November 2004 (PDF 11.6 MB) - Barrick Gold Corporation

In this case the intrusive criterion is the limitingcriterion and sets the project-specific noise level tobe met by the development, including the proposedmodifications, at the neighbouring residences. Thisproject-specific noise level would be applicable toall residences in the region between the industrialpremises and the point at which noise from theexisting premises has decreased by 5 dB. Beyondthis region the ‘urban’ category amenity criteriawould apply. In this further region the existingbackground and ambient L Aeqlevels from industrywould need to be measured at these residences andproject-specific noise levels determined followingthe same steps as above but with the ‘urban’ amenitycriteria.To determine the extent of the ‘interface’ the instantaneousnoise level of the existing industry noisecan be measured at the relevant boundary (forexample, in this example at the at the westernboundary of the premises). Where the instantaneousnoise levels varied—for example, from 48 to 52dB(A)—the midpoint value of the range (that is, 50)may be used as the noise level representing theboundary noise level of the industry. Then instantaneousnoise measurements should be taken atincreasing distances away from the premises in therelevant direction (for example, to the west in thisexample) until the noise from the premises hasfallen by 5 dB. The point at which this occursdefines the extent of the region where the ‘urban/industrial interface’ category applies.Table A5. Criteria applying to urban/industrial interface case studyPeriod Intrusiveness criterion 1 Amenitycriterion 2Day 52 dB L Aeq,15 minute(47+ 5) 65 L Aeq,DayEvening 50 dB L Aeq,15 minute(45 + 5) 53 L Aeq,EvenNight 45 dB L Aeq,15 minute(40 + 5) 46 L Aeq,NightNotes:1. Intrusiveness criterion is L Aeq,15 minute≤ RBL + 5(Section 2.1)2. Amenity criterion for urban/industrial interface areas(Tables 2.1 and 2.2, Section 2.2)NSW industrial noise policy67