Melbourne Airport Noise Sharing Plan – Proposed Airspace & Flight Path Changes

The M3R MDP was approved with conditions and published on 10 September 2024.

A key requirement of these conditions is the development of a Noise Sharing and Airspace Concept Plan (NSP). The NSP ensures that the new runway is introduced with a structured and transparent approach to managing aircraft noise, defining how noise will be shared and mitigated across runway operating modes. It will deliver balanced noise outcomes where operationally feasible, integrate with the Melbourne Basin airspace structure, and establish a preferred airspace concept and operating strategy.

To meet this requirement, Melbourne Airport has appointed Trax Asia Pacific (Trax), a specialist airspace and air traffic management consultancy, to lead the development of the Noise Sharing Plan and associated Airspace Concept Plan.

The NSP is being developed in consultation with Airservices Australia, airlines, general aviation and Melbourne basin airports and their operators.

Airspace and Flight Paths

Initial concepts for revised controlled airspace architecture and indicative flight paths have been prepared for initial consultation.

At this stage, flight paths are represented as broad indicative swathes intended to demonstrate potential tracking areas for arriving and departing aircraft. These are not final designs and will be subject to further technical, environmental and safety assessments as part of subsequent design and approval stages.

Feedback from aviation stakeholders will be essential to ensure the concepts support operational compatibility across the Melbourne Basin.

Timeline

Interim consultation phases, including development of the Noise Sharing and Airspace Concept Plan will occur throughout 2025–2026.

This is then followed by a detailed design phase lead by Airservices Australia and formal Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) submission to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Implementation of the new runway and associated airspace/flight path changes are currently scheduled for 2031.

Industry Engagement

Our team will present industry information sessions both in person and online. See available times and register for a session here:

https://www.melbourneairportprojectshub.com.au/noise-sharing-plan

The industry comment period for the Noise Sharing and Airspace Concept Plan engagement activity will close on Friday, 12 December 2025.

All feedback and information about your operation is to be sent to engagement@ghd.com, please leave contact details if we need to contact you for further information.