Update 1

Noise Action Plan for Brisbane – Quarterly Update

Welcome to the new Engage Airservices Noise Action Plan for Brisbane site. This site will be used to share information and updates as we deliver the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane. The Post Implementation Review (PIR) site will remain on our Engage Airservices hub as a source of PIR information and a record of activity. If you were registered on the PIR site there is no need to register again.


Status update

Since the start of the year, we have been focused on delivering our 2023 priority actions noted Section 7.1 of the PIR report. Our progress against each priority action is reported below:

Rec #

Description

Proposed completion

Progress

1.1

Commence consulting with the government-appointed independent airport community forum

Q1

Consultation commenced with the recently-appointed Brisbane Airport Community Airspace Advisory Board (AAB) Chair, Mr Ron Brent, with initial meeting on Airservices representation and contribution to the AAB held 22 March 2023.

1.1

Establish governance mechanisms including an assurance check by the Department

Q1

Project Management Office established 31 January 2023. Meeting weekly.

Technical Coordination Group established. First meeting held 27 March 2023.

Meeting monthly with Department while formal assurance mechanism finalised.

1.2

Community engagement on proposed communication approach for delivery of changes in response to the PIR, including confirming operating principles

Q1/Q2

Proposed Communications Approach under development. Community engagement planned April – May 2023.

1.4

Increase public reporting and transparency of operations, including SODPROPS use, NAPs application, aircraft tracking and altitude, noise information and complaints

Q1/Q2

Report under development. Planned for release April – May 2023. Community feedback on content to be sought April – May 2023.

2.1

2.2

Expand the use of SODPROPS mode by increasing capacity, enhancing decision-making criteria, and developing flight path changes for daytime operations

Q4

Design work being progressed. Community engagement planned October – November 2023.

2.3

Develop proposals to increase height and over water operations for SODPROPS departures to reduce impacts on bayside communities

Q2

Design options completed. Preparing for community engagement in April – May 2023.

2.4

Develop proposals to reduce the impact of overnight operations

Q1

Design options completed. Preparing for community engagement in April – May 2023.

3.1

Development of baseline model for pre-NPR and current NPR operations

Q1

Baseline model completed (static model). Preparing for community engagement in April – May 2023.

Interactive (electronic) model options being investigated.

3.1

Developing options to increase use of over water departures during the day

Q2

Design work being progressed. Community engagement planned July – August 2023.
3.1 Develop proposals to reduce the impact of concentrated flight paths to the west of the airport
 Q3 Design work being progressed. Community engagement planned October - November 2023.


We also commenced a number of other actions relating to recommendation 1.1 of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane, including:

  • Development of an options assessment framework
  • Establishing an independent assurance process involving qualified third parties
  • Identifying appropriately skilled and qualified consultants to support flight path and airspace design.


Upcoming Engagement

After the April school holidays, we will present the first design options we have developed in response to Package 2 - Maximise flights over the water and Package 3 - Reduce the frequency and concentration of flights over communities.

This will include options to reduce the impact of:

  • Legacy runway over water operations to the south on bayside communities
  • New runway over water operations to the west on the Redcliffe area
  • Legacy runway over land operations to the north between 10pm and 6am
  • Early morning turboprop operations.


This engagement will also share and seek feedback on:

  • Baseline model development
  • Noise Abatement Procedure reporting
  • Communications Approach.


Finally, we will also be seeking community feedback on the noise improvement trials we have had in place over the past 12 months:

  • Extended Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations (SODPROPS)
  • Restriction on intersection departures from the New Parallel Runway.


We plan to release information on all of the above during the week commencing 17 April 2023 and will continue engagement through to the end of May 2023. Drop-in engagement sessions and online discussions will commence after ANZAC day. Information on dates and locations will be shared following confirmation of venue bookings, with a minimum of two weeks’ notice.

We propose to alert communities to these activities through newspaper advertising, media articles, local Facebook groups, and information provided via community representative groups and elected representatives. We would welcome feedback on other ways we should alert communities to this engagement.

A schedule of all planned community engagement for 2023 can be viewed here.