Noise
Aircraft noise
Aircraft noise management is an important challenge for airport operators worldwide. Auckland Airport is committed to managing noise levels at and around the airport, to lessen the impact on our surrounding communities. We have in place operational and consultative strategies to protect and enhance our environment.
How do we manage noise?
We use different methods to manage noise that are detailed in our noise management plan.
Click to download noise management plan [3MB PDF]
Many of the airport’s noise management requirements are outlined in Chapter 17.6 of the Manukau District Plan [750kb PDF]
Methods include:
- Aircraft noise areas were established in the Manukau District Plan along with rules relating to noise management
- Noise monitoring is undertaken in the community
- Auckland Airport has an aircraft noise community consultative group
- Monitoring of noise complaints
- The noise mitigation programme sets out details of acoustic treatment of houses and schools in the aircraft noise areas
- Each year annual aircraft noise contours are produced to show noise levels in the community for the following year
- An annual report on aircraft noise is produced to report on the noise management system.
Aircraft noise areas
The Manukau District Plan creates zones in the community with varying maximum levels of noise allowed in each zone due to aircraft flight operations. These zones are:
- High aircraft noise area
- Moderate aircraft noise area
- Aircraft noise notification area.
Properties in these areas have information on their land information memorandum (LIM) advising that they are in an area affected by aircraft noise. Auckland Airport monitors noise to ensure the maximum level of noise allowed in each zone is not exceeded.
Within the aircraft noise areas developers of new houses must include acoustic treatment measures in their designs. Auckland Airport is also required to provide acoustic treatment to existing houses in these areas once noise reaches certain levels.
Noise monitoring
The airport monitors aircraft noise using environmental monitoring units, which are installed at Prices Road, Puhinui School and the Manukau Velodrome. The monitors record noise and send the information to our aircraft noise and operations monitoring system (ANOMS), where it is matched with any aircraft in the area at the time using flight track data that is sourced from Airways Corporation New Zealand.
Aircraft noise community consultative group
This group was formed in 1997 to make recommendations to Auckland Airport on aircraft noise issues and concerns that arise from operations and activities. The group includes representatives from Manukau City Council, the Board of Airline Representatives New Zealand, Airways Corporation New Zealand, Auckland Airport, industry, and community boards as well as having an independent chairperson.
Noise complaints
Auckland Airport has standard protocols for recording, responding to and reporting on the noise complaints it receives relating to aircraft operations, engine testing activities and any other activities generating noise at the airport.
You can contact the apron tower (this provides a 24 hour service) on 09 256 8133, if you have any noise complaints.
Noise mitigation programme
The Manukau District Plan requires the company to offer acoustic treatment packages to owners of houses and educational facilities in noise affected areas. This applies to buildings completed before 10 December 2001. These packages reduce the amount of aircraft noise heard inside the buildings. Acoustic treatment packages can include the installation of ventilation systems, insulation and kitchen extractor fans.
Offers are made based on the annual aircraft noise contours and are made when noise reaches a specified level. In April of each year the company will be offering acoustic treatment packages based on the annual aircraft noise contours. Auckland Airport will contact those eligible directly.
Every six months the airport company reports on progress with the noise mitigation programme. More information can be found in the following reports:
More information is available in the acoustic treatment package brochure
Annual report on aircraft noise
Every year the airport produces a report for Manukau City Council that describes and interprets the results of noise monitoring. This is a technical report on the performance of the noise monitoring system and the results that it produced.
For a copy of this report, email greening the airport