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Melbourne Airport, as a condition of approval for development of its third runway, is preparing a Noise Sharing Plan. Airservices Australia is contributing technical input to the Noise Sharing Plan and will undertake detailed flight path design, safety and operational assessments following approval of the final Plan. The third runway, to the west of and parallel to the existing main north-south runway (Runway 16/34), will allow Melbourne Airport to cater for the demand of a growing city, providing better access for freight and passengers and driving economic growth for years to come.
The Major Development Plan for the construction of a third runway was approved by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government in September 2024 with conditions, including preparation of a noise sharing and airspace concept plan, known as the Noise Sharing Plan. The conditions require the Plan to address the sharing of aircraft noise between affected areas, maintain sufficient capacity on the existing east-west runway (Runway 09/27) to support effective noise sharing, and support the continued operation of Essendon Fields Airport.
The final Noise Sharing Plan requires endorsement from Airservices prior to Melbourne Airport submitting the plan to the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government for approval.
Airservices will conduct detailed design, safety and operational assessments on the flight paths ahead of the new runway opening. Changes to flight path locations or planned operations will only be made during this final stage of the new runway project delivery if an operational or safety issue is identified. The flowchart below illustrates the flight path design pathway from government approval to runway opening:
Melbourne Airport, as a condition of approval for development of its third runway, is preparing a Noise Sharing Plan. Airservices Australia is contributing technical input to the Noise Sharing Plan and will undertake detailed flight path design, safety and operational assessments following approval of the final Plan. The third runway, to the west of and parallel to the existing main north-south runway (Runway 16/34), will allow Melbourne Airport to cater for the demand of a growing city, providing better access for freight and passengers and driving economic growth for years to come.
The Major Development Plan for the construction of a third runway was approved by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government in September 2024 with conditions, including preparation of a noise sharing and airspace concept plan, known as the Noise Sharing Plan. The conditions require the Plan to address the sharing of aircraft noise between affected areas, maintain sufficient capacity on the existing east-west runway (Runway 09/27) to support effective noise sharing, and support the continued operation of Essendon Fields Airport.
The final Noise Sharing Plan requires endorsement from Airservices prior to Melbourne Airport submitting the plan to the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government for approval.
Airservices will conduct detailed design, safety and operational assessments on the flight paths ahead of the new runway opening. Changes to flight path locations or planned operations will only be made during this final stage of the new runway project delivery if an operational or safety issue is identified. The flowchart below illustrates the flight path design pathway from government approval to runway opening:
Independent consultants Trax and GHD, engaged by Melbourne Airport to develop the draft Noise Sharing Plan for the third runway, are currently undertaking community engagement to seek public feedback on the draft Plan, including proposed changes to flight paths.
We encourage you to visit Melbourne Airport’s Major Projects Hub website to find out more about community information sessions, view the Plan or to provide your feedback. The link is Noise Sharing Plan | Major Projects Hub | Melbourne Airport. Feedback closes on 2 October 2026.
If you have a question about the Noise Sharing Plan or the engagement sessions, please email engagement@ghd.com
The draft Noise Sharing Plan will be updated based on the feedback received. Trax and GHD will consult the community again on the updated plan in 2027 prior to finalising.
Independent consultants Trax and GHD, engaged by Melbourne Airport to develop the draft Noise Sharing Plan for the third runway, are currently undertaking community engagement to seek public feedback on the draft Plan, including proposed changes to flight paths.
We encourage you to visit Melbourne Airport’s Major Projects Hub website to find out more about community information sessions, view the Plan or to provide your feedback. The link is Noise Sharing Plan | Major Projects Hub | Melbourne Airport. Feedback closes on 2 October 2026.
If you have a question about the Noise Sharing Plan or the engagement sessions, please email engagement@ghd.com
The draft Noise Sharing Plan will be updated based on the feedback received. Trax and GHD will consult the community again on the updated plan in 2027 prior to finalising.
