Spatial Media has been collaborating with Melbourne Airport team air traffic specialist consultancy Trax to design and deliver a range of digital tools that help communities better understand current airport operations and the forecasted future impacts of the Third Runway.

We developed two new video animations introducing the Noise Sharing plan and explaining current runway operating modes. These videos form part of a broader set of interactive tools embedded within the Major Projects Hub, Melbourne Airport’s central platform for information, engagement opportunities, and community feedback.

To support transparent and accessible engagement, our team created tools that allow users to explore:

• Current runway operating modes - An interactive guide on how Melbourne Airport’s existing runway operating modes and flight paths are used for arrivals and departures, helping residents to better understand typical daily operations. The tool also includes an overview of historic usage of the modes based on 2024 giving users an understanding of the frequency of modes based on lots of different factors and the current noise contours.  

• Proposed future runway operating modes - A visualisation of how different runway combinations, including the introduction of the new Third Runway, could help distribute aircraft noise more evenly across surrounding communities.

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These tools help residents build a clear picture of how the airport functions today, before exploring the forecast changes associated with Melbourne Airport’s Third Runway.

The Noise Sharing Plan has a dedicated page on the Major Projects Hub, providing a single source of truth for community members to find key project information. The hub page also highlights in-person engagement opportunities and integrates surveys to capture feedback directly from the public, ensuring key stakeholders’ voices are heard.

Through carefully designed flight paths and operating modes, the Noise Sharing Plan aims to provide communities with periods of respite from aircraft noise. Spatial Media’s digital solutions make highly technical concepts more accessible, helping stakeholders engage meaningfully with the consultation process.

If you are looking for a way to communicate complex infrastructure projects, Spatial Media can help you design interactive, community-focused solutions that make engagement easier and more effective. Get in touch with us at contact@spatialmedia.io to find out how.

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