Tony Sticklen lives under Brisbane's two flight paths and says day in, day out, the noise is relentless.
"On one day, almost overnight, it was like flicking a switch – we had 30 to 40 flights go over the top of our house without any idea that was going to happen," Mr Sticklen said.
"We can get 10 flights every 15 minutes during peak hour and that goes on for three hours.
"That's almost continuous noise and when they're gone, it's only then you realise how much stress it was putting on you."
Mr Sticklen, who lives in Annerley in Brisbane's southside, said it has taken a toll on his mental health.
"The amenity of our family home has just been destroyed," he said.
"I don't enjoy coming home … I wake up at 6:00am, there's 20 airplanes in quick succession taking off over Brisbane.
Julie Van Oosten, who lives at the nearby suburb of Moorooka, said the return of international travel had led to a significant increase in air traffic.
"Basically, every arrival that comes into Brisbane when there's north-easterly winds, flies over our house on either of those paths," Ms Van Oosten said.
"Whether the flights are coming from Los Angeles, Europe or domestic flights, we get every single plane, which can be relentless.
"It affects my concentration, I don't spend as much time in the garden or outside as I used to, I'm disconnected from my kids and my husband … it's really impacting how we live in our home."
Residents vow to take issue to ballot box
Noise complaints skyrocketed after Brisbane Airport opened its new $1.1 billion parallel runway in July 2020 and implemented new flight paths, which saw hundreds of low-flying planes directed over 169 inner-city and western suburbs.
Last year, an investigation by the national aircraft noise watchdog found the body responsible for managing our skies, Airservices Australia, failed to "engage effectively" and provide "full and complete" information to affected communities regarding potential for noise.
Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance spokesman David Diamond said residents were still dealing with "unreasonable" aircraft noise pollution.
"The consultation was poorly done, the facts and figures were incorrect, and we've had two different independent groups validate our claims that the second runway did not consult [the community] and the design is not what we expected," Mr Diamond said.
Mr Diamond said plane noise will likely be front of mind among many voters in the inner-city seats of Griffith, covering areas such as Bulimba, Hamilton, Hawthorne and Morningside, and Brisbane, which encompasses the CBD and inner-northern suburbs.
"We know there's better ways this [flight paths] can be designed," he said.
"Whoever the incoming government is, they need to address this issue."
Parties promise to do more to combat plane noise
Aircraft noise concerns are being addressed by the Coalition, Labor and the Greens ahead of the federal election.
Greens candidate for Griffith, Max Chandler-Mather said his party's proposal was simple.
"It's copying a lot of the flight noise mitigation in place at Sydney Airport," he said.
"We're talking a curfew from 10:00pm to 6:00am, a cap on flights so 45 flights an hour, which we think is very reasonable and a new, long-term operating plan that would ensure more flights take off and arrive over the bay.
"All we're asking for is what Sydney Airport already has — if Sydney Airport can handle it and still be a major international destination, then Brisbane Airport can handle it as well."
The seat of Griffith is held by Labor's Terri Butler by a margin of 2.9 per cent.
Ms Butler said Labor would establish the existing community forum as a permanent and independent community voice to help address residents' concerns.
"The [LNP] government's been absolutely hopeless on this issue, to be frank," she told ABC Radio Brisbane.
"We want a permanent, standing community forum with real teeth, not something that is underneath the [Brisbane] Airport Corporation, but with a direct ear into the infrastructure department, and therefore the minister."
"That's what we'll deliver … nothing would change under the Greens party because they cannot get anything done [in parliament]," she said.
A Labor spokesperson told the ABC that Labor would also commission a new white paper, which would take a "detailed and coordinated" look into national aviation policy.
It is against introducing an airport curfew.
The LNP's Griffith candidate, Olivia Roberts, said the LNP has already committed to a complete redrawing of Brisbane's flight paths over 18 months.
"Aircraft noise is one of the most significant issues that gets raised with me frequently … I've done a lot in this space," Ms Roberts said.
"In April, we announced the flight paths would be ripped up and redrawn … I have done my absolute best to communicate that with the community who continue to be plagued by unreasonable aircraft noise.
"I have dealt with aircraft noise for the 10 years I've lived in this electorate so I can understand how people feel about it … so I'm pleased I've been able to do something about that noise."
An LNP spokesperson said the party also supports implementing an airport curfew and a long-term operating plan.
Candidates for the seat of Brisbane, held by the LNP's Trevor Evans by a margin of 4.9 per cent, have also faced questions throughout the campaign about how they will address aircraft noise in the electorate.
Mr Evans said he has worked with Transport and Infrastructure Minister Barnaby Joyce to establish an independent community forum, which resulted in a 12-month trial directing more flights over Moreton Bay off Brisbane.
He said it would "continue to require an experienced hand" to find a resolution.
Brisbane Greens candidate Stephen Bates said the Greens were the only party proposing real, legislative change.
Labor's candidate for Brisbane, Madonna Jarrett, promised to take appropriate and measured steps and consult with the community to "get the job done".
Airport against curfew and flight cap
In response to an interim report by global air traffic consultants Trax International, Airservices Australia has been told to go back to the drawing board and redesign Brisbane's airspace to ensure that more flights go over the bay.
In a statement, it told the ABC it was "committed to considering opportunities for improved noise outcomes for the Brisbane community" however "curfews and regulatory changes" were not within its remit.
Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) is opposed to a night-time curfew and a cap on aircraft movements.
BAC told the ABC, as the only 24-hour major international airport on Australia's east coast, the introduction of a curfew would result in a "significant economic hit" and "inconvenience to both business and leisure travellers".
It said a curfew-style noise abatement measure is already in place for Brisbane's new runway, with no departures or arrivals over the community allowed between 10:00pm and 6:00am.
Aircraft noise is a Commonwealth responsibility and finding a long-term resolution, which meets community needs, will be a key focus and challenge for whoever wins government on May 21.
No matter what the federal election outcome is, campaigners will continue fighting for change – hoping there are clearer skies ahead.
"This is not about turning off the airport, this is about saying what is designed is the best in the world for noise abatement for communities," Mr Diamond said.
"We need leadership and we need whoever is in the government to take action.
"It's a balancing act — there's going to be compromises and it's going to take time but I'm confident we can get there, with trust and transparency."
