November 2004 (PDF 11.6 MB) - Barrick Gold Corporation

Cowal Gold Project – Noise Management PlanAs such, the noise criteria in Table 2 will apply under meteorological conditions of temperatureinversion conditions of up to 8.0 o C/100 m and wind speed up to 1 m/s at 10 metres above groundlevel. The 1 m/s drainage-flow wind applies where the development is at higher altitude than theresidential receiver, with no intervening higher ground.In accordance with Consent Condition 6.4(a) these criteria will not apply during rainfall.The measurement of meteorological conditions at the Project is discussed in Sections 6.1 and 7.2.3.4 BACKGROUND NOISE LEVELSAcoustic studies were conducted by Richard Heggie Associates (1997) to quantify the existingacoustical environment. Background ambient noise surveys using unattended loggers were initiallyutilised in July and August 1994 (Richard Heggie Associates, 1997). In addition, operator attendedsurveys were undertaken throughout those months to assist in identifying the character and durationof background ambient noise (Richard Heggie Associates, 1997).Background noise levels are presented as an L A90 . L A90 refers to the “A”-weighted noise level which isexceeded for 90% of the sampling period and is referred to as the average minimum or backgroundnoise level (Richard Heggie Associates, 1997).The background ambient noise monitoring surveys were conducted in accordance with AustralianStandard (AS) 1055.1-1997 Acoustics – Description and Measurement of Environmental Noise(Appendix C) and the EPA’s Environmental Noise Control Manual, 1994. The locations of thebackground ambient noise monitoring sites are presented on Figure 2. The results of monitoringundertaken in July and August 1994 are presented in Table 4 as L A90 background ambient noiselevels. Results of noise monitoring at Cowal West have not been included below as Barrick hasacquired that property. Subsequent to the background ambient noise monitoring surveys, Barrick havepurchased the Lakeside and Lake Cowal properties.Table 4Wintertime L A90 Background Ambient Noise LevelsMonday to Sunday (dBA)Dwelling NameDaytime(7.00am - 6.00pm)Night-time(6.00pm - 7.00am)Coniston 30 25Lakeside 30 25Lake Cowal 30 25Gumbelah 29 27Source: Richard Heggie Associates, 1997Note: All night-time levels are likely to have been determined by the noiselogger’s electronic noise floor.Analysis of L A90 background ambient noise levels showed that noise levels declined at night (Table 4).Further surveys were conducted in December 1994 and January 1995 to assess whether this trendwould occur during summer. During the summertime period, an unattended noise logger and weatherstation was located at ‘Lakeside’ with unattended loggers also installed at ‘Coniston’, ‘Lake Cowal’ and‘Gumbelah’. The result of this L A90 , background ambient noise level monitoring is presented in Table 5.HAL-02-07/1/NMP01-P/17/11/04 9 BARRICK