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

The Palmer Report has provided a fuller and more considered report and assessment of the ATVs upon the

environment which the Moore Report lacks.



Council Advice for a Proper Assessment:

We are concerned with the variations in advice by the council to the applicant in regards to an independent

noise assessment.


Originally Jack, you had formally advised Mr Marais on 4 April 2012 that the assessment had originally

provided was inadequate and required the following information, which appears you have extracted from an
email from Mr Rhian Davies, MEnvMan (Cleaner Production) BAppSci (Env Health), Environmental Officer,

SCRC:

      "Council considers this outstanding information to be a relevant community concern and it must be provided
      in order to objectively assess the impacts on adjacent noise sensitive premises. Therefore it is required

      the appli ant address this by engaging the services of a suitably qualified acoustic consultant to
                                                                                                    that may be
      prepare and submit a noise impact assessment addressing the potential noise impacts
      generated by the use (e.g. 12 quad bikes in operation at once, other noise sources such as patron
      noise and vehicles arriv ng and departing etc). Where potential impacts are identified which can be

      viably controlled, then the assessment must make recommendations for noise amelioration accordingly.
      This assessment must be prepared by a suitably qualified person and in accordance with the Ecoaccess

      Guideline Planning For Noise Control, the Environmental Protection (Noise)Policy 2008, the EPA Noise
      Measurement Manual and relevant Australian Standards, e.g. AS1055 series."



However Mr Moore has stated in his report:

      "In accordance with an emai/ from Rhian Davies, Environment Officer, Sunshine Coast RegiOnal

      Council, Noosa Quad Bike Tours are required to conduct a noise assessment of the quad bikes using
      the testltraining circuit at 2~8 Tablelands Road, Cooran, for up to 12 quad bikes, to determine noise

      impact at all of the nearby residences (located as detailed above)."

There appears a disparity between the initial instructions by Mr Davies as to what is required and what is

stated and acted upon by Mr Moore in his actual assessment and report. This raised many questions in our

community as to why there was such an apparent inconsistency in instructions by the council’s
environmental officer in th s assessment.



Summary
In summation of the Moore Report and the deficiencies that have been highlighted, we find the report

insufficient in its ability to adequately assess the noise impact of this MCU application that stands before

council for decision. We have no faith in this report as a community and any further assessments need to

address all issues presented within this letter. As it stands it is highly contestable not only by the community

but also by expert acoustic consultants. We thoroughly concur with Judge Newton in Gates & Ors v Gold

Coast City Council & Ors [2011J 120and its application to other relevant bodies:

"The assessing authority should not be relieved of its statutory responsibility to act as a manager of
information which affords the community a genuine and not an illusory ability to scrutinise
              "
applications.


Yours Sincerely

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