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Environment

Aircraft Noise in the City of Melbourne

By Environment

Source: City of Melbourne

The City of Melbourne has no regulatory control over aircraft in flight within the municipality, other than:

  • helipads – discretionary building height controls in the Planning Scheme for areas around hospitals with helipads and
  • hot air balloons – the State Government Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 was amended in 2011 to provide a licensing role for City of Melbourne as the public land manager of four designated park sites within the municipality where the City of Melbourne may issue a permit for hot air balloons to take off or land.

Some City of Melbourne residents in some suburbs may be adversely affected by aircraft noise.

How to make a complaint about aircraft noise

Airservices Australia manages complaints and enquiries about aircraft noise through its dedicated Noise Complaints and Information Service (NCIS). The NCIS is the Australian aviation industry’s main interface for the community on aircraft noise. Their website states:

‘If you wish to lodge a complaint or make an enquiry you can do this through the Airservices Australia WebTrak by the online form or by telephoning 1800 802 584 (freecall) or 1300 302 240 (local call – Sydney) or fax (02) 9556 6641 or by mail, Noise Complaints and Information Service, PO Box 211, Mascot NSW 1460.’

The Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO) conducts independent administrative reviews of Airservices Australia’s management of aircraft noise-related activities, including:

  • the handling of complaints or enquiries made to Airservices Australia about aircraft noise
  • community consultation processes related to aircraft noise
  • the presentation and distribution of aircraft noise-related information.

If you have a complaint about aircraft noise, you should first lodge it with Airservices Australia’s Noise Complaints and Information Service.

If they are unable to offer a satisfactory solution, you can then lodge a complaint electronically with the ANO, or write to:

Aircraft Noise Ombudsman
GPO Box 1985
Canberra City ACT 2601

The service is free and available to anyone.

Information on aircraft noise

Airservices and Australian Airports Association has comprehensive information on aircraft noise, including the causes of aircraft noise, how the industry is working together to manage it and what people can do to reduce its impact.

Aircraft regulations and guidelines for aircraft operators

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) provides a list of current legislation (from Attorney General’s Comlaw site) and guidance material which applies to the operations of aircraft and aircraft operators. Read about CASA’s Current rules.

CASA also provides an Introduction to aviation legislation which describes how the legislation affecting the aviation industry is structured.

Helicopter noise levels unabatted

By Environment

View report written by local resident Angela Mackenzie who has been investigating the problem of helicopter traffic and associated noise over South Yarra

Helicopters MSYRG

Article published in the Herald Sun

Residents call for light aircraft to buzz off from their skies

East Melbourne residents including Sebastian, 2, are unhappy about the loud flights over

East Melbourne residents including Sebastian, 2, are unhappy about the loud flights over their inner city suburb. Picture: Janine Eastgate Source: News Limited

EAST Melbourne residents say the suburb is being buzzed by hundreds of noisy aircraft and helicopters and they want it stopped.

Shelley Faubel, of the East Melbourne Group, said the “onslaught” of aircraft over the suburb in recent years (200 flights were recorded in one weekend last April) was causing headaches.

“We are woken by planes early in the morning and at night,” Ms Faubel said.

“Some fly so low the doors shake and it’s hard to have a conversation. It’s like living near an airport.”

Ms Faubel said most of the aircraft were small planes and choppers, with training and joy flights, media and traffic choppers all drawn to the MCG and surrounds.

The East Melbourne Group has collected about 200 signatures on a petition and wants aircraft to travel over freeways or waterways so as not to disturb residents.

But the issue seems to fall into a regulatory black hole, with both Airservices Australia and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASE) passing the buck.

Airservices Australia provides air traffic control and registers noise complaints, but spokeswoman Amanda Palmer said the aircraft were in uncontrolled airspace and “not under the control of Airservices’ air traffic controllers”.

CASE spokesman Peter Gibson said his organisation was accountable for safety issues and “do not cover ­environmental issues”.

Ms Faubel said residents were upset no one was looking out for their interests.