Noise complaints and information service

The total number of residents contacting the Noise Complaints and Information Service (NCIS) in 2023–24 was 4,765. This was 31 more than the 4,734 recorded in 2022–23 (Australia wide).

The total number of contacts the NCIS received in 2023–2024 was 64,279. This was 18,559 more than the recorded 45,720 in 2022–23 (40% increase in contacts Australia wide).

At major airports, the most frequently raised issue continued to be the use of standard flightpath corridors. Concerns included the increase in frequency of movements, a perception that something had changed the location of the flightpath, and questions about the altitudes of aircraft on arrival and departure. While we investigate concerns about standard flightpaths, few opportunities exist to mitigate noise for residential areas in close proximity to the major airports.

During 2023–24, 5 major airports had an increase in the number of residents making complaints (Table 24), 12% higher than 2022–23, with significant increases at Brisbane, Sydney, and Perth airports.

The main contributors to the increase included the frequency of movements, weather diversions and runway maintenance affecting noise sharing.

Brisbane Airport had another significant increase in contacts in 2023–24. The total number increased from 1,462 in 2022–23 to 1,690 in 2023–24 (15% increase in complainants). Multiple factors attributed to the increase in contacts such as the ongoing Noise Action Plan for Brisbane project and traffic management caused by service variations, runway maintenance and weather diversions.

While there was an increase to several major airports, there were a number of airports that have had a significant decrease in contacts to the NCIS. These included Adelaide, Bankstown, Hobart, Melbourne and Sunshine Coast (28% combined decrease in complainants).

Table 24: Number of residents who contacted the NCIS for the 10 major airports

Airport	2020–21	2021–22	2022–23	2023–24
Adelaide	89	183	198	137
Brisbane	1,709	1,308	1,462	1,690
Cairns	12	19	27	28
Canberra	14	20	17	20
Darwin	8	4	7	2
Gold Coast	128	92	60	55
Hobart	15	21	52	31
Melbourne	88	162	285	172
Perth	178	156	258	329
Sydney	331	580	576	838
Total	2,572	2,545	2,942	3,302

There has been an increase of 12 per cent in the number of residents contacting NCIS from the previous financial year, which is less than the percentage between 2021–22 and 2022–23.