Update 10

Noise Action Plan for Brisbane – Quarterly Update #3

Welcome to the third quarterly update on the progress of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane.

Over this last quarter we engaged with communities on Phase 2 options which focused on:

  • Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations (SODPROPS) – expanded use
  • Night-time overland departures to the north – noise sharing options
  • Segregated operating modes – additional modes
  • Increased operational reporting.

We recorded 848 attendees at the 14 community drop-in sessions and three online sessions. The submission period for Phase 2 closed on 10 September.

We also continued our analysis of feedback received on Phase 1 options in April and May of this year. We will release the outcomes of our assessment as soon as it is complete.


Status update

We have continued to focus on delivering our 2023 priority actions, while also progressing with work to support 2024 deliverables. 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

Complete

1.1

Establish governance mechanisms including an assurance check by the Department

Q1

Substantially complete

Airservices governance mechanisms established.

Department to provide advice on assurance checks undertaken through the AAB.

1.2

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

Q1/Q2

Complete

Communications Approach has been updated in response to community feedback and will soon be available on this site.

1.4

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

Q1/Q2

In progress

Draft reporting structure and content released for public feedback in Phase 2.

2.1

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

Q2

In progress

Option to enable use of SODPROPS during daytime hours released for public feedback in Phase 2.

2.2

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

Q4

In progress

Initial enhancement options released for public feedback in Phase 2.

Work on further enhancements being progressed for release in Phase 3, October – November 2023.

2.3

Develop proposals to increase height and over water operations for SODPROPS to reduce the impact on bayside communities

Q2

Complete

Assessment of Phase 1 outcomes nearing completion and will be released soon.

2.4

Develop proposals to reduce the impact of overnight operations

Q1

Complete

Assessment of Phase 1 outcomes nearing completion and will be released soon.

3.1

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

Q1

Substantially complete

Static model in use as part of options engagement.

Online model has been completed and discussed with the AAB prior to public release.

3.1

Develop proposals to reduce the impact of concentrated flight paths to the west of the airport

Q3

In progress

Initial noise sharing proposals released for public feedback in Phase 2 for “Overland overnight departures to the north”. Work on other flight paths is being progressed for release in Phase 3, October – November 2023.


We are continuing to progress a number of other actions relating to recommendation 1.1 of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane, including:

  • Development of an options assessment framework using independent third-party expertise
  • Review of current noise tool capability (Aircraft In Your Neighbourhood, WebTrak) and options to improve the quality of information provided
  • Procurement of a qualified third party to support an independent assurance process of our design activity
  • Procurement of appropriately skilled and qualified consultants to support flight path and airspace design.


Upcoming engagement

After the September school holidays, we will present a third round of design options. These will focus on:

  • Expanded SODPROPS operations – capacity, decision-making, and daytime operation
  • Reduced concentration of flight paths west of the airport
  • Tactical over water operations
  • Reduced impact of night-time operations - all locations
  • Selected package 3 procedure designs to reduce the impact of arrivals from the north and north west.


Additional information

Correction to altitude data: Night-time over land departures – north

Please note a correction to data shared in the Phase 2 fact sheet on options for “Night-time over land departures – north”.

For the current Standard Instrument Departure (SID), we presented altitudes based on actual flights that had taken these paths in 2022. We don’t have actual data for the proposed options, so we modelled the altitudes using specified weather, aircraft type and other parameters. This means that the comparison of altitudes presented between current operations and proposed options was not based on the same parameters - comparing “apples with oranges” so to speak.

We’ve since updated the altitudes for current the SID using modelled rather than actual data, based on the same parameters used for the proposed options. This updated fact sheet can be downloaded here.

We apologise for this error and for any impact it may have had on community consideration of the options. Please note that further engagement will be conducted on all proposed noise sharing options, including those presented in Phase 2, ahead of decisions being made on implementation.


Community wellbeing support

To support community wellbeing, Airservices Australia has extended our Employee Assistance Program to any community member who is feeling negatively affected by aircraft operations. This is a confidential service, free of charge to community members, and is provided completely independently of Airservices Australia. All personal details will be kept confidential. More information is available here.