Melbourne Airport’s promise to residents on noise impact of new runway

Melbourne Airport has promised to be upfront with residents about the noise impact of a $1.9bn third runway, that could be operating in five years.

Lyell Strambi, the airport’s chief executive, said plans for the runway had been in existence for almost as long as the airport itself, and there was a strong case for it to be built. Picture Jay Town

Melbourne Airport has promised to be upfront with residents about the noise impact of a third runway expected to be built in the next five years, at a cost of $1.9bn.

The new 3km runway will run parallel to the existing north-south runway, sending more flights over suburbs to the west and south of Tullamarine.

Lyell Strambi, the airport’s chief executive, said plans for the runway had been in existence for almost as long as the airport itself, and there was a strong case for it to be built. “Just because you build another runway and you now have two runways in use at any one time, that doesn’t mean noise doubles overnight. It will take a long time for the activity to grow into that capacity,” he said.

“In terms of how it affects near neighbours … some people will have noticeable noise for the first time, others will have more than they’ve had before, but actually others will have less noise than they’ve ever had before.”

Public consultation would begin straight away to provide residents with the chance to have their say and gain a full understanding of the runway’s impact.

Melbourne Airport image of proposed third runway, parallel to existing north-south runway.

Following the consultation ­period, the plans and responses would go to the federal government for approval, which could take more than a year.

“For the majority of people in and around the city and state, it will be a hugely positive thing because of the jobs it creates and the value it brings to the state,” Mr Strambi said. “For some, their ­individual circumstances may be worse off, but people when they choose where to live make a whole lot of trade-offs in making that choice and runway noise will be only one of those.”

He said Melbourne Airport was committed to engaging fully with residents in the hope of avoiding a repeat of the Brisbane situation, where locals claimed they were misled about the noise from a second runway.

“We are going gangbusters to really engage with the community and make people fully aware and well informed about what is actually going on here,” Mr Strambi said. “We’re not trying to hide things because we think the case is very strong and we want to give the public the best chance to be aware of what’s going on there and understand it fully.”

Keilor Residents and Ratepayers Association spokesman Susan Jennison said there was no point protesting once the runway was built, and she urged members to speak up now “as much as possible”. She said if the third runway went ahead, the association wanted to see a curfew imposed.

“A lot more planes fly in and out of Sydney Airport and that has a curfew, so it’s misleading to say a curfew would hamper Melbourne’s progress,” Ms Jennison said. “We would also like to see a proper medical study on the long-term impacts of aircraft noise on the health of residents, in particular children.”

Mr Strambi said Melbourne would lose its competitive advantage and the economic and lifestyle benefits that came with that, if a curfew was imposed on airport operations.

Talks were also under way with airlines, regarding aeronautical charges that would fund the $1.9bn cost of the runway.

Traditionally such infrastructure has been funded through increased charges to airlines as the main beneficiaries of new runways.

Prior to the Covid pandemic, Melbourne Airport saw 37 million passengers a year pass through its terminals, a figure that was expected to exceed 76 million by 2042.