Dominicsage 
Let’s be real for a second: if you live anywhere near an airport, you’re no stranger to the rumble of jets overhead, especially at the crack of dawn or late into the night when you’re trying to squeeze in a few more minutes of sleep. It’s one of those sounds that can either become background noise you learn to live with, or—if it gets bad enough—drive you up the wall. And right now, people living near Melbourne Airport are feeling the latter. The noise has hit a point where many are saying enough is enough, calling for a new noise benchmark for the runway, because the current system just isn’t cutting it.
Not fit for purpose
Now, I’ve never lived right under a flight path, but I used to visit a friend who did. I remember being mid-conversation with her, sipping coffee in her backyard, and suddenly we’d have to pause for what felt like forever as a plane roared above us, leaving the windows rattling in its wake. Every single time. I’d laugh it off, but I could see in her eyes that it wasn’t just a funny inconvenience for her—it was her life, every day, every night. It’s one thing to hear a plane or two, but it’s another when it starts to feel like your home’s been transformed into a mini terminal.
That’s exactly what folks around Melbourne’s new runway are dealing with right now. The current noise benchmark, meant to ensure that flights don’t disrupt the community too much, seems to be missing the mark. Planes are louder, more frequent, and frankly, the old standards aren’t doing a good enough job of protecting people’s quality of life. It’s no wonder the system’s being called “not fit for purpose.”
Imagine this: you finally put the kids to bed after a long day, you sit down to relax, maybe watch something on TV or just enjoy some peace and quiet. Then, out of nowhere, there’s this deafening roar that shakes the whole house. You’d think it was temporary, but no—it happens again. And again. And again. How is anyone supposed to get a decent night’s sleep with that going on? How are kids supposed to focus on homework or families supposed to enjoy a meal together without feeling like they live inside an engine?
And sure, airports bring benefits—jobs, tourism, faster travel—but there’s a line. When your home becomes a place where peace is a rarity, the scales have tipped too far. It’s not just about noise levels measured in decibels either. You could slap a number on it and say, “Hey, this falls within the allowed range,” but that number doesn’t capture the way the noise feels when it’s right over your house, when it shakes you awake at 5 a.m., or drowns out your conversations over dinner.
I’ve spoken to people who’ve had to adjust their entire lives around flight schedules. One woman told me she switched her morning routine just so she could have some semblance of quiet before the first wave of planes came in for the day. Another guy? He planted trees around his property, hoping the greenery would somehow soften the noise (spoiler: it didn’t help much). These are people doing everything they can to adapt, but at the end of the day, it shouldn’t be on them to cope. The benchmark needs to change. Not fit for purpose
What we need is a system that actually takes into account the lived experience of people on the ground. A noise benchmark that doesn’t just look at what’s technically allowable but factors in the real impact on everyday life. Maybe that means stricter limits on nighttime flights or designing better flight paths that avoid densely populated areas. It could even involve creating noise-reduction incentives for airlines, encouraging them to use quieter, more efficient planes. Whatever the solution is, it’s clear that what’s in place right now just isn’t working.
And I get it—it’s complicated. Airports have a lot of moving parts (no pun intended), and there’s a balancing act between keeping flights running smoothly and keeping nearby residents happy. But when you hear story after story from people who can’t enjoy their homes because of constant noise, it’s pretty clear the balance has been lost. And let’s be honest: no one’s saying shut down the airport or ground all flights. They’re just asking for a little peace. Is that really so much to ask?
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather see a system that puts people first. We have the technology to reduce noise and design better flight patterns, so why not use it? Why not set a new benchmark that actually reflects the needs of the community? It’s not just about measuring soundwaves—it’s about measuring quality of life.
So here’s hoping that Melbourne’s runway noise review doesn’t just become another box-ticking exercise. Because for the people living under the flight paths, this isn’t just about a number on a chart. It’s about being able to sleep, relax, and live their lives without the constant interruption of roaring engines overhead.
Not fit for purpose
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