November 2004 (PDF 11.6 MB) - Barrick Gold Corporation

2. Measuring and determining existing backgroundand ambient noise levels, using themethod relevant to the expected level ofimpact (as outlined in Section 3).3. Where the proposed development is expectedto produce annoying noise characteristics,adjustments are to be applied to the noiselevels produced by the development inquestion (as outlined in Section 4).4. Predicting or measuring the noise levelsproduced by the development in question,having regard to meteorological effects (suchas wind, temperature inversions) (see Section5).5. Comparing the predicted or measured noiselevel with the project-specific noise levels andassessing impacts (Section 6).6. Considering feasible and reasonable noisemitigation strategies where the projectspecificnoise levels are exceeded (Section 7).7. Negotiation between the regulatory/consentauthority and the proponent and between thecommunity and the proponent to evaluate theeconomic, social and environmental costsand benefits from the proposed developmentagainst the noise impacts (Section 8).8. The regulatory/consent authority setsstatutory compliance levels that reflect theachievable and agreed noise limits for thedevelopment (Section 9).9. Monitoring of environmental noise levelsfrom the development to determine compliancewith the consent/licence conditions(Section 11).1.4.1 Principles underpinning thenoise criteriaThe industrial noise source criteria set down inSection 2 are best regarded as planning tools. Theyare not mandatory, and an application for a noiseproducingdevelopment is not determined purely onthe basis of compliance or otherwise with the noisecriteria. Numerous other factors need to be takeninto account in the determination. These factorsinclude economic consequences, other environmentaleffects and the social worth of the development.The criteria help to determine consent/licenceconditions because they provide information on thelikely effect of any environmental noise associatedwith the development.Within the community, there is a very large range ofhuman reaction to noise. There are those in thecommunity who are very sensitive to noise. Thisnoise-sensitive sector of the population will react,often strongly, to intruding noises that are barelyaudible within the overall noise environment, orwill have an expectation of very low environmentalnoise levels. On the other hand, there are thosewithin the community who find living in noisyenvironments, such as near major industry, on mainroads or under aircraft flight paths, an acceptablesituation. The bulk of the population lies withinthese two extremes, being unaffected by low levelsof noise and being prepared to accept levels of noisethat are commensurate with living in an urban,industrialised society.The criteria in this document (Section 2) have beenselected to protect at least 90 per cent of the populationliving in the vicinity of industrial noise sourcesfrom the adverse effects of noise for at least 90 percent of the time. Provided the criteria in this documentare achieved, then it is unlikely that mostpeople would consider the resultant noise levelsexcessive. In those cases when the project-specificnoise levels are not, or cannot be, achieved, then itdoes not automatically follow that those peopleaffected by the noise would find the noise unacceptable.1.4.2 Existing versus new developmentThe assessment procedures in the policy can applyto any one of the following three situations:• new development impacts—for example, newindustrial premises proposed near anexisting residential area• modification of an existing development andits impact—for example, proposed expansionof an existing industrial premises• noise associated with existing development.Existing noise sourcesThe application of the criteria to existing sources ofnoise would occur where significant modifications(such as to warrant serious and/or ongoing developmentconsent or EPA approval) are made toexisting developments or where complaints arereceived.NSW industrial noise policy3