Sunshine Coast Airport Airspace Changes Runway 13/31

Thank you to everybody who participated in the Webex meeting.

A copy of the presentation is available here

A recording of the Webex is available in the Videos section.

We will provide a summary document of the Q&A topics from the Webex.

Release of Noise Modelling Report

As per the activities outlined in the final Terms of Reference (ToR), we have undertaken modelling of current noise impacts from aircraft movement based on actual movement data with consideration of altitude and terrain.

The Noise Modelling Review can be found here.

FAQs about noise modelling can be found in here.

Submitting Feedback or Suggestions on the Noise Abatement Procedures (NAPs)

Feedback and suggestions can be submitted from Tuesday 20 July to Monday 13 September 2021 (5pm local time).

To submit feedback or a suggestion complete our online survey.

The survey will take you through a series of questions to provide us with the required information. You will be able to attach files and images to the survey.

IMPORTANT: Before you submit your feedback or suggestions on the Noise Abatement Procedures please read our fact sheet here.

We realise that many community members may have similar questions and when we receive questions on the NAPs, as well as noise modelling and monitoring, we will provide updates on our FAQs section. This section will be updated during the PIR to assist with providing consistent information to the community.

Upcoming Webex

We will be holding a Webex within the next few weeks to answer questions about the noise modelling, NAPs and noise monitoring. Further information about the date and how to register will be provided soon.

We are currently preparing information on the Sunshine Coast Noise Abatement Procedures (NAPs) and noise modelling data for release on this page in the coming days.

In the meantime if you would like to read more about the current NAPs please visit our Aircraft in Your Neighbourhood page here.

Following release of the NAPs information and noise modelling data we will have a community submission period for suggested changes to the NAPs.

The Expressions of Interest (EOI) for short-term noise monitor locations has now closed.

Thank you to all community members who submitted an EOI. We received 44 EOIs from a range of locations.

We will review these EOIs and contact potentially suitable locations to organise further investigations and site testing.

Expressions of Interest (EOI) for short-term noise monitor locations close at 5pm (local time) Friday, 25 June 2021.

For more information read our Short-term noise monitor site feasibility assessment here and fact sheet here.

Submit your expression of interest for hosting a short-term noise monitor by completing our short survey here.

Vote in our quick poll (see the right hand side of this project page) to let us know if you would like the noise monitor period extended.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the Draft Community Engagement Plan (CEP) v0.2. We have now considered all feedback and finalised the CEP.

You can view the final CEP here and with changes tracked here.

A summary of the feedback received and our response to it can be viewed here.

A large number of comments received were addressed in our Review of Feedback provided for CEP v0.1. This can be viewed here. To avoid duplication, we have not responded to these comments again, instead focusing on new feedback submitted.

We have identified that a few elements of the Post Implementation Review (PIR) and CEP remain unclear to some community members. We have addressed these in the feedback summary document and updated our FAQs to provide further detailed information on:

• The application of IAP2 Spectrum Levels of Engagement
• The purpose of noise modelling vs noise monitoring
• The availability of three noise monitors to this PIR
• The two phase approach of the PIR
• Noise Complaints and Information Service (NCIS) complaints process

PIR Timing

We have recently seen a recovery of Sunshine Coast Airport movements to pre COVID levels and this means we are able to deliver the PIR in a single phase. The CEP has been updated to reflect this and an addendum added to the Terms of Reference to note all activity occurring in a single phase. We will now undertake an expression of interest (EOI) for short-term noise monitoring as our first engagement activity.

We had a number of different requests from the community about timing which we have attempted to balance. These included; not wanting to consider more than one key element at once, avoiding holiday periods, providing sufficient time to consider information provided and formulate responses, and completing the PIR in as short a timeframe as possible.

We have attempted to reduce timeframes and have brought forward some decision points, particularly in relation to the review of operations and Noise Abatement Procedures (NAPs), however we cannot reduce the total PIR timeframe significantly without requesting the community consider more than one element of the PIR at one time or encroaching into holiday periods. We have suggested a flexible approach during implementation, where if the community feels an action can be brought forward, we will attempt to support that where our resourcing allows.

We are seeking assistance from the community to identify appropriate private properties that are within or close to five potential short-term noise monitor installation zones identified by Airservices through our Short-term noise monitor site feasibility assessment which can be accessed here.

These zones experience regular scheduled passenger aircraft operations, are fully or partly within our modelled N60 or N70 noise contours and are complaint with noise monitoring standards.

We have three noise monitors available to the PIR and are planning to have the short-term noise monitors installed in August for a period of three months. This is consistent with our PIR procedures and will be dependent on identification of appropriate sites and negotiation with property owners.

Recognising community feedback asking that we undertake noise monitoring in more than three locations, we may be able to extend the monitoring period to six months and move the monitor/s to new locations after three months of data capture at initial locations. However, this would extend the overall PIR timeframes by another three months as we are unable to complete our analysis of the noise monitoring data and review of EIA assumptions and findings until the noise monitoring is complete. To vote on this option take our quick poll on the right hand side of this project page.

Further information about short-term noise monitors and site suitability is provided in our fact sheet here.

You can submit your expression of interest for hosting a short-term noise monitor by completing our short survey here.

The survey asks for your address, specific site information and local information you believe may be relevant regarding site suitability.

Expressions of Interest close at 5pm (local time) Friday, 25 June 2021.

The review period for the draft Community Engagement Plan (CEP) v0.2 is now closed.

We thank everyone who participated by providing feedback on the draft CEP.

We will consider all community feedback and will provide an updated final version of the CEP on this project page.

Draft Community Engagement Plan

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the draft Community Engagement Plan (CEP).

An updated draft CEP is now available for review for three weeks, from Monday 29 March 2021 to Friday 30 April 2021 (midnight AEST). This review period excludes the two-week Easter holiday period.

Access the updated draft CEP here.

A summary of the feedback received and how we considered it is available here.

Short-Term Noise Monitoring Feasibility Study

We have commenced our site feasibility study to identify potential zones in which we may place noise monitors. Once we have completed the feasibility study, we will provide these zones and supporting information to the community and commence engagement on suitable monitoring locations.

Next Steps

We will release the final CEP and the Noise Monitoring Site Feasibility Study Report shortly after the current community review period closes, depending on volume of feedback. We will then commence engagement on suitable locations to site the noise monitors.

Information on timeframes for the community suggested alternative submission period has been included in the updated draft CEP.

Release of final Terms of Reference

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the Update Draft Terms of Reference (ToR) v0.3. We have considered all feedback received in finalising the ToR.

You can view the Terms of Reference with final changes tracked here.

A summary of the feedback received and our response to it can be viewed here.

The ANO has been advised of completion of the ToR. Per their update posted on their website (click here) the ANO has advised the Airservices Australia Board that it will be neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Terms of Reference drafted by Airservices as doing so would be inconsistent with the ANO Charter as this would compromise the independence of the ANO.

Draft Community Engagement Plan

Feedback on the draft Community Engagement Plan (CEP) closed at midnight (AEST) Sunday 31 January 2020. We will review all submissions received and incorporate relevant feedback into an updated version which we will provide for a further public review period.

Next Steps

We recognise from feedback received that short-term noise monitoring and further engagement on the development of the CEP are of key interest to the community. For this reason, we will commence immediately on the short-term noise monitoring site feasibility study to enable engagement with the community on appropriate locations to occur in the near future, so that we can mobilise quickly when air traffic volumes return to representative levels. We will also focus in the short term on finalising the CEP with the community, after which we will call for community suggested alternative submissions to the flight paths. Further information on timeframes will be provided in the updated CEP when released for the second round of public comment.

Short-Term Noise Monitoring Site Feasibility Study

We will commence with the short-term noise monitoring site feasibility study. This will identify the “zones” in which we need to place short-term noise monitors. These zones need to be in positions in close proximity to the flightpaths we are reviewing, the locations used for modelled noise levels in the EIA, and areas with populations as well as structures which may accommodate a short-term noise monitor installation. Other factors, including proximity to other noise sources (highways etc) are also considered. Once completed, we will provide these zones and supporting information to the community and commence engagement on suitable monitoring locations.