Environment

Melbourne Airport's Environmental Management System (EMS) was accredited to world's best practice standard, ISO 14001 in June 2004 - making it the first airport in Australia to receive this internationally-recognised accreditation.

Select one of the options below find out about Melbourne Airport Environmental Management.

• Annual Environment Report
• Environment Policy
• Environmental Management
• Noise Management
• Stormwater Quality
• Environmental Incidents
• Air Quality
• Land Management
• EcologyCultureHeritage

Melbourne Airport recognises that decisions made today can have an effect on the local community well into the future. The Airport has a variety of procedures in place to ensure that its operations have a minimal impact on the environment. These include an Airport wide Environment Strategy, an Environmental Management System (EMS), implementation of monitoring programs, reporting and follow up of environmental incidents and promoting environmental awareness amongst all Airport operators.

The underlying philosophy of Melbourne Airport is to be a proactive and responsible member of the local community. We do this by working towards common goals with our industry partners to promote social and economic cooperation and sound environmental practices.

Melbourne Airport's environmental performance is evaluated under the Commonwealth Airports Act and the Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations.

If you have any enquiries about environmental management at Melbourne Airport, please call 61 3 9297 1600.

Melbourne Airport Environment Strategy

Download the 2008 Melbourne Airport Environment Strategy (PDF 5,676KB)

Annual Environment Report

Download PDF

• 2004 Public Environment Report (PDF 778KB)
• 2003 Public Environment Report (PDF 2444KB)
• 2002 Public Environment Report (PDF 270KB)
• 2001 Public Environment Report (PDF 1299KB)
• 2000 Public Environment Report (PDF 636KB)

Environment Policy

• Current Public Environment Policy (PDF 344KB)

Environmental Management

Environment Strategy

Melbourne Airport has a five-year plan documenting the management of environmental issues associated with the Airport's operations. The plan, Melbourne Airport's Environment Strategy, was approved by the Minister for Transport and Regional Development in September 2003. As part of the plan we determine environmental actions to be completed each year.

Environmental Management System

Melbourne Airport's Environmental Management System (EMS) is an integral part of the growth and development of the Airport. The EMS both complies with and is now accredited to the International Management Standard ISO 14001. Implementation of the EMS enables the company to establish and assess the ongoing effectiveness of its environmental practices. The overall objective is to achieve continual improvement through the monitoring and measurement of Melbourne Airport's performance.

Implementation of the EMS has involved the identification of significant environmental issues and introducing appropriate controls to manage them. The EMS also involves auditing the different aspects of the system and, where warranted, identifying and implementing appropriate corrective actions.

The Melbourne Airport Environment Policy (PDF 344KB) is the driver for implementing and improving the EMS and improving our environmental performance.

A key requirement of the EMS is the production of Environmental Management Programs (EMPs) by each Melbourne Airport department. These EMPs address significant environmental aspects and identify actions Melbourne Airport will take to manage them. The EMP is a living document and each operating department is responsible for reviewing its EMP and revising the document annually.

The EMS also requires that significant operators at Melbourne Airport develop annual EMPs. Again the operators are asked to identify environmental aspects significant to their operations and document actions they intend to undertake to manage them.

Construction works can have a significant impact on the environment if appropriate controls are not identified and carefully managed. In assessing development proposals, our environmental staff evaluate the environmental aspects and impacts associated with the project and, if identified as significant, require that companies prepare Environmental Management Plans for the construction works. These are followed up with site environmental audits during the progress of works.

Noise Management

There are four main mechanisms that are used to manage and minimise the noise effects generated by aircraft approaching or departing from Melbourne Airport.

1. Control of Airspace

   Airservices Australia is responsible for management and control of the flight paths used by aircraft approaching and departing from Melbourne Airport. These flight paths are primarily designed to ensure that aircraft movements are carried out in a safe and efficient manner. They are also designed to minimise the noise exposure to residential areas in the vicinity of the Airport. There are times however, when weather conditions and capacity demands require the use of alternative flight paths.

2. Monitoring of Noise Complaints

   Noise complaints are received by Airservices on its 24-hour number 1300-302-240. These complaints are monitored on a monthly basis to determine whether there are any particular trends or issues evident or whether any aircraft has operated outside its assigned tracks or altitude. If so, appropriate investigations are initiated and corrective action taken where applicable. In the financial year 2000/01 Airservices received approximately 6 complaints per 10,000 aircraft movements at Melbourne Airport.

3. Noise Abatement Committee

   The Noise Abatement Committee is chaired by Melbourne Airport and consists of representatives from Airservices Australia, the major airlines, State EPA, State Department of Infrastructure, Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services, local councils around Melbourne Airport and the operator of Melbourne Airport. The Committee's role is to review the impact of aircraft noise exposure on the surrounding community and in a consultative manner, make recommendations to minimise the effect of aircraft noise. The Committee meets on a quarterly basis.

4. Land use Controls

   Land Use Controls for the areas around Melbourne Airport were implemented by the State Government in 1992. The purpose of these controls is to ensure that the efficient operation of Melbourne Airport, both now and in the future, is not adversely affected by inappropriate development (eg houses, schools, hospitals etc) in the noise-affected areas surrounding the Airport. The controls are mainly concerned with the development of residential land and are administered by the local council's statutory planning departments. Any inquiries on these controls should be directed to the relevant council or to Melbourne Airport on +61 3 9297 1600.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from February 2009, click here.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from November 2008, click here.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from August 2008, click here.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from May 2008, click here.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from February 2008, click here.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from November 2007, click here.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from August 2007, click here.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from May 2007, click here.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from February 2007, click here.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from November 2006, click here.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from August 2006, click here.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from May 2006, click here.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from February 2006, click here.

To view the Melbourne Airport Noise Abatement Committee meeting minutes from November 2005, click here.

http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aviationenvironment/noise/webtrak/default.asp

Stormwater Quality

Stormwater quality monitoring has been undertaken at Melbourne Airport since 1994. The stormwater monitoring program has been formulated in consultation with the Victorian Environment Protection Authority, Melbourne Water and the Airport Environment Officer. The current program involves regular stormwater sampling, sediment sampling and biological monitoring to assess whether there has been any adverse effect on the receiving waterways.

For more information on Stormwater Quality, see the current Environment Report.

Environmental Incidents

Spills resulting from incidents have the potential to enter the stormwater system and pollute waterways or contaminate soil. To manage this issue Melbourne Airport has procedures in place to report, clean up and investigate pollution incidents. The investigation procedure requires the responsible company to identify the cause of the incident and explain measures to be taken to prevent a recurrence of the incident. Spill response training is also provided and covers issues such as appropriate clean up and reporting.

For more information on Environmental Incidents, see the current Environment Report.

Air Quality

Emissions from all ground-based activities are covered by the Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 1997.

Continuous ambient air quality monitoring conducted over a period of five years from 1997 to 2001 revealed that concentrations of pollutants were always well below the accepted limits set by both the Regulations and EPA Victoria's requirements.

Melbourne Airport now submits an annual National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) report to EPA Victoria. The NPI is a database designed to provide the community, industry and the Government with information on the types and amounts of certain chemicals being emitted to the environment. Reporting in this way also provides Melbourne Airport with the opportunity to trend emissions on a regular basis to realise the outcomes of some of the initiatives invested in which have been aimed at reducing emissions.

Melbourne Airport will also periodically assess local air quality and review the need to re-introduce air quality monitoring in light of increasing air traffic and significant airport developments.

For more information on Air Quality, see the current Environment Report.

Land Management

Melbourne Airport is currently implementing a five-year Land Management Program. The aim of the Program is to control the spread of, and where possible, eradicate, noxious weeds and vermin on Airport land in the most viable and environmentally safe way.

For more information on Land Management, see the current Environment Report.

Ecology, Culture and Heritage

In addition to controlling weeds and soil erosion, good land management includes protecting the ecology, culture and heritage values of a site. Melbourne Airport protects the ecological and cultural values of sites on the Airport by ensuring that new developments are assessed for the impact they may have. In this manner, appropriate controls may be incorporated into projects at the design phase.

Melbourne Airport is currently undertaking a Grey Box Forest revegetation program which involves planting 24 hectares of mixed Grey Box seedlings to the north-east of the existing Grey Box Forest. This area has primarily been planted to compensate for the possible future removal of part of the forest for construction of the proposed second north-south runway. An additional runway for Melbourne Airport will not be required for at least 10 years. Extensive community consultation will take place before a decision is made on whether the next runway should be the north-south or east-west runway.

For more information on Ecology, Culture and Heritage, see the current Environment Report.

For Melbourne Airport's Planting Guide, see Melbourne Airport Urban Landscape Plantings.