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PACIFIC NATIONAL SPOTSWOOD MAINTENANCE ... - Hobsons Bay

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Marshall Day Acoustics Pty Ltd<br />

A.C.N. 006 675 403<br />

6 Gipps Street<br />

Collingwood 3066<br />

Victoria Australia<br />

Telephone: +61 3 9416 1855<br />

Facsimile : +61 3 9416 1231<br />

mdamelb@marshallday.com.au<br />

www.marshallday.com<br />

REPORT No.:<br />

2006232 001 R05<br />

PROJECT:<br />

<strong>PACIFIC</strong> <strong>NATIONAL</strong> <strong>SPOTSWOOD</strong> <strong>MAINTENANCE</strong> CENTRE<br />

PLANNING SCHEME AMENDMENT C33<br />

PRECINCTS 16 AND 17 NOISE ASSESSMENT<br />

CLIENT:<br />

Clayton Utz<br />

333 Collins Street<br />

Melbourne Vic 3000<br />

ATTENTION:<br />

Ms Megan Schroor<br />

DATE: 28 February 2007<br />

MARSHALL DAY ACOUSTICS<br />

Peter Fearnside<br />

Managing Director<br />

Christophe Delaire<br />

Consultant<br />

ISO 9001<br />

Lic QEC23174<br />

SAI Global


TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />

Page No.<br />

1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................................1<br />

2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION...............................................................................................................................................................1<br />

2.1 Site location<br />

2.2 Site operations<br />

2.3 Planning scheme zoning<br />

2.4 Planning Amendment C33<br />

3.0 NOISE CONSIDERATIONS ..................................................................................................................................................3<br />

4.0 NOISE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA ........................................................................................................................................4<br />

4.1 SEPP N-1<br />

4.2 Sleep disturbance<br />

5.0 NOISE MEASUREMENTS....................................................................................................................................................5<br />

5.1 Background noise levels<br />

5.2 SMC noise emissions<br />

6.0 NOISE ASSESSMENT...........................................................................................................................................................7<br />

6.1 Precinct 16 - Current conditions<br />

6.2 Precinct 16 - Future conditions<br />

6.3 Precinct 17<br />

7.0 NOISE CONTROL OPTIONS ................................................................................................................................................12<br />

7.1 SEPP N-1 – Precinct 16<br />

7.2 SEPP N-1 – Precinct 17<br />

7.3 Sleep disturbance<br />

8.0 CONCLUSIONS......................................................................................................................................................................14<br />

APPENDIX A<br />

APPENDIX B<br />

APPENDIX C<br />

APPENDIX D<br />

APPENDIX E<br />

ACOUSTIC TERMINOLOGY<br />

SITE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH<br />

SMC OPERATIONS PROVIDED BY <strong>PACIFIC</strong> <strong>NATIONAL</strong><br />

PRECINCT 16 - NOISE CONTOURS<br />

PRECINCT 17 - NOISE CONTOURS


1.0 INTRODUCTION<br />

The Pacific National Spotswood Maintenance Centre (SMC) operates from<br />

561-569 Melbourne Road, Spotswood. The facility provides engineering maintenance<br />

services to Pacific National 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.<br />

Marshall Day Acoustics Pty Ltd has been commissioned by Clayton Utz, on behalf of<br />

Pacific National, to provide an assessment of the acoustic implications of the proposed<br />

Planning Scheme Amendment C33 on the SMC operations at Spotswood.<br />

As part of the Planning Scheme Amendment C33, it is proposed to incorporate the<br />

<strong>Hobsons</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> Industrial Land Management Strategy dated 2006 into the Planning<br />

Scheme. This would provide a strategic basis to rezone an adjacent parcel of land to<br />

the south of the existing rail line known as Precinct 16, currently zoned Industrial Use<br />

3 (IN3Z), to Residential 1 Use (R1Z). This triangular shaped parcel of land is generally<br />

bounded by Stephenson Street to the west and Blackshaws Road to the south.<br />

The Planning Scheme Amendment C33 also identifies an adjacent parcel of land to the<br />

north-east of the SMC site known as part Precinct 17 as a strategic redevelopment<br />

site, which could potentially be used for residential development. This triangular<br />

shaped parcel of land is bounded by Birmingham Street to the north, Melbourne Road<br />

to the east and the SMC site to the south.<br />

Any future residential development within Precincts 16 and 17 may affect operations<br />

at the SMC site by constraining allowable noise emissions.<br />

Acoustic terminology used throughout this report is detailed in Appendix A.<br />

2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION<br />

2.1 Site location<br />

The SMC site is located at 561-569 Melbourne Road, Spotswood and is bounded by the<br />

following:<br />

• Residential properties across Birmingham Street to the north<br />

• Residential properties across Birmingham Street beyond disused land (Precinct 17)<br />

to the north-east<br />

• Melbourne Road to the east<br />

• Residential properties along Blackshaws Road across the railway line and beyond<br />

disused land (Precinct 16) to the south<br />

• Industrial properties to the west.<br />

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2.2 Site operations<br />

The SMC is a facility of national significance that maintains all 120 premium NR Class<br />

locomotives in Australia, with one locomotive scheduled for service daily in addition to<br />

breakdowns and repairs to NR locomotives. Works occur on site 24 hours a day, 7 days<br />

a week and 365 days per year.<br />

Locomotives arriving at the site enter from the north-western corner directly from the<br />

freight train line. The locomotives stand at the north-western corner of the site and<br />

wait for a systematic changeover to occur. It is common for a second locomotive to be<br />

waiting, idling on the exit line adjacent to the railway line, after its routine service<br />

and/or repair, washing and testing has been completed.<br />

The SMC employs staff on 12 hour shifts from 0800-2000hrs (8:00am-8:00pm) and<br />

2000-0800hrs (8:00pm-8:00am).<br />

The site consists of three buildings as follows:<br />

• The main building located to the east of the site includes the Main Workshop, the<br />

boiler room and administration offices. The Main Workshop can accommodate up<br />

to 6 locomotives at any one time<br />

• The shed located to the north of the site is the Wash Facility where locomotives are<br />

cleaned after maintenance<br />

• The shed located to the west of the site is the Load Test Cell. The locomotives are<br />

tested in this shed before and after maintenance.<br />

Occasionally, locomotives are also tested outside the Load Test Cell, usually to the<br />

south of the Wash Facility and/or to the south and west of the Main Workshop.<br />

However, it is our understanding that these outdoor tests do not occur after 2000hrs<br />

(8:00pm).<br />

An aerial photograph of the site is provided in Appendix B.<br />

2.3 Planning scheme zoning<br />

The SMC site, including the vehicle access way, is zoned Industrial 1 (IN1Z).<br />

The vacant land to the north is presently zoned Mixed Use (MUZ) and beyond this,<br />

from the north side of Birmingham Street extending as far as the northern municipal<br />

boundary at the Westgate Freeway, the land is included in a Residential 1 Zone (R1Z).<br />

The railway land abutting the south-western boundary of the site is zoned Public Use 4<br />

(Transport). Land immediately abutting the railway land to the southern side of the site<br />

on either side of Sutton Street extending west to Stephenson Street is zoned Industrial<br />

3 (IN3Z) except for a small pocket of Residential 1 zoned land that abuts the northern<br />

side of Blackshaws Road and the southern end of the east side of Stephenson Street.<br />

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Figure 1: Zoning surrounding the SMC site<br />

2.4 Planning Amendment C33<br />

Precinct 16 is a large site that is included in an Industrial 3 Zone located to the south<br />

west of the SMC site, separated only by the heavily used east/west freight rail line.<br />

Part of the land, known as the former Caltex site, is currently undergoing<br />

rehabilitation.<br />

The Planning Scheme Amendment C33 proposes the incorporation of the Council<br />

revised Industrial Land Management Strategy dated 2006 which seeks to provide a<br />

strategic basis for rezoning Precinct 16 (identified as a Strategic Development Area)<br />

from an Industrial 3 Zone to a Residential 1 Zone.<br />

Pursuant to the revised Hobson’s <strong>Bay</strong> Industrial Land Management Strategy dated<br />

October 2006, that part of Precinct 17 which is currently included in a mixed Use Zone<br />

is to maintain its current zoning. However, any viable use of the site is to recognise<br />

and support the ongoing use of the SMC and provide for noise buffers and attenuation<br />

measures.<br />

3.0 NOISE CONSIDERATIONS<br />

Noise emissions from the SMC facility are governed by permissible noise limits set<br />

under State Environment Protection Policy (Control of Noise from Commerce, Industry<br />

and Trade) No. N-1 (SEPP N-1). Compliance with SEPP N-1 is mandatory in the State<br />

of Victoria.<br />

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The potential development of residential properties closer to or even adjacent to the<br />

SMC site introduces a new noise-sensitive area and the SMC will be obliged to meet<br />

the noise limits set by SEPP N-1 at these new properties. Currently, the restrictions<br />

placed on the maintenance facility are minor and do not restrict the operations of the<br />

facility.<br />

If any residential development were to proceed, it is possible that the noise emissions<br />

from the SMC site may significantly exceed the SEPP N-1 noise limits at any<br />

residential property. If the exceedance was significant, this would require the SMC to<br />

dramatically alter their operations or install extensive and expensive noise control<br />

treatments to ensure compliance with SEPP N-1.<br />

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the SEPP N-1 noise limits would be<br />

achieved at residential properties within Precinct 16 if it was to be rezoned as a<br />

Residential 1 Zone.<br />

A further purpose of this study is to determine any extent on any buffer which ought<br />

to be provided on that part of Precinct 17 to the north-east, in recognition of the<br />

ongoing use of the SMC as a significant industrial site.<br />

4.0 NOISE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA<br />

4.1 SEPP N-1<br />

State Environment Protection Policy (Control of Noise from Commerce, Industry and<br />

Trade) No. N-1 (SEPP N-1) provides criteria for control of noise in the Melbourne<br />

metropolitan area for industrial and commercial premises.<br />

SEPP N-1 also covers noise emissions from commercial vehicles (such as trains and<br />

forklifts) associated with the facility when moving within the site.<br />

The assessment of noise emissions under SEPP N-1 is based on the calculation of a<br />

noise limit at a receiver position, taking into account the land use in the surrounding<br />

area and the ambient noise level. Once a noise limit is established, the noise emission<br />

is predicted. The noise emission from the site, when corrected for duration and<br />

character, is referred to as the 'effective noise level'. The predicted effective noise<br />

level is compared to the noise limit to determine if noise controls are required to<br />

comply with SEPP N-1. The effective noise level (L eff<br />

) is the adjusted Leq<br />

of the noise<br />

source or sources measured over a 30 minute period.<br />

The calculation of noise limits requires the calculation of a zoning level which is based<br />

on land use in the surrounding area. The zoning level is then adjusted appropriately,<br />

depending on the background noise level.<br />

SEPP N-1 separates the day into three different time periods - day, evening and night<br />

which are shown in Table 1.<br />

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Table 1<br />

SEPP N-1 time periods<br />

Period Day of week Time period<br />

Day Monday-Friday 0700-1800hrs<br />

Saturday 0700-1300hrs<br />

Evening Monday-Friday 1800-2200hrs<br />

Saturday 1300-2200hrs<br />

Sunday, Public 0700-2200hrs<br />

Holidays<br />

Night Monday-Sunday 2200-0700hrs<br />

4.2 Sleep disturbance<br />

Night-time noise emissions from the SMC may cause awakening reactions. When<br />

intrusive noise reaches certain levels largely independent of background noise, there is<br />

a potential for disturbance of sleep and possibly awakening if these activities occur<br />

during the night period between 2200-0700hrs (10:00pm-7:00am).<br />

A document published in May 1999 by the NSW EPA entitled Environmental Criteria<br />

for Road Traffic Noise has compared a number of sleep disturbance criteria and<br />

concluded the following:<br />

• Maximum internal noise levels below 50-55dBA are unlikely to cause awakening<br />

reactions<br />

• One or two noise events per night, with maximum internal noise levels of 65-<br />

70dBA, are not likely to affect health and well-being significantly.<br />

Based on these NSW EPA findings, a noise level of 60-65dBA outside an open bedroom<br />

window would be unlikely to cause awakening reactions.<br />

5.0 NOISE MEASUREMENTS<br />

5.1 Background noise levels<br />

Background noise levels were measured at 13 Brunel Street, Spotswood. This location<br />

was chosen as representative of the nearest affected residential properties where<br />

ambient noise levels were not affected by any commercial or industrial noise<br />

emissions. Measured background noise levels are detailed in Table 2.<br />

Table 2<br />

Background noise levels<br />

Period Date Time Background noise level<br />

Day 6 October 2006 1430-1500hrs (2:30-3:00pm) 44dBA<br />

Evening 6 October 2006 2000-2030hrs (8:00-8:30pm) 46dBA<br />

Night 4 November 2006 0015-0045hrs (12:15-12:45am) 40dBA<br />

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The SEPP N-1 noise limits at any future residential properties to the south of the SMC<br />

site in Precinct 16 have been calculated based on this land being rezoned residential<br />

and are presented in Table 3.<br />

Table 3<br />

SEPP N-1 noise limits (based on land rezoned to residential) – South of SMC site<br />

Period Zoning level Background<br />

noise level<br />

Noise limit<br />

Day 52dBA 44dBA 52dBA<br />

Evening 46dBA 46dBA 49dBA<br />

Night 41dBA 40dBA 43dBA<br />

The SEPP N-1 noise limits at any future residential properties to the north of the SMC<br />

site in Precinct 17 based on the current zoning (mixed use zone) have been calculated<br />

and are presented in Table 4.<br />

Table 4<br />

SEPP N-1 noise limits (based on current zoning) – North of SMC site<br />

Period Zoning level Background<br />

noise level<br />

Noise limit<br />

Day 56dBA 44dBA 56dBA<br />

Evening 49dBA 46dBA 49dBA<br />

Night 44dBA 40dBA 44dBA<br />

5.2 SMC noise emissions<br />

An extensive noise survey of the activities at the SMC site was undertaken on 30<br />

August 2006 between 1100-1230hrs (11:00am-12:30pm). The results of this survey<br />

are presented in Table 5.<br />

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Table 5<br />

SMC site activities noise emissions<br />

Description Distance Noise level,<br />

L eq<br />

Noise level,<br />

L max<br />

Comments<br />

Stationary locomotive<br />

Notch 4<br />

30m 80dBA 87dBA<br />

Stationary locomotive<br />

30m 84dBA 85dBA<br />

Notch 8<br />

Pass-by locomotive<br />

17m 76dBA 88dBA<br />

at low speed<br />

Locomotive horn 17m - 105dBA Used when a locomotive<br />

enters or exits a shed<br />

Locomotive in Test Cell<br />

24m 73dBA 74dBA<br />

Notch 8, Doors open<br />

Test Cell A/C louvres 15m 66dBA 68dBA<br />

Washing compressor in<br />

8m 75dBA 76dBA<br />

Wash Facility<br />

Roller door alarm 2m 79dBA 81dBA Operates for a maximum<br />

of 3 minutes<br />

Forklift pass-by 5m 80dBA 86dBA<br />

6.0 NOISE ASSESSMENT<br />

Noise emissions from the SMC site at Precincts 16 and 17 were predicted using the<br />

proprietary sound level prediction software SoundPlan with the CONCAWE method.<br />

The CONCAWE method was originally described in The Propagation of Noise from<br />

Petroleum and Petrochemical Complexes to Neighbouring Communities (1981). While<br />

developed for the petrochemical industry, the method is generally applicable to<br />

environmental noise propagation.<br />

Environmental parameters such as temperature, wind speed and direction, fog and<br />

temperature inversions significantly influence the propagation of noise. The<br />

CONCAWE method deals explicitly with the influence of wind and the stability of the<br />

atmosphere. Neutral weather conditions (calm with no temperature inversions) were<br />

considered.<br />

For the purpose of the noise modelling, Pacific National has provided different<br />

scenarios for current and potential future operations of the SMC. These scenarios are<br />

detailed in a letter from Pacific National to Clayton Utz dated 31 January 2007 and<br />

presented in Appendix C.<br />

The scenarios are summarized in Table 6. All operations presented in Table 6 operate<br />

for a 30 minute period unless otherwise stated.<br />

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Table 6<br />

SMC operations scenarios provided by Pacific National<br />

Noise source<br />

All roller-door alarms to run<br />

once each for 3 minutes<br />

Half of the roller-door alarms<br />

to run once each for 3<br />

minutes<br />

One locomotive at Notch 8 in<br />

the operating Load Test Cell<br />

with doors closed<br />

One locomotive travelling<br />

from the Main Workshop to<br />

the north west of the site<br />

passing between the Load<br />

Test Cell and the Washing<br />

Facility<br />

Current operations<br />

Typical<br />

daily<br />

operation<br />

Day/evening shift<br />

One<br />

occurrence<br />

per month<br />

Potential future<br />

operations<br />

Typical<br />

daily<br />

operation<br />

One<br />

occurrence<br />

per month<br />

<br />

Evening/night<br />

shift<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

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Noise source<br />

One locomotive travelling<br />

from the Main Workshop to<br />

the north west of the site<br />

passing between the Load<br />

Test Cell and the Washing<br />

Facility<br />

One forklift moving<br />

continuously in the loading<br />

area to the south east of the<br />

Main Workshop<br />

Washing compressor<br />

operating in the Washing<br />

Facility<br />

One stationary locomotive at<br />

Notch 8 to the south of the<br />

Wash Facility<br />

One stationary locomotive at<br />

Notch 8 to the south of the<br />

Main Workshop<br />

Current operations<br />

Typical<br />

daily<br />

operation<br />

Day/evening shift<br />

One<br />

occurrence<br />

per month<br />

Potential future<br />

operations<br />

Typical<br />

daily<br />

operation<br />

One<br />

occurrence<br />

per month<br />

<br />

<br />

Evening/night<br />

shift<br />

<br />

<br />

15 minutes<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

For all scenarios, noise emissions from general maintenance work within the Main<br />

Workshop have been considered negligible compared to the other noise sources.<br />

6.1 Precinct 16 - Current conditions<br />

Predicted noise levels throughout Precinct 16 for the current conditions are presented<br />

in Table 7 for the Day/Evening and Evening/Night shifts.<br />

Table 7<br />

Precinct 16 predicted noise levels – Current conditions<br />

Shift<br />

Predicted noise<br />

levels at residences<br />

Applicable SEPP N-1<br />

noise limit<br />

Compliance<br />

Exceedance<br />

Day/Evening<br />

Typical daily operation<br />

34-52dBA 49dBA No Up to 3dBA<br />

Day/Evening<br />

One occurrence per month<br />

44-80dBA 49dBA No Up to 31dBA<br />

Evening/Night 32-50dBA 43dBA No Up to 7dBA<br />

Noise contours for the current conditions are presented in Figures D1 to D3 of<br />

Appendix D.<br />

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Sleep disturbance<br />

Maximum noise emissions from the night activities at the SMC site have been<br />

predicted at Precinct 16 and are presented in Table 8 together with the NSW EPA sleep<br />

disturbance criteria.<br />

Table 8<br />

Maximum predicted noise levels in Precinct 16<br />

Description<br />

Predicted noise<br />

levels at residences<br />

NSW EPA sleep<br />

disturbance criteria<br />

Compliance<br />

Exceedance<br />

Locomotive horn 75-96dBA 60-65dBA No Up to 36dB<br />

Locomotive movement 53-82dBA 60-65dBA No Up to 17dBA<br />

Roller door alarm


Predicted noise levels throughout Precinct 16 for the future conditions are presented<br />

in Table 10 for the Day/Evening and Evening/Night shifts.<br />

Table 10<br />

Precinct 16 predicted noise levels – Future conditions<br />

Shift<br />

Predicted noise<br />

levels at residences<br />

Applicable SEPP N-1<br />

noise limit<br />

Compliance<br />

Exceedance<br />

Day/Evening<br />

Typical daily operation<br />

48-80dBA 49dBA No Up to 31dBA<br />

Day/Evening<br />

One occurrence per month<br />

58-86dBA 49dBA No Up to 37dBA<br />

Evening/Night 32-50dBA 43dBA No Up to 7dBA<br />

Noise contours for the future day/evening and evening/night shifts are presented in<br />

Figures D3 to D5 of Appendix D.<br />

Sleep disturbance<br />

Maximum noise levels for the future conditions will be the same as those predicted for<br />

the current conditions (See Table 8).<br />

6.3 Precinct 17<br />

Predicted noise levels throughout Precinct 17 for the current and future conditions are<br />

presented in Table 11 for the Day/Evening and Evening/Night shifts.<br />

Table 11<br />

Precinct 17 predicted noise levels<br />

Shift<br />

Predicted noise<br />

levels at residences<br />

Applicable SEPP N-1<br />

noise limit<br />

Compliance<br />

Exceedance<br />

Current conditions<br />

Day/Evening<br />

Typical daily operation<br />

32-56dBA 49dBA No Up to 7dBA<br />

Day/Evening<br />

One occurrence per month<br />

44-70dBA 49dBA No Up to 21dBA<br />

Evening/Night 30-56dBA 44dBA No Up to 12dBA<br />

Potential future conditions<br />

Day/Evening<br />

Typical daily operation<br />

47-72dBA 49dBA No Up to 23dBA<br />

Day/Evening<br />

One occurrence per month<br />

48-72dBA 49dBA No Up to 23dBA<br />

Evening/Night 30-56dBA 44dBA No Up to 12dBA<br />

Noise contours for the current conditions are presented in Figures E1 to E5 of<br />

Appendix E.<br />

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Sleep disturbance<br />

Maximum noise levels predicted for Precinct 17 are similar to those predicted for<br />

Precinct 16 (See Table 8).<br />

7.0 NOISE CONTROL OPTIONS<br />

7.1 SEPP N-1 – Precinct 16<br />

If Precinct 16 is rezoned Residential 1 (R1Z), noise emissions from the SMC site will<br />

significantly exceed both the SEPP N-1 and sleep disturbance criteria, based on<br />

scenarios provided by Pacific National.<br />

To reduce the noise impact to Precinct 16, the effect of the installation of a 7m high<br />

noise barrier to the southern boundary of the maintenance centre has been<br />

investigated.<br />

Based on the installation of a 7m high noise barrier, noise levels throughout Precinct<br />

16 have been predicted and are presented in Table 12.<br />

Table 12<br />

Precinct 16 predicted noise levels with the installation of a 7m high noise barrier<br />

Shift<br />

Predicted noise<br />

levels at residences<br />

Applicable SEPP N-1<br />

noise limit<br />

Compliance<br />

Exceedance<br />

Current conditions<br />

Day/Evening<br />

Typical daily operation<br />

28-39dBA 49dBA Yes -<br />

Day/Evening<br />

40-58dBA 49dBA No Up to 9dBA<br />

One occurrence per month<br />

Evening/Night 25-39dBA 43dBA Yes -<br />

Potential future conditions<br />

Day/Evening<br />

Typical daily operation<br />

44-62dBA 49dBA No Up to 13dBA<br />

Day/Evening<br />

54-66dBA 49dBA No Up to 17dBA<br />

One occurrence per month<br />

Evening/Night 25-39dBA 43dBA Yes -<br />

It can be seen from Table 12 that it is possible to achieve the SEPP N-1 noise limits for<br />

both the day/evening and evening/night shifts for the current typical daily operation<br />

throughout Precinct 16 with the installation of a noise barrier with a minimum height<br />

of 7m.<br />

The 7m high noise barrier does not allow the SEPP N-1 limits to be achieved for the<br />

potential future conditions day/evening shift and the current operation occurring once<br />

a month. Additional measures that would involve major changes to the operations of<br />

the SMC site would be required to achieve the SEPP N-1 limits for these conditions.<br />

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Noise contours of predicted noise levels in Precinct 16 with the installation of a 7m<br />

high noise barrier are presented in Figures D6 to D10 of Appendix D.<br />

7.2 SEPP N-1 – Precinct 17<br />

Noise emissions from the SMC site will significantly exceed both the SEPP N-1 and<br />

sleep disturbance criteria throughout Precinct 17, based on scenarios provided by<br />

Pacific National.<br />

To reduce the noise impact to Precinct 17, the effect of the installation of 7m high<br />

noise barrier to the northern boundary of the maintenance centre has been<br />

investigated.<br />

Based on the installation of a 7m high noise barrier, noise levels throughout Precinct<br />

17 have been predicted and are presented in Table 13.<br />

Table 13<br />

Precinct 17 predicted noise levels with the installation of a 7m high noise barrier<br />

Shift<br />

Predicted noise<br />

levels at residences<br />

Applicable SEPP N-1<br />

noise limit<br />

Compliance<br />

Exceedance<br />

Current conditions<br />

Day/Evening<br />

Typical daily operation<br />

26-35dBA 49dBA Yes -<br />

Day/Evening<br />

40-54dBA 49dBA No Up to 5dBA<br />

One occurrence per month<br />

Evening/Night 24-35dBA 44dBA Yes -<br />

Potential future conditions<br />

Day/Evening<br />

Typical daily operation<br />

42-59dBA 49dBA No Up to 10dBA<br />

Day/Evening<br />

44-59dBA 49dBA No Up to 10dBA<br />

One occurrence per month<br />

Evening/Night 24-35dBA 44dBA Yes -<br />

It can be seen from Table 13 that it is possible to achieve the SEPP N-1 noise limits for<br />

both the day/evening and evening/night shifts for the current typical daily operation<br />

throughout Precinct 17 with the installation of a noise barrier with a minimum height<br />

of 7m.<br />

The 7m high noise barrier does not allow the SEPP N-1 limits to be achieved for the<br />

potential future conditions day/evening shift and the current operation occurring once<br />

a month. Additional measures that would involve major changes to the operations of<br />

the SMC site would be required to achieve the SEPP N-1 limits for these conditions.<br />

Noise contours of predicted noise levels in Precinct 17 with the installation of a 7m<br />

high noise barrier are presented in Figures E6 to E10 of Appendix E.<br />

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7.3 Sleep disturbance<br />

Maximum noise emissions from the night activities at the SMC site with the<br />

installation of the 7m high acoustic barrier have been predicted at Precincts 16 and 17<br />

and are presented in Table 14 together with the NSW EPA sleep disturbance criteria.<br />

Table 14<br />

Maximum predicted noise levels in Precincts 16 and 17 with the installation of a<br />

7m high noise barrier<br />

Description<br />

Predicted noise levels<br />

at residences<br />

NSW EPA sleep<br />

disturbance criteria<br />

Compliance<br />

Exceedance<br />

Locomotive horn 64-83dBA 60-65dBA No Up to 18dB<br />

Locomotive movement 38-62dBA 60-65dBA Yes -<br />

Roller door alarm


The Planning Scheme Amendment C33 also identifies an adjacent parcel of land to the<br />

north east of the SMC site known as Precinct 17 as a strategic redevelopment site and<br />

could potentially be used for residential development.<br />

• Any future residential development within Precincts 16 and 17 will affect<br />

operations at the SMC site by constraining allowable noise emissions.<br />

• Based on operation scenarios provided by Pacific National, development of Precincts<br />

16 and 17 for residential purposes will result in noise emissions from the SMC to<br />

significantly exceed the SEPP N-1 and sleep disturbance criteria.<br />

• The installation of a 7m high noise barrier to the southern and northern boundaries<br />

of the SMC will reduce noise emissions to potential residential properties in<br />

Precincts 16 and 17. With the installation of the noise barrier the SEPP N-1 noise<br />

limits would be achieved for the current typical daily operation during both the<br />

day/evening and evening/night shifts, but will be exceeded during the day/evening<br />

shift for both current operations and potential future conditions occurring once per<br />

month.<br />

• The installation of a 7m high noise barrier would reduce maximum noise levels from<br />

the SMC site by up to 13dBA but is not sufficient to achieve the NSW EPA sleep<br />

disturbance criteria throughout Precincts 16 and 17 for all the SMC operations.<br />

• To achieve the SEPP N-1 noise limits and sleep disturbance criteria at all times<br />

throughout Precincts 16 and 17, additional measures involving major changes to<br />

the operations of the SMC site would be required.<br />

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APPENDIX A<br />

ACOUSTIC TERMINOLOGY<br />

dBA<br />

L eq<br />

L<br />

Aeq<br />

Unit of overall noise level, in A-weighted decibels. The A-weighting<br />

approximates the average human response over the entire frequency range.<br />

Continuous or semi-continuous noise levels are described in terms of the<br />

equivalent continuous sound level (L<br />

eq<br />

). This is the constant sound level over a<br />

stated time period which is equivalent in total sound energy to the timevarying<br />

sound level measured over the same time period. This is commonly<br />

referred to as the average noise level and is generally measured in dBA.<br />

The “A” weighted equivalent continuous sound level.<br />

L<br />

max<br />

The maximum noise level (L<br />

max<br />

) is defined as the highest noise level which<br />

occurs during any noise event occurring over a particular time period. This is<br />

generally measured in dBA.<br />

L<br />

90<br />

Background noise levels are described in terms of the level exceeded for 90%<br />

of the measurement period (L<br />

90<br />

). This is commonly referred to as the typical<br />

minimum level and is generally measured in dBA.


APPENDIX B<br />

SITE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH


APPENDIX C<br />

SMC OPERATIONS PROVIDED BY <strong>PACIFIC</strong> <strong>NATIONAL</strong>


APPENDIX D<br />

PRECINCT 16 - NOISE CONTOURS<br />

Please note that scales are different throughout the contours due to the wide range of noise<br />

levels.


Figure D1 - Day/Evening shift – Current conditions – Typical daily operation<br />

Figure D2 - Day/Evening shift – Current conditions – One occurrence per month


Figure D3 - Evening/Night shift<br />

Figure D4 - Day/Evening shift – Potential future conditions – Typical daily operation


Figure D5 - Day/Evening shift – Potential future conditions – One occurrence per month<br />

Figure D6 - Day/Evening shift – Current conditions – Typical daily operation<br />

with the installation of a 7m noise barrier


Figure D7 - Day/Evening shift – Current conditions – One occurrence per month<br />

with the installation of a 7m noise barrier<br />

Figure D8 - Evening/Night shift with the installation of a 7m noise barrier

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