As part of delivering the third runway, Melbourne Airport is required to carry out an independent study into the health impacts of aircraft noise on communities surrounding Melbourne Airport.

While Melbourne Airport has undertaken analysis of potential health impacts of the third runway as part of the approval process, this is the first large-scale community health study undertaken by any major Australian airport, and potentially globally. It will collect data before the runway opens and for 20 years after the new runway begins operations.

Melbourne Airport has appointed a team of independent health experts from Deakin and Liverpool universities to develop the draft terms of reference for the community health study. These draft terms of reference will be submitted to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development by September 2025 for approval, before the study can begin.

The draft terms of reference will:

• establish guidance for the long-term community health study
• be developed in consultation with the Melbourne Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group, health experts and key community stakeholders
• set out the methodology for the study to include:
  -monitoring each of the community health impacts associated with aircraft noise identified in Chapter D3 Health Impact of the Major Development Plan, such as annoyance, sleep disturbance, myocardial infarction, communication interference, childhood reading comprehension and migraines
  -collecting data on each of the community health impacts in the years before the third runway opens
  -collecting data on each of the community health impacts each year for 20 years after operations on the third runway begin
• outline how the health expert/s carrying out the study will prepare an annual report on the results of the study
• outline how those reports will be provided and presented to the Melbourne Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group and published on the Melbourne Airport website.

The terms of reference will be published on the Melbourne Airport website once approved by the Minister. A new team of health experts will then be identified to undertake the health study according to the approved terms of reference. This team will be identified in 2026.

More information about the health study can be found on the Deakin University Institute for Health Transformation website, including project updates and how you can contribute, at https://iht.deakin.edu.au/project/m3r-health-study/