Fight Flight Noise over the Redlands

Fight Flight Noise over the Redlands

Forward my Submission
The issue regarding flight noise over Brisbane Airport (BNE) centers primarily around the opening and operational design of the New Parallel Runway (NPR).   
Key details of the ongoing controversy and community response include:

1. Core Issue: New Parallel Runway (July 2020)

  • Opening: The second parallel runway opened in July 2020.

  • Flight Path Redistribution: To accommodate dual-runway operations, Airservices Australia altered low-altitude flight corridors and departure/arrival routes.

  • Community …

The issue regarding flight noise over Brisbane Airport (BNE) centers primarily around the opening and operational design of the New Parallel Runway (NPR).   
Key details of the ongoing controversy and community response include:

1. Core Issue: New Parallel Runway (July 2020)

  • Opening: The second parallel runway opened in July 2020.

  • Flight Path Redistribution: To accommodate dual-runway operations, Airservices Australia altered low-altitude flight corridors and departure/arrival routes.

  • Community Impact: Thousands of residents across Brisbane—including inner-city and eastern/western suburbs (such as New Farm, Bulimba, Samford Valley, and Brookfield)—experienced sudden, significant increases in low-altitude flight noise.

2. Main Complaints & Concerns

  • Lack of Curfew or Flight Caps: Unlike Sydney Airport (SYD), Brisbane Airport operates 24/7 without a mandatory night-time curfew or movement cap per hour.

  • Sleep Disruption & Health Concerns: Community surveys and reports submitted to the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO) and Parliament cited severe sleep disturbances, stress, and reduced quality of life.Inaccurate Noise Projections: Resident groups, notably the

  • Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance (BFPCA), argued that community consultations prior to opening relied on noise modeling that underrepresented actual operational noise levels. 

3. Regulatory & Government Actions

  • Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO) Inquiry: Following hundreds of direct complaints, the ANO conducted an investigation in 2021 into Airservices Australia’s environmental assessments and community engagement practices.

  • Post Implementation Review (PIR) & Noise Action Plan: Airservices Australia established a formal PIR process and subsequent Noise Action Plan for Brisbane to evaluate flight paths and investigate noise mitigation options.

  • Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Operations (SODPROPS): Efforts were made to increase operations over Moreton Bay during non-peak hours and nighttime to direct aircraft away from populated land areas.

  • Senate Inquiry & Legislative Proposals: Federal community campaigns and Greens/crossbench legislation pushed for a 10 PM – 6 AM curfew, a cap on flight movements per hour, and optimized over-water flight paths.

 
What is the projected growth in flivght numbers for the future?
 
 
According to the Brisbane Airport 2026 Master Plan, flight and passenger numbers at Brisbane Airport (BNE) are projected to roughly double over the next 20 years:   

Key Growth Projections (2026 – 2046)

  • Aircraft Movements (Flights):

    • 2026 Baseline: ~225,000 annual movements   

    • 2046 Projection: ~382,000 annual movements   

    • Regional Context: Combined with nearby Archerfield Airport (projected at 195,000 flights/year), total flight activity in the Brisbane airspace basin could reach nearly 600,000 flights annually (~1,600 flights per day) by 2046.   

  • Passenger Volumes:

    • 2026 Baseline: ~25.7 million passengers   

    • 2046 Projection: ~52.3 million passengers   

  • Overnight Freight Growth:

    • BNE is slated to expand its role as a major overnight freight network hub, leading to an increase in overnight movements between 7 PM and 6 AM.   

Infrastructure Expansion Drivers

To accommodate this doubling of traffic, key planned infrastructure projects include:

  1. Terminal 3 (T3): A new passenger terminal located between the parallel runways scheduled to open in the early 2030s.   

  2. Terminal Upgrades: Staged expansion of Domestic (T2) and International (T1) facilities, gate capacity, and baggage handling.   

  3. Road & Transport Network: Ground transport improvements to handle increased passenger and freight traffic surrounding the airport precinct.   

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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Peace_not_planes over Redland City

This is the final opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed flight paths serving Brisbane Airport as published by Airservices Australia.  We are at the end of a multi-year planning/consultation/feedback loop to determine how arriving and departing flights will be shared across greater Brisbane.

Major growth is foreshadowed leading up to 2032, with an expected doubling of flights by 2046.  

Since the opening of the new runway, aircraft noise over the Redlands has been increasing at a rapid rate and will continue to do so whilst Airservices disregards the chosen lifestyle Redlanders have sought by seeking to redirect aircraft noise over the Redlands for the benefit of others.
Airservices continues to develop additional flight paths for the benefit of those closer to the Airport with little regard for its remit to ensure the results of changes do not increase the impact on coastal communities.
 
Little regard has been demonstrated for the historical character of the Redlands as a peaceful location away from city noise, the scenic and cultural significance, the existence of migratory shore birds and whales or that the Redlands is a weekend respite venue for many Brisbane residents.
The Redlands is unique in that it incorporates a number of residential islands with significant permanent population.
The short submission template can be sent as is to Airservices Australia.  The points made address specific recommendatiuons in the final Airservices report which can be viewed  HERE.
The impact of aircraft noise on health and family life can be viewed at the Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance (BFPCA) website HERE.
Please feel free to add your own views to the template prior to submission.

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