Elsie Lange
Concerned residents welcomed the Victorian Transport Action Group’s (VTAG) submission urging Melbourne Airport to update its metric for measuring aircraft noise.
Melbourne Airport’s draft master plan and major development plan were released in January this year, and include the construction of a third north-south runway – much to the anxiety of surrounding residents worried about increased air traffic.
The VTAG report argues the current measurement for noise disturbance, the Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF) is “no longer a sufficient metric” in planning new runways as part of the $1.9 billion project.
VTAG is an independent group of transport experts with a range of backgrounds, across planning, transport, state and local governments, environment and IT.
It urged the consideration of 2018 World Health Organisation (WHO) research, which recommends a maximum day-time noise level of below 45 decibels, ANEF 10.
The current accepted ANEF benchmark for residential areas across the country is 20.
VTAG’s submission said WHO’s research found a “quality and quantity” of evidence linking noise distress, sleep disturbance levels and delay in cognitive development.
Bulla resident Alan McKenzie will be affected on the northern end of the proposed third runway, where the township could experience 20 or more daily instances of aircraft noise above 70 decibels.
He’s angry at what he believes to be a lack of care for residents, and said he welcomes the VTAG submission because it addresses the health concerns of surrounding communities.
“There’s got to be noise amelioration measures with the airport,” Mr McKenzie said.
He is seeking compensation to assist in residential noise reduction, but the airport has ruled it out
A spokesperson from Melbourne Airport said while there were no current plans for compensation, the community is invited to continue making submissions.
“Australian standards and regulations correlate closely with WHO thresholds for annoyance, sleep disturbance and health-related noise levels,” the spokesperson said.
When asked about the announcement that Brisbane Airport’s flight paths would be redrawn following sustained residential complaints, the Melbourne Airport spokesperson said they were being as “upfront as possible with the community”.
“We want to give people the information now, so there are no surprises when Melbourne’s new runway opens later this decade,” the spokesperson said.
