Melbourne Airport Noise Amelioration Plan consultation enters new phase

Residents in Bulla and Keilor are being asked to have their say on how Melbourne Airport’s noise amelioration program will be delivered in their communities as part of a new round of consultation that begins today.

Melbourne Airport received Federal Government approval for its third runway in 2024 and is now moving ahead with delivering this much-needed capacity to support Victoria’s growing population and economy.

The new parallel north-south runway will provide more capacity for passengers and exporters, support competition, reduce delays and support thousands of new jobs for locals when it opens in 2031.

A key condition of the runway’s approval is delivery of a Noise Amelioration Plan and Program to address the impacts of unavoidable aircraft noise for eligible residents and sensitive public buildings in the Hume and Brimbank communities nearest to the airport.

This will be undertaken at eligible properties through building improvements such as roof insulation, double-glazed windows and upgraded door and window seals, with priority given to structures where sleep, learning, communication and overall amenity outcomes can be significantly improved.

Eligibility boundaries are still being finalised and property owners in the area will be contacted by Melbourne Airport once the plan is approved by the Federal Government.

Melbourne Airport started consultation in 2025 to inform the design of the Noise Amelioration Plan. The second round of community consultation will run from Monday 16 March to Friday 1 May.

The focus of this round of consultation is to provide residents in and around Keilor and Bulla with further opportunities to learn about what’s in the draft plan and shape how the program will be delivered to eligible properties.

As part of this next phase, Melbourne Airport will host eight in-person community drop-in sessions - four at Keilor Sports Club in Keilor and four at the Jack McKenzie Community Centre in Bulla.

Three online webinars will also be held during the consultation period at different times of day, ensuring people who are unable to attend sessions in person can still participate.

These sessions will also be recorded and hosted on Melbourne Airport’s Major Projects Hub and cover topics such as what amelioration means, how the draft plan was shaped and what communities can expect next.

Head of the Noise Amelioration Plan and Program at Melbourne Airport, Laura Brannigan, said ongoing engagement with local communities is central to shaping the delivery of the program.

“We know the third runway will change how aircraft noise is experienced in communities closest to the airport, and we’re committed to working closely with residents to help manage those impacts,” she said.

“Following feedback from the first consultation period, we’ve added more online webinars and refined our materials to make the information clearer and easier to access.

“Our focus is on practical measures that can make a meaningful difference, particularly in homes and buildings where improvements to sleep, learning and communication environments can have the greatest benefit.”

More information about session dates, webinar registration and other resources relating to the Noise Amelioration Plan are available at www.melbourneairportprojectshub.com.au/noise-amelioration-planand-program