Melbourne Airport is Australia's busiest 24/7 airport. It supports over 239,000 jobs and generates about $22 billion each year.
The airport's proximity to Brimbank brings many local economic benefits. It employs locals and helps industries that rely on airport access, such as freight and logistics. Major upcoming projects like Melbourne Airport Rail and the Sunshine Superhub will also improve transport links and create thousands of jobs.
But Brimbank also faces impacts from being near the airport. Residents face noise from planes, more traffic and other environmental effects.
Melbourne Airport plans to grow significantly, and has conditional Federal Government approval for a new third runway.
This page provides updated information on the planning for Melbourne Airport, including the third runway.
Following years of strong advocacy, we're pleased to confirm we've secured important outcomes which address some of the concerns raised by the community in relation to the planned third runway at Melbourne Airport. Learn more in our media release.
Have your say on Melbourne Airport’s future plans
From 10 August, have your say on two important pieces of work shaping Melbourne Airport’s future: Melbourne Airport’s Master Plan 2027 and the draft Noise Sharing Plan, which is being prepared independently by Trax and GHD.
The Master Plan 2027 is Melbourne Airport’s long-term planning document. It outlines how the airport is expected to grow and develop over the next 20 years, including future infrastructure, land use, transport connections and environmental management.
The draft Noise Sharing Plan focuses on how aircraft noise could be managed across communities when Melbourne Airport’s three-runway system is operating. The independent consultants are preparing with input from technical work and community feedback.
While the 2 documents are separate, both are important to Melbourne Airport’s future planning, and both are open for community feedback.
Residents, businesses and community groups are encouraged to read the information, attend an information session, ask questions and share their views.
For information about both opportunities, including public exhibition materials, information session details and how to provide feedback, visit Melbourne Airport Major Projects Hub.
Noise sharing plan
When the Federal Government approved Melbourne Airport’s for the third runway in September 2024, it included a condition to develop a noise sharing and airspace concept plan.
The plan is about how aircraft noise is shared across different communities through the selection of which runways planes use to depart and arrive. This will include how breaks from aircraft noise can be included for communities.
In late 2025, Melbourne Airport sought community members’ feedback to help draft the noise sharing plan. The development of this plan and the consultation are being led by independent consultants (as per the Federal Government conditions).
Learn more about the plan on Melbourne Airport’s website – which includes fact sheets, videos and answers to frequently asked questions. It will also include opportunities to provide feedback on the draft plan in mid-2026.
Noise Amelioration Plan
The Federal Government conditional approval for the third runway also required Melbourne Airport to develop a Noise Amelioration Plan (NAP). This plan will focus on treating buildings to lessen the effects of aircraft noise.
Melbourne Airport will deliver the NAP in a defined area that is most affected by aircraft noise. This usually means adding noise insulation treatments to buildings, e.g. double-glazing or acoustic insulation.
Melbourne Airport is also working on new noise forecasts, which will be ready in 2026 when the airport consults the community about its updated Master Plan. This will help determine the areas eligible for the NAP. The airport will then submit the NAP to the Federal Government for approval.
Once the Federal Government approves Melbourne Airport's NAP, eligible properties will be contacted directly by the airport.
Learn more about the Noise Amelioration Plan
Council will keep updating this page as new information comes in from Melbourne Airport. For more information, please contact the Melbourne Airport Major Projects Hub.
