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The airport argued its decision to change to a north-south runway was due to updated wind modelling showing a greater number of flights could arrive and depart if built in this direction.

“We know noise impacts are a concern for communities,” said Mr Strambi, who argued a third runway at Melbourne Airport was essential. Mr Strambi said last month that he hoped to have a firm decision on which runway would be built within three months.

Mr Strambi said his organisation’s challenge as the airport operator was “to balance the fact we operate in a local community and environment with our obligations to deliver the nationally significant infrastructure Victoria requires”.

Noise levels at Tullamarine have grown dramatically in the past two decades, with 246,000 planes taking off or landing there last year, up from 157,000 in 1999.

Had the planned new runway been built in an east-west direction, suburbs to the airport's east including Westmeadows, Gladstone Park and Jacana would have seen an increase in flights over their homes.

Some residents to both the south and east of the airportsaid state and federal governments should insist more flights go to Avalon airport, 55 kilometres south-west of Melbourne, instead of just allowing Australian Pacific Airports Corporation to continue expanding Tullamarine.

They also said a new international airfield in Melbourne's south-east, floated by the Victorian government early this decade, should be considered with greater urgency.

Hannah Robertson is spokeswoman for the newly formed residents association Melbourne Airport Community Action Group. It is opposed to the runway expansion.

Ms Robertson and her group believes many people in suburbs surrounding Melbourne Airport don't fully understand how much extra noise a third runway will bring.

“There are a number of schools, kinders, and childcare and aged-care facilities already affected by aircraft noise,” Ms Robertson said, in a statement from her group. “A third runway in either orientation will impact many more.”

The group also argues Melbourne Airport was surrounded by established areas of housing that pre-dated the airport. All would be heavily affected by noise and traffic congestion from an expanded airport, she said.

Ms Robertson said it was obvious more use should be made of Avalon Airport instead of allowing Australian Pacific Airports Corporation to keep enlarging Melbourne Airport. “Better utilising Avalon will distribute the noise impacts and traffic congestion,” she said.

Melbourne Airport started “workshops” for residents this week, the first of several it is staging until July. The Age attended one meeting this week but was told media was not allowed in.

Melbourne Airport opened for international flights in 1970 and was privatised in 1997 by the Howard government. Every five years, federal laws dictate that it must publish a master plan that must be signed off by the infrastructure and transport minister. Nationals MP and deputy prime minister Michael McCormack is the current minister.