Since its establishment in 2020, Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance (BFPCA) has achieved several small wins in our fight for fairer skies. From holding decision-makers accountable to influencing changes in flight path operations, we have made progress in raising awareness and securing incremental improvements for noise-affected communities. However, there is still much work to be done to achieve meaningful change and protect the health and well-being of residents across Greater Brisbane. Our journey continues, and we remain committed to advocating for safer and quieter skies for all.
18/09/2024: Ministerial direction
BFPCA cautiously welcomed a Ministerial Direction from The Hon Catherine King MP, acknowledging the severe impact of aircraft noise on over 220 suburbs across Greater Brisbane. The directive orders Airservices Australia to extend the use of Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations (SODPROPS), prioritising over-water flights to reduce noise over residential areas. While this step acknowledges the communityās distress, it falls short of fully reinstating SODPROPS as the preferred 24/7 operation mode, as initially promised. The original 2007 MDP/EIS clearly stated that SODPROPS would be the preferred mode for noise abatement, but it was removed from daytime operations before the new runwayās launch in 2020 without community consultation.
While a significant achievement and concession by the government, BFPCA remains concerned that the Ministerās directive will have limited impact due to operational constraints and the ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. Recent data highlights that, between July and August 2024, only one daytime SODPROPS flight occurred compared to over 16,000 non-SODPROPS flights. BFPCA continues to advocate for stronger measures, including a night-time curfew, flight caps, and a complete re-design of the flawed flight paths to protect community health and well-being.
01/05/2024: Airservices CEO sacked
After sustained pressure from BFPCA and intense scrutiny during the Senate Inquiry into aircraft noise, Airservices Australia CEO Jason Harfield was dismissed. Harfield’s leadership was marked by widespread criticism, including allegations of misleading the community and government about noise issues at Brisbane Airport, as well as fostering a toxic workplace culture ripe with bullying and sexual harassment. BFPCAās advocacy played a key role in highlighting these issues, with BFPCA Chairperson Prof. Marcus Foth delivering a powerful testimony to the Senate Inquiry that exposed the agency’s failures and misconduct under Harfieldās tenure over many years. This outcome represents a significant victory for the community and a step towards greater accountability and reform in the aviation industry.
26/02/2024: Commonwealth Ombudsman investigates
BFPCA successfully launched a regulatory failure campaign highlighting the Department of Infrastructure and Transportās systemic failure in overseeing and regulating Airservices Australiaās operations and decision-making. For example, Airservices failed to properly address the ministerial conditions imposed on them under the EPBC Act, and they failed to consult and seek re-approval from the Minister after they made changed with major impact. BFPCAās campaign culminated in a formal complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman (complaint file number 2023-713825), supported by 1,000+ individual submissions from the community. As a result, the Commonwealth Ombudsman has commenced an investigation into the Departmentās regulatory oversight, marking a significant step towards holding the government accountable for failing to protect communities and address the adverse impacts of aircraft noise pollution across Greater Brisbane.
06/02/2024: Senate inquiry launched
BFPCAās persistent advocacy has led to a landmark achievement with the successful establishment of a federal Senate Inquiry into the impact and mitigation of aircraft noise and alleged misconduct by Airservices Australia. This inquiry was a direct response to BFPCAās efforts to highlight the detrimental effects of aircraft noise pollution on more than 220 suburbs across Greater Brisbane and expose the unethical practices of Airservices Australia. The inquiry aims to investigate the impacts on residents and small businesses, evaluate proposals for noise mitigation, and address barriers to effective regulation.
The Senate Inquiry provides a critical platform for affected communities to voice their concerns and seek accountability from those responsible. With compelling testimony and evidence presented by BFPCA, the inquiry has already drawn media attention to systemic issues within the aviation industry and the need for comprehensive regulatory reform. BFPCA remains committed to using this opportunity to advocate for stronger community protections and long-term solutions that prioritise community health and well-being over commercial interests.
16/10/2023: Curfew bill before parliament
Whilst remaining non-partisan, BFPCAās persistent political advocacy for a night-time curfew at Brisbane Airport has been a driving force behind the introduction of the Brisbane Airport Curfew and Demand Management Bill 2023, currently before the 47th Parliament of Australia. This bill, introduced by Elizabeth Watson-Brown MP, the Australian Greens Spokesperson on Infrastructure, Transport and Sustainable Cities and Member for Ryan, reflects extensive consultation with BFPCA and the broader community. The bill proposes a curfew from 10 pm to 6 am and a cap on the number of flights, mirroring successful noise management strategies at Sydney Airport. This is a crucial step towards reducing the adverse health impacts of excessive aircraft noise on Brisbane residents, and BFPCA is proud to have played a key role in shaping this important legislation.
10/06/2023: Community protest
Over 1,000 Brisbane residents gathered outside Brisbane Airport Corporation headquarters to demand a night-time curfew and a cap on flights, similar to community protections in place since the mid 90s at Sydney Airport. The protest was a direct response to Minister Catherine Kingās refusal to meet with BFPCA and her suggestion at the National Press Club that communities would need to protest to see any action taken. The unprecedented turnout highlighted the widespread frustration and anger at the lack of government response to the excessive noise pollution affecting residents across the city. BFPCAās leadership in organising this protest not only united the community but also sent a powerful message to policymakers that the status quo is no longer acceptable. The protest marked a significant moment in the fight for fairer skies over Brisbane and showcased the communityās resolve to hold authorities accountable.
09/03/2023: Airspace Advisory Board
The Australian Government established the Brisbane Airport Community Airspace Advisory Board (AAB) in an attempt to appear to enhance community consultation on aircraft noise around Brisbane Airport. The creation of this independent body was a significant outcome as a result of BFPCAās advocacy for greater transparency and accountability in flight path decisions. Importantly, BFPCA successfully secured the appointment of three community-aligned representatives to the AAB, ensuring that the voices of those most affected by aircraft noise are heard.
The AAB is supposed to play a crucial role in overseeing the implementation of recommendations from Airservices Australiaās Post Implementation Review and facilitating community input on future changes to flight paths and airspace management. While the boardās remit excludes discussions on curfews or movement caps, BFPCAās presence on the AAB is a critical step towards holding the aviation industry accountable and advocating for meaningful noise abatement measures that reflect community concerns.
06/09/2022: Community members join BACACG
Following the 2022 federal election and after significant pressure from BFPCA, three genuinely community-aligned representatives were nominated by the MPs for Brisbane, Griffith and Ryan to join the Brisbane Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group (BACACG). This marked a critical shift in the composition of BACACG, which had previously been dominated by pro-aviation voices with little interest in advocating for better noise protections for their communities. With the support of the newly elected MPs for Brisbane, Ryan, and Griffith, BFPCA facilitated a process to ensure community voices directly affected by aircraft noise would finally be heard. While this is a positive step towards better representation, BFPCA continues to advocate for greater transparency and accountability in airport community consultation processes.
29/07/2022: Trax International appointed
Following extensive community pressure, BFPCA achieved a significant milestone when Airservices Australia appointed Trax International to conduct an independent review of Brisbaneās flight paths. The Trax Interim Report, released in April 2022, outlined 49 recommendations to address Brisbane’s noise issues. The Trax Final Report, published in July 2022, consolidated these into four key work packages. Airservices adopted all the recommendations as part of their Post-Implementation Review (PIR) and committed $15 million to implement them as part of their Noise Action Plan for Brisbane. Despite Airservices’ claims that flight path design is their “bread and butter,” they are clearly out of their depth, so Trax International have been re-appointed in 2024 to oversee the delivery of Packages 3 and 4. This achievement demonstrates BFPCAās persistence in holding government and industry accountable.
21/05/2022: Three federal MPs unseated
BFPCA put aircraft noise squarely on the agenda during the 2022 federal election. We engaged with the three political parties capable of winning seats impacted by aircraft noise (Labor, Liberal National Coalition and the Greens) and used a score card to rate their responses to our community demands. We asked for a curfew, flight cap and long-term operating plan at Brisbane Airport. More than 60,000 of our score cards were distributed to homes impacted by aircraft noise. Our score card helped to inform votersā choices at the ballot box, reflecting the communityās demand for stronger political representation on this issue. Ultimately, the incumbent MPs in the seats of Brisbane, Griffith and Ryan were all voted out. It is no coincidence that these three seats have the greatest populations impacted by aircraft noise pollution.
24/09/2021: BAPAF commences work
In response to community pressure and advocacy from BFPCA, the federal government took a significant step in September 2021 by establishing the Brisbane Airport Post-Implementation Review Advisory Forum (BAPAF). This marked the first time the government publicly acknowledged the severe noise issues affecting over 220 suburbs across Greater Brisbane. BAPAF recognised legitimate community concerns regarding inadequate engagement, inaccurate information, and high noise pollution levels resulting from Brisbane’s flawed flight path design. Based on the forum’s recommendations, the federal government required Airservices to conduct noise improvement trials as well as appoint Trax International as independent consultants in early 2022 to conduct an expert review of Airservicesā Post Implementation Review (PIR). The federal government allocated $590,450 to engage Trax and support their work in identifying improvements across all aspects of Brisbaneās airspace design and management.
11/10/2021: ANO investigation
Due to the community sending hundreds of complaints since the launch of the new Brisbane flight path design on 12 July 2020, the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman (ANO) agreed to conduct a multi-complaints review of Airservicesā environmental assessment of the impact of the flight paths developed for the new runway and its community engagement with potentially affected residents.
The complaint submission from BFPCA incorporated a community survey of 2,075 residents adversely affected. The ANO’s report was published on 11 Oct 2021 and found a string of failures at Airservices Australia in relation to their conduct of community engagement and the 2007 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for Brisbane Airportās new runway.
The report found that Airservices failed to effectively engage with communities potentially affected by new flight paths nor did it provide full and complete information about aircraft noise to potentially impacted community. Further, the findings showed that Airservices did not conduct a detailed assessment of whether changes it made to Brisbane flight paths after the initial 2007 approval had a significant environmental impact.