MCU12/0012 Objections to acoustic report for Noosa Quad Bike Tours

If a Honda     (4Stroke) TRX 420 at 15m measure at 82 dB(A) in the Palmer Report for Peter Gates
NUMINBAH VALLEY, how is it possible that 12 Kymko 300 quad bikes at 10m measure at 74.2 dB(A)?


If the quad bikes were modified to reduce the noise level and meet the standards, why weren’t the

modifications to the bikes identified in the report, especially if the condition of approval would be based on

this? By omitting any details about the bike’s modifications in any way, this raises serious questions of

transparency of the Moore report provided by the applicant. As you can see the only reference to the bike is

quite ambiguous and infers that there will be other models of bikes used by the operation:

    "On Wednesday 18 April 2012 David Moore & Associates Pty Ltd conducted a noise assessment of the

    quad bike to be used for the tours, namely a Kymco MXU 300 quad bike with automatic transmission
    and a 270cc engine. This assessment was conducted with the quad bike being ridden around the

    tesUtraining circuit, together with a background noise assessment"


5. Recovery Vehicle Noise

The Kawasaki Mule recovery vehicle was not tested for noise impact on site and was not included in

calculations in the Moore report with regards to noise levels.



6. Noise impact on local residents along Tablelands Rd

Due to the quad bike tour taking place outside the boundaries for over’ 75% of the time, that being along

Tablelands Road and the Woondum National Park, it would be quite reasonable and fair to argue that the

consideration of noise impact upon local residents should also have been considered and included in this

assessment as this is part of the whole business activity proposed by the applicant.


It is arguably unreasonable for the Council Planning and Development Department, who have a ’statutory

responsibility’ as managers of information to provide a real and ’not illusory’ process of assessment and
scrutiny of this proposal, especially with full council knowledge that the tour will take place outside of

people’s homes and properties. It is clear to all concerned parties that this is the main part of the activity and

disregarding this aspect for an acoustic assessment would ’effectively result in the community being

misinformed as to the impact of noise by this proposal and of the community’s prospects of

opposing the proposal.’ 1


7. The characteristics of the local environment to focus noise and through atmospheric effects

to diffract sound back onto local areas.

If it was provided by Palmer Acoustics that:

"The Numinbah valley could be described as a pristine acoustic environment. The valley in effect encloses

the proposed ATV park and will result in reflections that will ensure that sound from this proposed use will be

clearly audible in the region. In particular at times of temperature inversions (increasing temperature with
altitude   usually in early cool mornings) the effect will be to focus ATV noise back into the valley ensuring
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potential audibility up to 2.5 km away around the valley. Such inversions can increase the noise levels
by 10 to 15 dB at distances of more than 1km."2 Then it would be fair and reasonable to assume, being in a
similar acoustic environment, that the Cooran Tablelands have a similar acoustic qualities and range of noise

over   greater distances.

1. Referenced from Gates & Ors 11 Gold Coast City Council & Ors [2011J 120 Section 6

2. MCU 201100604 Submission PGates to GCCC 10 May 2012




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