080620 FINAL PN 2896 eReport June 08 V1.pdf [As Published] · 132008.1128

                                                                  SUNRISE BEACH RETIREMENT VILLAGE
                                                                    GRASSTREE COURT, SUNRISE BEACH
                                                                           NOISE IMPACT ASSESSMENT


6.0      INTERMITTENT AND FLUCTUATING NOISE

         The development of the site includes several sources of intermittent and fluctuating noise that
         may impact on adjacent and internal noise sensitive areas:

          Service lane accesses for domestic vehicles;
          Outdoor dining at the café, Ground level Central Facilities Building.


6.1      Criteria

         The Sunshine Coast Regional Council’s Noosa Region’s codes do not have specific criteria for
         intermittent and fluctuating noise emissions. It is considered relevant to apply the Brisbane
         City Council ‘Noise Impact Assessment Planning Scheme Policy’ to assess day time
         intermittent and fluctuating noise emissions. The criterion for intermittent and fluctuating
         noise source from service lane and outdoor dining is pursuant to Section 6.2.1 of the NIAPSP,
         ‘Comparison of Like Parameters or Descriptors’. This methodology is used to assess noise
         during the day time (0700 – 2200).

         Under this criterion, the noise impacts at the façade of the building should not exceed the
         existing ambient noise levels by more than 3 dB(A). The parameter chosen for this
         assessment is average LAmax (0700 – 2200).

         Section 6.2.3 of NIAPSP offers the criteria of ‘Sleep awakenings’ to assess night time noise
         emissions. Further the Environmental Protection (Noise) Policy (EPP) provides guidance in
         relation to control of noise impacts, excluding air conditioners and outdoor refrigeration
         units, which are to be administered under the Environmental Protection Regulation 2005 Reprint
         No 5:

         The EPP does not state explicit criteria relating to intermittent noise; however guidelines for
         assessing noise impact and criteria for reasonable and unreasonable noise are stated in the
         Users Guide to the Noise Policy. The guidelines in the User’s Guide have been based on
         World Health Organization guidelines and some Australian research. The guidelines
         recommended are to achieve or maintain:
              A continuous average (LAeq) level of 35 dB(A) indoors in a bedroom at night
                 (measured over the night-time period); and
              For good sleep, a maximum level of 45 dB(A) to 50 dB(A) should not be heard
                 indoors more than 10 to 15 times a night.

         The research concerning the effect of maximum noise levels of 45 to 50 dB(A) and number of
         events is not complete and there is continuing discussion amongst people involved in
         acoustics about the application of such criteria. This is because human response to noise
         varies significantly from person to person, as to their adjustment to new noise sources. The
         maximum level does not mean a person is awakened at these levels, but that sleep may be
         disturbed. People may awaken at a higher maximum level of around 55 dB(A) in a quiet
         environment.

         From this we conclude:
             A reasonable level of acoustic amenity is achieved by a design goal of a measured
                maximum level of close to LAmax 45 to 50 dB(A) inside a bedroom, with an average
                maximum LAeq level of close to 40 dB(A).
             A high level of amenity is achieved by noise levels below 35 dB(A) LAeq and this
                lower level is recommended should a high level of internal amenity be required.

PN 2896 Report June 08 V1.doc| 20 June 2008                                                   6 of 8