Almost half-a-million Brisbane residents could receive scheduled respite from aircraft noise under a new package of flightpath changes released for public consultation, but Airservices Australia has discarded two other options its own consultants found were technically viable.
Airservices announced five options for community consultation on Monday as part of the final package of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane Airport, saying the proposals could provide periods of respite from aircraft arrivals for about 482,000 residents – and reduce aircraft noise for a further 139,000 – through higher altitudes and smoother descents.
“The options we are presenting provide a real opportunity for noise improvements for some of the communities we have most frequently engaged with throughout the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane,” Airservices Australia program delivery head Donna Marshall said.
“New runway-aligned communities, who are subject to both arrival and departure operations, could receive respite from arrivals in between peak traffic periods on an alternating basis with legacy runway communities.
“Communities to the north and west of the airport, who are overflown by aircraft arriving to the new runway, could also experience lower noise levels from the increased flightpath altitudes and smoother descent profiles. Some of these communities could also benefit from respite options.”
The options emerged from a detailed review by aviation consultancy Trax International, which examined Brisbane’s complex airspace system and assessed 17 concepts aimed at reducing the impact of aircraft noise on surrounding communities.
But while the Trax report identified seven concepts as viable for further consideration, Airservices ultimately narrowed that list to five, despite the remaining two concepts being found technically feasible.
The five options out for public consultation include two noise-sharing runway operation concepts and three arrival flightpath changes designed to keep aircraft higher over residential areas for longer.
One proposal would give some Brisbane suburbs regular breaks from aircraft arriving overhead. On days when winds came from the north, planes would be directed to just one runway for arrivals, giving those under the other runway’s flightpaths respite. Airservices estimated the arrangement could be used on about 100 weekdays a year when traffic and weather conditions allowed.
A second proposal would extend those respite periods by allowing more departing aircraft to use over-water runway ends, potentially delaying the need to return to normal runway operations.
The remaining proposals focus on making aircraft quieter by keeping them higher above suburbs as they approach Brisbane Airport. One would allow planes arriving from the south and east at night to remain hundreds of metres higher over existing flight paths, benefiting about 50,000 residents.
Another would do the same for nighttime arrivals from the north and west, while a third would permanently raise aircraft altitudes on several arrival routes from the north and west during both day and night operations. Aircraft would also spend less time flying level over populated areas, reducing noise on the ground.
But the most contentious finding in the report may be what has not been put before the public.
Trax found viable a broader noise-sharing concept, known as Concept 10, that would have provided predictable respite in both northerly and southerly wind conditions by alternating all four of Brisbane Airport’s segregated runway modes. The report found it would offer the most comprehensive respite arrangement and could operate regardless of wind direction.
Airservices rejected the proposal after concluding the new departure routes required to make it work would newly affect about 136,000 residents, including people in Coorparoo, Holland Park, Salisbury, Macgregor, Parkinson, Browns Plains, Regents Park and Boronia Heights.
The report estimated about 198,700 people would be exposed to aircraft noise events above 60 decibels beneath one proposed new route, compared with about 41,700 beneath the existing path.
Another proposal would have diverted some non-jet aircraft onto a new approach path from the north. Airservices rejected the idea, finding it would affect about 70,000 residents while delivering benefits for only a handful of flights.
Trax found there was “little uncommitted airspace” in south-east Queensland, with Brisbane operations constrained by Defence airspace around Amberley and offshore training areas, airports at the Gold and Sunshine coasts, general aviation operations at Archerfield and existing air traffic control systems.
Trax examined seven broader airspace redesign concepts, including rerouting departures over Moreton Bay, using Amberley airspace for civil arrivals and relocating Sunshine Coast traffic to improve Brisbane operations. None were considered viable.
Public consultation on the five shortlisted options will run until December 13, after which Airservices planned to determine whether any proposals should proceed.
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
You've used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.
