ANEF (Australian Noise Exposure Forecast)
ANEF is the endorsed aircraft noise contour around AU airports. Residential is generally refused inside the 20 or 25 ANEF contour. Why it matters at lot purchase.
Ask Chalkline about this →ANEF is the Australian Noise Exposure Forecast: a formally endorsed contour map predicting aircraft noise exposure around an airport, expressed as an index value (e.g. 20, 25, 30) that combines the number, type, and timing of aircraft movements over a typical day. ANEF contours are the planning instrument used to control residential development around AU airports and are referenced by state planning instruments and AS 2021.
How it is used in planning
ANEF contours are pulled into council and state planning rules to control new residential development inside the higher-exposure contours. Across most jurisdictions:
- Inside 20 ANEF (some LEPs use 25), new residential is generally refused consent, or must meet specific acoustic-treatment requirements under AS 2021-2015 (verified 2026-05-28, per the live airport noise contours article).
- CDC and complying-development pathways in NSW (Housing Code under Codes SEPP 2008) are excluded on lots inside the relevant ANEF threshold, so the only path becomes a DA with acoustic justification.
- AS 2021 sets the indoor noise-level targets and acoustic-treatment requirements (glazing, ventilation, wall and roof construction) for buildings inside the contour.
ANEF vs ANEC
ANEF is the formally endorsed contour for the current airport master plan and flight paths. The lookalike ANEC (Australian Noise Exposure Concept) is the hypothetical or scenario version used during airport planning before a final ANEF is endorsed (for example, the Western Sydney Airport area uses ANEC contours pending final ANEF endorsement). State planning policies can refer to either; check which one the relevant instrument calls up.
Where it applies
Major airports with current ANEF contours include Sydney (Kingsford Smith), Western Sydney International (Badgerys Creek, ANEC interim), Melbourne (Tullamarine), Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Newcastle, and a long list of regional airports. The relevant contour for any lot is the one in the airport’s currently endorsed master plan, which can be updated as flight paths and movement forecasts change.
Why it matters
ANEF is one of the cheapest things to miss at lot purchase. A lot inside the 20 or 25 ANEF contour can mean refusal of consent, expensive AS 2021 acoustic treatments (double glazing, sealed ventilation, upgraded wall and roof), or both. The conveyancing certificate may or may not flag it; checking the current endorsed ANEF for the airport against the lot is part of the due-diligence checklist.
Also known as: Australian Noise Exposure Forecast, ANEF contour, aircraft noise contour.
Category: Planning / aircraft noise
Related
- Airport noise contours (ANEF, ANEC, N-contours, AS 2021)
- CDC (NSW complying development)
- Due-diligence checklist (residential lot)
See also
Last updated: 2026-05-28. Verified: 2026-05-28. Quarterly review for currency.