As previously posted, the Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project delivered a new runway in 2020, which required changes to local flight paths. Following these changes, Airservices Australia undertook a Post Implementation Review (PIR) to assess their effectiveness and evaluate environmental and community impacts. This review resulted in a number of recommendations in 2023 aimed at reducing the impact of aircraft operations on the wider Sunshine Coast community and improving information available to residents on flight activity. You can view the history of this process at www.sandybolton.com/?s=flight+paths.

We have now received the below update in italics from Airservices Australia outlining that community engagement will be undertaken in two packages, and it is vitally important that all residents, but especially those from Marcus Beach, Castaways Beach, Lake Cooroibah, Tinbeerwah, Lake Weyba and Cooroy Mountain provide feedback as requested.

The Sunshine Coast Airport New Runway Post Implementation Review (PIR) Recommendations Implementation project will implement the recommendations of the PIR completed in October 2023. The recommendations aim to reduce the impact of aircraft operations on the wider Sunshine Coast community and to provide improved information to communities about aircraft operations.

Community engagement on the PIR recommendations will be divided into two packages. Package one will address the actions under the following recommendations:

  • Recommendation 1: Improve information sharing with the community
  • Recommendation 3: Investigate feasible NAP improvements
  • Recommendation 5: Investigate the potential for a noise monitoring program, either permanent or temporary, to provide information on aircraft noise levels to Sunshine Coast communities

The remaining recommendations will be actioned following the delivery of the outcomes of Package 4 of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane. This is because this package is considering optimisation of the wider Brisbane airspace, which interacts with the Sunshine Coast airspace. Recommended changes from this package may affect Sunshine Coast airspace and so we need some level of clarity on the proposed changes in Brisbane before we can develop flight path change options for the Sunshine Coast.

These remaining recommendations are:

  • Recommendation 2: Investigate feasible flight path change suggestions

  • Recommendation 4: Investigate in parallel with the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane implementation, potentially feasible flight path suggestions that interface with Brisbane operations

Currently, Package 1 of community engagement is open until January 11, 2026, and focuses on Recommendations 1, 3 and 5. More information, including links to the relevant details, community surveys, and registration for online engagement sessions, is provided in the additional Airservices Australia update below.

We are pleased to release information in response to Recommendations 1, 3 and 5 of the Sunshine Coast Airport new runway Post Implementation Review (PIR).

We have also produced an Introduction to aviation document, which provides an explanation of key aviation concepts and terms which may assist interested community members to better engage with us on these recommendations.

Information in relation to each recommendation and its specific actions can be accessed via the links below:

Recommendation 1: improve information sharing with the community

Recommendation 3: investigate feasible NAP improvements

Recommendation 5: investigate the potential for a noise monitoring program, either permanent or temporary, to provide information on aircraft noise levels to Sunshine Coast communities

Online surveys have been created to collect feedback on each action and can be accessed from the relevant information sheet. Alternatively, you can access them directly below

Click here to ask a question and we will respond as soon as possible.

Feedback on these actions is open until 11 January 2026.

A reminder that registrations for our online engagement sessions are open. We look forward to seeing you at a session and to receiving your feedback.

As Recommendation 3: Investigate Feasible NAP Improvements includes possible changes to the short and long flight paths, which cross over areas of our electorate, particularly Marcus Beach, Castaways Beach, Lake Cooroibah and Tinbeerwah, we encourage all residents who may be affected by changes to provide feedback before the community engagement period closes on January 11, 2026.

Furthermore, Airservices Australia is seeking feedback from residents in Cooroy Mountain, Castaways Beach and Lake Weyba regarding a site for the installation of temporary noise monitoring to facilitate Recommendation 5: investigate the potential for a noise monitoring program, either permanent or temporary, to provide information on aircraft noise levels to Sunshine Coast communities.

Further information

To view the Sunshine Coast Airport Flight Path Changes PIR Final Report, visit https://engage.airservicesaustralia.com/46871/widgets/249990/documents/270738

For latest updates on the Sunshine Coast Airport PIR recommendation implementation, visit https://engage.airservicesaustralia.com/sc-pir-implementation

This information has been provided to assist residents, as the aviation is a federal government matter, should you require assistance with any state government matters, please contact our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au or 5319 3100.

For any enquiries relating to the Federal Government and flight paths please contact your local Federal (Commonwealth) MP’s office: