Some are sent bonkers by their neighbour's barking dog or the sound of honking car horns, for others it is the traffic in the sky that is driving them to distraction.

Traffic reporting helicopters have long aggravated East Melbourne residents – now fresh complaints are emerging from CBD apartment buildings close to busy helipads on the Yarra River.

Things get tense during major events. Docklands resident Todd Henderson said during the Portsea Polo this year he counted 81 different comings and goings from helicopters near his Docklands apartment, ferrying posh partygoers to the Mornington Peninsula.

"How can this be allowed?" he said. "When I'm on the phone it's impacting on discussions. The neighbours say they can't have their doors open and be watching television."

In response to lobbying from agitated residents, Melbourne City Council will now attempt to create "fly neighbourly agreements" with the city's key helicopter operators, with a hope noise nuisance can be reduced.

In the test of "who was there first", it is the helicopters that come out on top in the CBD – the helipad has been operating from Batman Park since at least 1996.

Microflite operates emergency and tourism charter helicopters from the North Wharf helipad, about 40 metres from the Flinders Wharf apartment building. But up until the middle of last year it was based at Batman Park opposite Crown Casino.

"We operated for 10 years completely noise-complaint free," general manager Rodney Higgins said.

Mr Higgins said he was concerned about complaints Microflite had received at its new site and was fully supportive of a fly neighbourly agreement negotiated with all CBD helicopter operators.

He said a growing city brought with it not only more residents, but also more tourism and a greater appetite for the type of charter services Microflite offers, such as daytrips to Daylesford, the Yarra Valley and the Twelve Apostles.

Melbourne City Council said while regulations require most helicopters and small aircraft to fly at a minimum of 1000 feet, the laws were "silent" on key issues such as flight paths, times of operation and minimum heights for hovering. Fly neighbourly agreements would be a voluntary measure "with shared goodwill essential to their success".

Council's transport chair Cathy Oke said the agreements could address flight hours, days of the week and criteria around urgency of flights. "For example – is there any way we can not operate at 6am on a Saturday?" she said.

"It's about giving some sort of power back to the residents about their liveability in the city and having everyone around the table talking is a good thing."

Mr Henderson said when he first moved into his Docklands apartment with his wife and two children six years ago, there were about one or two helicopter flights a week – now there are about five to 10 a day.

He said while he supported the fly neighbourly process, he did not believe it would stop the helicopters flying close to his home or reduce the number of flights each day. Ultimately, he says, the helipad should be moved.

In East Melbourne, residents are optimistic a voluntary agreement could reduce the number of helicopters hovering over the heritage suburb, sometimes for up to an hour, to get prime views of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and tennis courts.

"We asked the council to have a look at it because the federal authorities have been extremely unhelpful," East Melbourne Group president Murray Hohnen said. "They all pat us on the hand and say it's not really a problem that we can do anything about."

Federal Member for Melbourne, Adam Bandt, said he would press for federal laws regulating the airspace near people's house if flight operators and airports were not willing to address residents' concerns.

About 20 and 40 helicopters fly over Melbourne each day, according to Air Services Australia.

For more information on Melbourne City Council's proposed Fly Neighbourly Agreement visit council's website.