Draft National Wind Farm Development Guidelines - July 2010

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Table B-4 Suggested methods for assessment of noise characteristics Noise characteristic Amplitude modulation Impulsiveness Suggested assessment procedure Tasmania Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (2004) Noise measurement procedures manual, Also Western Australian Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 Australian Standard 1055.1:1997 Acoustics – Description and measurement of environmental noise Part 1: General Procedures Comments Amplitude modulation may be present where there is a greater than normal degree of fluctuation of sound level. The suggested assessment procedure indicates the presence of amplitude modulation where there is a regular, cyclic and audible variation in sound level of more than 3dB. It should be noted that LA90,T may not be appropriate for assessing amplitude modulation. LAeq, LA01 or LAMax indices may be more suited to identification measurements. Further, it is noted that any assessment of amplitude modulation should take place at the Receiver location being assessed. It is not suitable to carry out an assessment within the wind farm site as, at the Receiver location, emission from several different turbines may be contributing to the observed effect. Also, the measurement position should not be unduly affected by facade reflections in the area immediately around the measurement location. This assessment requires the use of a sound level meter with fast response and impulse response time weightings. It is recommended that impulsiveness assessments be carried out on calibrated digital recordings of the suspected impulsive sound, so that the impulsive and fast time weighting may be applied to the same audio sample. In some cases, impulsiveness may be indicated using the AS1055.1 assessment method when, subjectively, it is not considered to be present. These cases should be discussed with the relevant authority Infrasound DIN 45680:1997 Measurement and evaluation of lowfrequency environmental noise, Deutsches Institut für Normung DIN45680 does not prescribe acceptable noise limits but discusses a method for assessing perceptibility. Although a given low frequency noise or infrasound may be perceptible, this does not imply a negative effect on health. The assessment frequency range of DIN 45680:1997 extends down to 8Hz and so may exclude some frequencies which are considered part of the infrasound range. Complaints resulting from noise emission in this extremely low frequency range are considered unlikely. Nonetheless, it is important to recognise this limitation of the assessment method. Low frequency noise Tonality DIN 45680:1997 Measurement and evaluation of lowfrequency environmental noise, Deutsches Institut für Normung Assessment procedures as identified in Section 7.2 of AS4959–2010 The noise level threshold curves included in the standard are reasonably conservative. However, they are based on a 50% threshold level and some research suggests that a 10-12dB margin to the 10% threshold may exist. Accordingly, it may be that some individuals can hear a sound level which is measured to be less than the threshold limit. Where the measured level is within 12dB of the threshold value and the measured level is greater than the background noise level further investigative work is likely to be required. Note: The assessment method proposed for amplitude modulation should be considered as nominal and is proposed in the absence of a more suitable method specific to wind farms. It may be used as an indicator of amplitude modulation; however, the assessment should be carried out in conjunction with a subjective assessment of the sound by the assessor and the relevant authority. It may be more suitable in this case to explore adjustments in the operation of particular turbines under certain meteorological conditions, for example by using noise management settings at particular wind speeds, to try and alleviate the issue Page 60 Draft National Wind Farm Development Guidelines – 2 July 2010
B.4.5 Decommissioning Noise-related tasks during the Decommissioning stage are, in general, a repeat of tasks completed during the Project Feasibility, Planning Application and Construction stages of the wind farm development. Decommissioning decision To assess the feasibility of decommissioning or redeveloping the site, the wider assessment work during this stage will involve assessing the historic wind resource at the site, changes in turbines commercially available and a desktop feasibility assessment addressing items identified in the High-level review of potential noise impacts (page 44) and Undertake noise emission predictions (preliminary) (page 44). Preliminary noise impact assessment work should be inputted into this decision-making process according to the guidance offered in the Project Feasibility stage (Section B.4.1). Decommissioning Studies are to be undertaken to confirm that the wind farm can be decommissioned in accordance with any planning permit conditions. Wider assessment works will involve the development of Decommissioning and Site Rehabilitation Plans. These should be developed in accordance with the any planning permit conditions, but also require modification to accommodate any changes to the local environment, land use and infrastructure. Guidance on noise related issues during this stage may be taken from the Construction stage (Section B.4.3). In particular, the Decommissioning stage may require construction noise monitoring which should be carried out in accordance with Undertake construction noise monitoring (page 56). In addition, a modified complaints handling procedure should be implemented to address any decommissioning construction noise-related complaints. Refer to Prepare complaints handling procedures (page 56) for guidance on developing complaints handling procedures. Redevelopment If it is decided to redevelop a wind farm site, studies will be required in order to submit a new project for a new planning application. Wider assessment works may involve submission of a new planning application in accordance with these Guidelines for any proposed redevelopment of the wind farm site. Refer to Section B.4.2 for guidance. B.5 Cumulative impacts B.5.1 Approach to staged development Where staged development of a wind farm is proposed, then the total impact of the final wind farm should be planned so that the noise limits will be achieved by the final wind farm, subject to the consideration of the cumulative impacts of other wind farms (see section A.5.2 below). Where background sound levels are assessed at new receivers (not previously assessed at during an earlier stage if the wind farm development) those background measurements should not include wind farm noise from previous stages of the wind farm. Draft National Wind Farm Development Guidelines – 2 July 2010 Page 61
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EPHC National Wind Farm Development
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Acknowledgements These Guidelines h
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A.6.1 Site selection 28 A.6.2 Proje
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E.7 Technical discussion of key con
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The 20/20 target is challenging; ho
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Table 1-1 Elements of a ‘wind far
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2 Principles for responsible wind f
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3 Wind Farm Specific Issues The spe
Page 20 and 21: Specific noise limits are not provi
Page 22 and 23: 3.5 Shadow flicker The issue Shadow
Page 24 and 25: Guidance notes Heritage issues are
Page 26 and 27: Table 4-1 Typical decision process
Page 28 and 29: The studies and community consultat
Page 31 and 32: A Community and Stakeholder Consult
Page 33 and 34: • Responsive There is a comm
Page 35 and 36: Figure A-1 IAP2 Public Participatio
Page 37 and 38: Specific components which should be
Page 39 and 40: Figure A-2 Example of Good Practice
Page 41 and 42: Recording the occurrence and outcom
Page 43 and 44: A.6.6 Decommissioning Planning & Co
Page 45 and 46: Potential Stakeholders Consultation
Page 47 and 48: B Noise B.1 Introduction This Appen
Page 49 and 50: the converse. These Guidelines reco
Page 51 and 52: The Standard should form the basis
Page 53 and 54: Stage and methodology Construction
Page 55 and 56: Other noise-sensitive uses such as
Page 57 and 58: Table B-2 Existing state and territ
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Page 61 and 62: As noted in Section 6.3.1 of AS4959
Page 63 and 64: predicted levels are significantly
Page 65 and 66: Prepare expert evidence (as require
Page 67 and 68: Undertake unattended monitoring to
Page 69: assessment of wind farm noise emiss
Page 73 and 74: If a significant amount of time has
Page 75 and 76: B.7 Technical discussion of key con
Page 77 and 78: The HGC Engineering report 10 also
Page 79 and 80: C Landscape C.1 Introduction This A
Page 81 and 82: • Cumulative impacts “Cumulativ
Page 83 and 84: C.2 Overview of Methodologies Figur
Page 85 and 86: C.3 Task Methodologies C.3.1 Projec
Page 87 and 88: • State Relevant State herita
Page 89 and 90: The preliminary landscape character
Page 91 and 92: • Identifying and describing (in
Page 93 and 94: Advanced photomontages should also
Page 95 and 96: C.4.2 Visual Impact Assessment The
Page 97 and 98: C.4.2.4 Assessment of cumulative im
Page 99 and 100: the implementation of agreed change
Page 101 and 102: Figure C-2 IBRA mapping of Australi
Page 103 and 104: Table C-4 Mapping of landscape char
Page 105 and 106: C.7.2 Levels of significance What a
Page 107 and 108: Consider ‘Supporting Evidence’
Page 109 and 110: information available for other sit
Page 111 and 112: Figure C-4 Example of viewshed mapp
Page 113 and 114: Figure C-6 Example of photomontages
Page 115 and 116: communicate broad-scale ideas and p
Page 117 and 118: Table C-5 Mapping other wind farms
Page 119 and 120: C.7.9 Glossary & acronyms Australia
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Viewpoint The point from which a vi
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D.1.2 Underlying approach The under
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All of the above is generally appli
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the operational wind farm is aimed
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D.4 Task methodologies D.4.1 Site S
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area as it was not collected accord
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used throughout these Guidelines as
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wind farms. Such data from existing
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considered acceptable, undesirable,
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construction phase are identified d
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Searches for dead birds and bats ar
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D.5 Cumulative impacts D.5.1 Defini
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in the absence of any turbine colli
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that it was first observed. Where m
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e the case that assessment for bats
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Department of Primary Industries, W
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Percival, S.M. 2003, Birds and wind
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E Shadow Flicker E.1 Introduction T
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• The use of recreational facilit
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• The method is inherently linked
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Table E-1 Recommended exposure limi
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E.4.4 Construction Assessment of th
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E.7 Technical discussion of key con
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Figure E-4 Variation in shading wit
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common practice varies between one
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as the actual limit, rather than th
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likely to be obstructed. Radiocommu
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Licensed radiocommunications servic
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Figure F-1 EMI mitigation methodolo
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F.4 Task methodologies F.4.1 Projec
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Expected timeframe for evaluation r
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The near field zone can be calculat
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Develop mitigation strategy As a st
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aseline RF survey which involves th
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G Wind Farm Development Process G.1
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Project Sub-stages Activities to be
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Preliminary Technical Studies Issue
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Planning application (PA2) The plan
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Develop mitigation strategy Finalis
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Environmental Management Plans Issu
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Monitoring: confirmation (O3) Confi
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Decommissioning (D2) Once a decisio
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Draft National Wind Farm Development Guidelines - July 2010

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