Brisbane’s second runway: Claims dozens of suburbs hit by plane noise

Consultation for Brisbane Airport’s second runway was flawed and noise estimates inaccurate, according to a community group that claims dozens of suburbs have been significantly affected by aircraft noise. SUBURB LIST

Brendan O’Malley Westside News

Drone footage of Brisbane Airport’s new runway – the largest aviation construction project in Australia.

A total of 24 suburbs stretched across Brisbane have been significantly affected by aircraft noise since the second runway opened in July last year, a new community lobby group says.

It also claims Brisbane Airport Corporation’s (BAC) public consultation was fundamentally flawed and noise estimates publicised as part of the runway development approval were inaccurate.

But the BAC denied it had not properly consulted or deliberately underestimated noise levels, saying it went “above and beyond legislative requirements’’ during the consultation.

Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance (BFPCA) chair, David Diamond, said they had collected 2000 responses in a short period over Christmas.

That was more than the number of responses received for the runway’s environmental impact statement (EIS), he claimed.

The Aircraft Noise Ombudsman has now fielded dozens of complaints and has launched an investigation.

BFPCA will submit a major report to the Ombudsman in the next few weeks as the group ramps up its fight to tackle noise pollution.

How to make a submission to the Ombudsman here

A BAC spokeswoman said they had gone to extraordinary lengths to consult.

She conceded some suburbs such as New Farm were experiencing more noise than expected, but others were experiencing less because more aircraft were now flying over Moreton Bay.

“During the environmental impact statement and Major Development Plan process for the new runway, BAC committed to and developed a comprehensive 22-month Public Engagement Program, with the aim of engaging and educating the public about the project, going above and beyond legislative requirements wherever possible,’’ she said.

Flight paths in summer, in the early evening when northerly winds are blowing.

Summer early evening flight paths when southerlies are blowing.

She said it “actively engaged’’ with the community between September, 2005 and September, 2006 and during the public consultation period.

“There were 22,709 website visits during the 90-day period as well as 220 information

requests received via the online information request form and 128 formal submissions lodged through the online form,’’ she said.

She also said that after the detailed flight path design was finalised it placed 510 radio ads, had 15 letterbox drops and advertised on 157 billboards. There were 172,000 visitors to the flight path tool.

Check out where the flightpaths arehere

BFPCA already has more than 1200 Facebook, Twitter or website followers in just a few months and has organised several public meetings, including one at Upper Brookfield on March 11.

“We acknowledge the significant role of the aviation industry in Brisbane and the direct and indirect economic benefits of infrastructure such as the Brisbane Airport,’’ Mr Diamond said.

“But the BAC went with a solution that maximises capacity for the airport and is well beyond what they actually need.

“During the past 15 to 16 years (since the second runway was first mooted) huge amounts of development has also been approved in affected area — there has been a 40 per cent increase in population in those areas according to the Census.

“They (Council) have actually promoted density of population in those areas.

“We now have thousands of Brisbane families experiencing sleep and health issues.

“Many are thinking of selling up what had been family homes, and those who bought more recently are suffering financial worry about loss of property values and the impact on their savings.’’

Mr Diamond claimed much of the public consultation had taken place in areas not subject to noise, which was concentrated in very narrow bands beneath overflying aircraft.

He also said the earlier noise estimates had proved to be far lower than what was now being experienced.

New Farm residents Sue Fuller, Paul Ewart, Fred Ropp, Bronwyn Wright and Geoffrey Warrener at a park under the new flight path. Picture: Glenn Hunt/The Australian

“That’s why there were so few objections from suburbs such as New Farm. People there were told they wouldn’t be affected, so why would they lodge a submission?’’ he said.

“Had the community fully understood that an aviation super highway was to be constructed directly over the most densely populated region of southeast Queensland, it is reasonable to conclude the EIS public engagement process would have produced a radically different outcome.’’

He said the huge response to several recent petitions, including about 4500 on a Change.org petition, and the 2000 responses BFPCA had gathered over Christmas showed the level of anger and concern.

SOME OF THE SUBURBS AFFECTED BY AIRCRAFT NOISE*

Annerley

Brookfield

Bardon

Camp Mountain

CBD

Chapel Hill

Coorparoo

East Brisbane

Hawthorne

Kangaroo Point

Morningside

New Farm

Newstead

Norman Park

Northgate

Nudgee

Pullenvale

Rocklea

Samford Valley

St Lucia

Taringa

The Gap

Wavell Heights

Woolloongabba

Yeerongpilly

* based on responses to the BFPCA survey

The BAC spokeswoman said the average noise levels in affected areas was “largely consistent with what was modelled in the EIS and subsequent communications’’.

“Nonetheless, we are aware of some instances where the number of flights of a particular noise level is different to what was communicated in the flight path tool,’’ she said.

“During the planning and approvals phase of the project and in the lead up to runway opening, BAC used several different ways to communicate the aircraft noise that was expected would be experienced.

“This included comparisons to other well-known Brisbane sound levels, noise mapping and contours, a dedicated section within the BAC Flight Path Tool, as well as directing community members to visit suburbs with current noise exposure comparable to what could be expected under the new flight paths.

“Since the runway has opened, we have been monitoring how actual operation compares against the modelled estimates.

“As with any model, there is expected to be minor variations.

“At this stage, we cannot draw definitive conclusions on the data because of the small sample size — we have only had seven months of operations and limited seasonal variations — and the impact that COVID has had on Brisbane Airport’s operations.

“As part of the opening of the new runway, BAC commissioned six additional noise monitors to expand the Airservices Australia network, to make sure we could collect actual noise data and update the community once we had sufficient aircraft flying over these monitors.

“These monitors brought the total to 13. Monitors are located at the end of each runway,

Hamilton, Bulimba, New Farm, Annerley, Bardon, St Lucia, Salisbury, Carina, Tingalpa, and Morningside.’’

Brisbane Airport Corporation has released video as construction on a new runway hits a milestone.

She conceded suburbs such as Hawthorne, New Farm and Hamilton were experiencing new or additional noise.

But suburbs such as Tarragindi, Coorparoo, Morningside, Seven Hills, and Cannon Hill were experiencing less noise.

“The new flight path design has also allowed for greater use of over the bay operations, resulting in fewer overall flights overflying the Brisbane suburban area,’’ she said.

“With the two runways operating independently, this means that some areas are experiencing new overflight and aircraft noise while some areas are experiencing a reduction.

“Since the opening of Brisbane’s new runway on July 20 (last year), 53 per cent of all aircraft movements have been over the bay and 75 per cent of night operations <span style=”display:inline-block;”>(10pm-6am)</span> have been over the bay.’’