By Esther Lauaki
Bulla residents could be subject to more frequent aircraft noise with a plan for more than half of all night flights to take off to the north of Melbourne Airport.
A draft master plan for the airport’s $10 billion expansion includes plans for a third runway to be built parallel to the airport’s existing east-west runway.
Melbourne Airport modelling for the existing north-south runway shows that between 11pm and 6am, 66 per cent of aircraft would depart using northern flight paths over Bulla, as would 45 per cent of arriving aircraft. Departing aircraft are generally louder than incoming aircraft. Currently, on a 24-hour basis, northern flights paths are used for 28 per cent of departures and 54 per cent of arrivals.
Meanwhile, Diggers Rest residents could also face more noise overhead, with more than three-quarters of flights to take off using flight paths over the west.
The draft plan shows that 49 per cent of departing flights between 6am and 11pm to take off over western flight paths from the existing east-west runway and 33 per cent to take off from the new one.
Between 11pm and 6am, 29 per cent of aircraft will depart using western flight paths and 65 per cent of arriving aircraft will use western flight paths.
Construction on the new runway is planned to start next year to keep up with massive passenger growth. Melbourne Airport predicts passenger numbers will double to 67 million by 2038.
Diggers Rest residents have long complained about aircraft noise.
A short-term monitoring program for the suburb was carried out by Airservices between October, 2014, and January, 2015. It noted that incidents of aircraft noises exceeding 60 decibels ranged from zero to 40 a day, with a daily average of nine. There were 17 times when the noise exceeded 75 decibels.
The draft master plan is out for public comment until October 5. A number of community forums have been organised, including one at Sunbury Memorial Hall on July 28 from 11am-2pm. Details: my.melbourneairport.com/masterplan
~ with Sumeyya Ilanbey
