direction which has the effect of requiring Airservices to implement the actions within recommendation 2.1 of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane by November 30, 2024,” she said.

Airservices Australia’s own data showed only one daytime SODPROPS flight was recorded in Brisbane in August, while over 16,000 non-SODPROPS flights flew over homes.

An Airservices spokesman said they were well advanced on the work needed to enable greater use of SODPROPS during daytime hours as a priority where conditions permitted.

“We estimate that 300,000 to 500,000 Brisbane residents will experience reduced impacts from aircraft movements compared to other runway modes,” said the spokesman.

“The plan does not include any changes to tower staffing levels, and current tower capacity is not a constraint on SODPROPS usage.”

Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance chair Marcus Foth said the ministerial direction was welcome as was her recognition of the “significant distress caused to communities across greater Brisbane”.

“But we must remind her that this is not just frustration; it is a serious public health issue, with thousands of residents suffering from chronic sleep deprivation and stress due to the excessive noise pollution,” said Professor Foth.

Transport Minister Catherine King has ordered Airservices to hurry up on measures to tackle aircraft noise over Brisbane. Picture: Richard Walker

Aircraft noise intensified as an issue following the opening of Brisbane Airport’s parallel runway in mid-2020, sending planes over parts of the city previously shielded from jet engines.

In response to complaints and a Greens campaign to impose a curfew on Brisbane Airport, a review of airspace and flight paths was ordered.

It was revealed that in the year to June 30 the number of complaints about aircraft noise had increased but the number of people complaining fell.

A total of 7289 complaints were received from 207 people – but of those, 6221 complaints came from just two people.

Brisbane Airport Corporation chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff welcomed Ms King’s direction to Airservices, saying there had long been a push for greater use of SODPROPS.

“Each additional aircraft taking off or landing over the waters of Moreton Bay means fewer aircraft operating over neighbouring suburbs,” Mr de Graaff said.

“We look forward to Airservices Australia building more capacity within its tower so this mode can be operated to a greater extent.”

He said the airport was “committed to working with the local community, Airservices, airlines, safety regulators and aircraft manufacturers with the common purpose and commitment to minimise noise while still delivering the social and economic benefits aviation provides”.

As the federal election draws nearer, the airport noise issue is expected to gain momentum, particularly in inner Brisbane seats held by the Greens since 2022.

Max Chandler-Mather, Stephen Bates and Elizabeth Watson-Brown have continued to lobby for a Brisbane Airport curfew and a cap on flights from the Queensland gateway.