Kempsey Shire Council is undertaking a review of its Fly Neighbourly Advice (FNA) – the guidelines that help ensure aircraft operations around Kempsey Airport are carried out with consideration for local residents.

What is Fly Neighbourly Advice?

The FNA is a set of voluntary guidelines that encourage responsible flying practices around Kempsey Airport, with a strong focus on noise mitigation. Kempsey Airport’s FNA includes guidelines on circuit training hours of operation, engine ground running, simulated engine failures and altitude, and identifies noise sensitive areas around the airport.

In 2019, Kempsey Shire Council developed the Fly Neighbourly Advice (FNA) as part of a broader Noise Management Plan for Kempsey Airport. The initiative was driven by growing community concerns about increasing aircraft activity and its impact on local amenity. At that time, aircraft movements at Kempsey Airport had surged to around 30,000, predominantly due to increased circuit training activity. To inform the plan, Council conducted extensive community consultation and a detailed noise monitoring study at 17 locations across the shire over an eight-week period. The findings highlighted the need for voluntary guidelines to encourage pilots to adopt quieter flying practices, particularly over noise-sensitive and residential areas. The FNA was introduced as a key recommendation, aiming to reduce aircraft noise impacts while maintaining essential aviation services. Movements have decreased substantially since, returning to around 6,000 movement per annum, with minimal noise complaints received by Council in recent years.

Kempsey’s Fly Neighbourly Advice is published in the En-route Supplement Australia (ERSA), an official publication that contains information essential for flight planning and for pilots during flight. It is important to note that the Fly Neighbourly Advice are guidelines for operators only. Council is unable to enforce operating procedures at Kempsey Airport, with pilots retaining authority on the control of their aircraft, in accordance with CASA procedures.

Why Are We Reviewing It?

Having confirmed our commitment to continue the operation of Kempsey Airport in 2024 through the Airport Feasibility Review (refer to Kempsey Airport's future assured - Kempsey Shire Council working with the Macleay Valley community for more information), it is now time to review the effectiveness and relevance of our Fly Neighbourly Advice.

How You Can Be Involved

Council is holding two workshops, led by independent Aviation consultants, Aviation Projects on Monday 14 April 2025, please RSVP via email to ksc@kempsey.nsw.gov.au and let us know which session you would like to attend, before close of business on Friday 11 April 2025.

Aircraft Operators Workshop:

Time: 9:30am

Location: Kempsey Shire Council, 22 Tozer Street, West Kempsey, Committee Room.

Community Workshop:

Time: 11:30am

Location: Kempsey Shire Council, 22 Tozer Street, West Kempsey, Committee Room.

Submissions

Council is inviting submissions on the Fly Neighbourly Advice throughout April 2025.

Submissions can be made either by email to ksc@kempsey.nsw.gov.au, handed into our customer service counter or mailed to:

The General Manager

Kempsey Shire Council

PO Box 3078

West Kempsey NSW 2440

Important Note: Submissions may be made publicly available. If no valid contact details are provided, then the submission is treated as anonymous, and no further acknowledgement or project update/s can be provided to the person making the submission.

The exhibition period for these documents and submission entry will close, close of business Wednesday 30 April 2025