Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) held a community webinar on Monday 4 August 2025 from 11am to 12:30pm.  This webinar relates to the new flight paths that will commence in the second half of 2026.

A recording of the webinar is now available to view here and also on the Society's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@BMConSoc/posts

For more information about WSI flight paths detailed design engagement, please visit the project webpage here.

To keep up to date with the latest news, while you are on the project webpage, click “SUBSCRIBE” and enter your email address in the “STAY INFORMED” box in the new window.

Should you have any questions, please email communityengagement@AirservicesAustralia.com

Authorisation of preliminary airspace and flight paths.
Mid-June the long-awaited authorisation of preliminary airspace and flight paths was released by Minister Catherine King. As anticipated, the Government did not require a curfew on flights out of WSI, nor did it mention a long-term operating plan nor a cap on the number of flights out of WSI. So, our assumptions that we would be treated differently to the residents near Sydney Airport have proved correct. And this is despite Minister King’s declaration that the Government had the needs of residents and the environment “front of mind” when deciding on the final flight paths. You can read the Minister’s release from 4 June here.

Establishment of an environmental monitoring program
The Society is pleased to see that the Minister King’s “authorisation also incorporates recommendations by the Minister for Environment that the airport lessee company, WSA Co, establish an environmental monitoring program to monitor the impacts of aircraft noise within and adjacent to the Greater Blue Mountains Area.” There are however, no details about how such a program should be established. It is the strong view of the Society that such a program must be conducted by an independent body to ensure that it is scientifically rigorous, comprehensive and long-term. Anything less risks simply supporting a view that unlimited noise has no impact on the natural environment nor the wildlife it contains.

The Society fought for the inclusion of this recommendation both at Federal Government level and via the Senate Hearing into aircraft noise and its impacts on regional communities in 2024. You can read our submissions and statements on the Society website here.

Write to Minister King demanding that this environmental monitoring program be independent and scientifically rigorous. Minister King’s email address is: Minister.King@mo.infrastructure.gov.au.

Preliminary flight paths
You can view the preliminary flight paths on the WSI website (https://www.wsiflightpaths.gov.au) by selecting the noise tool tab on the lower left hand side of the page. There is a tutorial on the page so you can learn how to use the tool. You will see that is all modes of runway operation, during both daytime and night-time, the aircraft fly directly over the Blue Mountains wilderness areas of the GBMWHA. The noise will greatly diminish the wilderness experience of people using the park, will impact fauna particularly in protected areas close to the airport, and the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Area.

Remember when viewing the altitudes of the aircraft, the altitude given on the noise tool is height above the runway at WSI which is at 750ft. The altitude shown may not be the height above landscapes in the Blue Mountains. For example, the noise tool shows the aircraft’s altitude at Mt Solitary will be 13300ft, but Mt Solitary itself has an altitude of 3,120 ft, so the aircraft will only be 10,180 ft above Mt Solitary.

WSI Master Plan
Also released during the past month is the WSI Master Plan (https://www.wsimasterplan.com.au/) which is open for public comment until 2 September 2025. There is a link on the page so that you can share your feedback, including uploading files.

Please take the time to have a look. The Society will provide guidance on its website for writing submissions to this master plan - check this out! Submission writing guide. If you have any questions, feel free to email the Presidnet at president@bluemountains.org.au.

The Senate Inquiry Report into the impact of aircraft noise was released on 27 November 2024. You can access the Report here: https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/reportsen/RB000436/toc_pdf/Impactandmitigationofaircraftnoise.pdf

The Senate has recognised the importance of the natural environment adjacent to the WSI and the fact that there is potential for the noise associated with the aircraft flight paths to have a detrimental effect on the native animals. They also acknowledged the great concern that local residents have for broader adverse impacts on the World Heritage Area and the importance that UNESCO places on the Federal Government’s responsibility to mitigate any adverse impacts.

The two recommendations that most closely relate to our GBMWHA and the adjacent protected areas (such as Burragorang State Conservation Area) are Recommendation 1 and Recommendation 10 (see below).

In its submissions and letters to Ministers, the Society has particularly emphasized the importance of both collecting baseline data about the ambient noise levels in these natural areas, and the species of birds and other animals present in these areas to enable an assessment of any adverse impact after the airport becomes operational AND then design and implement plans to mitigate any negative impacts.

The Senate Inquiry’s report fails to address the power imbalance between the for-profit aviation industry and the communities -both wilderness and human - whose health are adversely affected by aircraft the noise.

There are no recommendations for any restrictions on the massive growth of the aviation industry and its accompanying noise and pollution such as flight caps or curfews. By 2033 the number of aircraft movements for WSI annually is predicted to be 81,000 which is on average one movement every 5 minutes many of which are over the World Heritage Wilderness. By 2055, this number will be 226,000 movements annually which is about one flight every 2 minutes.

The Society will continue to advocate for the rights of the World Heritage Area.

Recommendation 1: 2.80 The committee recommends that the conditions for approval of the Western Sydney Airport include a requirement for the Western Sydney Airport Corporation to study the impact of its flights on Australian native species.

Recommendation 10:4.64 The committee recommends that the Australian Government moves Australia's flight path design principles towards an altitude based priorities approach—with a view to prioritising minimising noise for communities, and for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and National Parks (below a certain altitude). The Government should conduct an expert review to establish what altitudes should be set for Australian conditions.

The EIS currently sits with the Federal Minister for the Environment for her consideration and recommendations.

Write to Minister Plibersek urgently to tell her to adopt the Senate Inquiry’s Recommendation 1 and Recommendation 10 (details above).

Demand Western Sydney Airport Co establish an independent, scientifically rigorous program of monitoring of the soundscape across the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Data needs to be collected about the ambient noise level at various locations including remote areas, and the species of animals, particularly birds, that are currently present in those same areas. This needs to happen before the opening of the airport and continue after the airport becomes operational.

Demand that flight path design principles are implemented that minimize noise for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks, including the GBMWHA.

Write to Minister King telling her also to adopt these same recommendations as part of the conditions imposed on the approval of the EIS.

Send a copy of your letters to MP Susan Templeman.

Email addresses:

Environment Minister Plibersek: Minister.Plibersek@dcceew.gov.au
Infrastructure Minister King: Minister.King@mo.infrastructure.gov.au
MP Susan Templeman: susan.templeman.mp@aph.gov.au

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The proposed flight paths from Western Sydney International airport will fly low over the southern sections of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (GBMWHA) which includes declared wilderness areas. They will also fly low over the adjoining Burragorang State Conservation Area, lying 13 km from the airport, and Lake Burragorang (Sydney’s drinking water).

• The negative impact the noise from the aircraft overflights will have on the wildlife, particularly birds, and which will increase as the airport becomes busier. International research data clearly demonstrates the negative effect of high levels of noise on avian communities, which then impacts the whole habitat. There is no comparable research on noise impacts on Australian ecosystems or species, and there is no scientifically valid data included in the EIS for species of fauna occurring in the GBMWHA that might be impacted.
• The loss of visual amenity and natural quiet of the GBMWHA as aircraft fly over, particularly over Kangara-Boyd National Park, the Jamison Valley, the Blue Labyrinth, and the scenic tourist attractions around the escarpment at Katoomba and Echo Point.

• No flights under 30,000 ft over the GBMWHA in line with other countries' standard for World Heritage.
• Monitoring of the noise impacts of flights once they start flying from WSI.
• A whole of Sydney Basin design of flight paths for those from both Kingsford Smith Airport, WSI and the smaller airports.
• Night-time curfew
• Long-term operating plan
• Cap on aircraft movements

The Society has:

• Submitted a response to the EIS for draft Flight Paths in Jan 2024
• Submitted a response to the Senate Inquiry into the impact of aircraft noise on regional communities 2024
• Submitted a response to the proposed alterations to RRO (Reciprocal Runway Operations) flight path changes August 2024
• As witnesses, attended the Senate Hearing on 9 August 2024 at Penrith and the Senate Hearing in Canberra on 20 Sept as members of the public.
• Met with MP Susan Templeman, MP Trish Doyle, Senator Matt Canavan (Chair of the Senate Inquiry), and personnel from Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King’s office.
• Worked with RAWSA, the western Sydney Residents Flight Path Coalition in forming strategies and meeting with politicians and others, producing and distributing flyers.
• Met with CEO Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute to discuss plans regarding potential effects on GBMWHA.
• Raised the issue of airport noise in Society members’ meetings.
• Published information in Hut News and eblasts.

We have meetings scheduled with:

• The CEO of Western Sydney Airport Co and representatives of Department of Infrastructure
• University of Western Sydney researchers to discuss data collection and monitoring of noise and its effects on wildlife (in particular, birds)

We will Request a meeting with Environment Minister Plibersek.

• Write to both our Local Member MP Susan Templeman and the Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King to tell them that the World Heritage Area is important to you, and you want it protected from the negative effects of aircraft noise.
• Remind them that the Australian Government has a duty to protect this UNESCO listed natural area
• Remind them also that visitors from around the world come to the Blue Mountains to experience the beauty of this expansive wilderness. Our international reputation will be tarnished by low-flying aircraft over this iconic place.
• Check out the flyer on the RAWSA website as well for further hints about what to put in your letter. (https://www.birdsnotboeings.com/contact-your-local-member)