Mount Coonowrin located in the Sunshine Coast hinterland north of Brisbane, is one of a scattered... more Mount Coonowrin located in the Sunshine Coast hinterland north of Brisbane, is one of a scattered group of peaks and hills that constitute the Glasshouse Mountains and which is protected within the Glasshouse Mountains National Park. Concern about visitor safety in relation to rockfalls on the mountain were supported by the results of two geotechnical studies and led to the closure of this section of the National Park. The rockfall problem has become the focus of renewed community concern since 1998, and some sections of the local community believe that blasting from a nearby quarry is causing an increase in the incidence of rockfalls. A.joint study was carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy to investigate whether the quarrying activities were having an impact on the stability of the mountain. The report [1] describes the primary investigation which included the monitoring of a series of blasts at four locations o...
Low frequency noise (LFN) is common as background noise in urban environments and as an emission ... more Low frequency noise (LFN) is common as background noise in urban environments and as an emission from many artificial sources: road vehicles, aircraft, industrial machinery, artillery and mining explosions, and air movement machinery including wind turbines, compressors, and indoor ventilation and air conditioning units (Tempest, 1976; Leventhall, 1988 from St Pierre and Maguire [1]). LFN may also produce vibrations and rattles as secondary effects. The effects of LFN are of particular concern because of its pervasiveness due to numerous sources, efficient propagation and reduced efficacy of many structures (dwellings, walls, and hearing protection) in attenuating LFN compared with other noise. Current transportation noise impact assessments are usually based on broadband A-weighted noise indicators. Over the past 50 years, the A-weighted sound pressure level (dB(A)) has become the major measurement descriptor used in noise assessment. This is despite the fact that many studies have...
As a result of the escalation in low frequency noise sources appearing in new industrial developm... more As a result of the escalation in low frequency noise sources appearing in new industrial development and the incidence of low frequency noise complaints experienced by residents in Queensland, a low frequency noise guideline has been developed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Guideline is applicable to low frequency noise emitted from industrial premises, commercial premises and mining operations (not blasting), and is intended for planning purposes as well as for the evaluation of existing problems. The intent of the established criteria is to accurately assess annoyance and discomfort to persons at noise sensitive premises caused by low frequency noise with a frequency range from 10 Hz to 200 Hz. The technical paper will describe the main elements of this guideline including: use of the G-weighting function to determine annoyance due to infrasound in the frequency range from 1 Hz to 20Hz and low frequency noise criterion adopted for initial screening inside home environ...
Construction noise and vibration must be considered an essential part of the development of any t... more Construction noise and vibration must be considered an essential part of the development of any transportation facility. Road and tunnel construction is often conducted in close proximity to residential and commercial premises and should be predicted, controlled and monitored in order to avoid excessive noise and vibration impacts. Construction noise and vibration can threaten a project's schedule if not adequately analysed and if the concerns of the community are not addressed and incorporated. AIRBORNE NOISE Construction over the length of a project can take place 24 hours a day and for major projects, in excess of 2 to 3 years. Construction equipment can operate in very close proximity to residential and commercial (and even industrial) premises. Many items of equipment can be found operating at any time throughout a project. Equipment types range from mobile cranes, pile drivers, jackhammers, dump trucks, concrete pumps and trucks, backhoes, loaders, dozers, rock-breakers, r...
Since 1977 the community living adjacent to the existing Narangba Industrial Estate approximately... more Since 1977 the community living adjacent to the existing Narangba Industrial Estate approximately 35 km north of Brisbane CBD have registered multiple complaints with the Caboolture Shire Council and the Environmental Protection Agency (previously Department of Environment and Heritage) of odours, a contaminated creek and noise emanating from the Estate. The Minister for the Environment in conjunction with the Council set up a Community Reference Group in 1992, comprising representatives from State Government Departments, Local Councils, industry and the residential community to deal with major environmental issues within the industrial estate. In view of the excessive number of complaints received from the existing industrial estate, a decision was taken in 1994 to formulate a Development Control Plan (DCP) for the area. Measures have been included in the DCP to control all potential environmental impacts that may result from the expansion of the industrial estate. Noise has proven to be the most complex issue. The area has been subdivided into four Constraint Areas providing a basis for future precincts in the DCP and performance standards set for each Constraint Area in terms of cumulative noise exposure, the rating noise level (L{A, r, T}) and the maximum root-mean-square (r.m.s) sound pressure level, (L{max}) to cater for undisturbed sleep in neighbouring residences. New industries establishing in the expanded industrial estate will use these performance standards to guide their noise emission planning.
Mount Coonowrin located in the Sunshine Coast hinterland north of Brisbane, is one of a scattered... more Mount Coonowrin located in the Sunshine Coast hinterland north of Brisbane, is one of a scattered group of peaks and hills that constitute the Glasshouse Mountains and which is protected within the Glasshouse Mountains National Park. Concern about visitor safety in relation to rockfalls on the mountain were supported by the results of two geotechnical studies and led to the closure of this section of the National Park. The rockfall problem has become the focus of renewed community concern since 1998, and some sections of the local community believe that blasting from a nearby quarry is causing an increase in the incidence of rockfalls. A.joint study was carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy to investigate whether the quarrying activities were having an impact on the stability of the mountain. The report [1] describes the primary investigation which included the monitoring of a series of blasts at four locations o...
Low frequency noise (LFN) is common as background noise in urban environments and as an emission ... more Low frequency noise (LFN) is common as background noise in urban environments and as an emission from many artificial sources: road vehicles, aircraft, industrial machinery, artillery and mining explosions, and air movement machinery including wind turbines, compressors, and indoor ventilation and air conditioning units (Tempest, 1976; Leventhall, 1988 from St Pierre and Maguire [1]). LFN may also produce vibrations and rattles as secondary effects. The effects of LFN are of particular concern because of its pervasiveness due to numerous sources, efficient propagation and reduced efficacy of many structures (dwellings, walls, and hearing protection) in attenuating LFN compared with other noise. Current transportation noise impact assessments are usually based on broadband A-weighted noise indicators. Over the past 50 years, the A-weighted sound pressure level (dB(A)) has become the major measurement descriptor used in noise assessment. This is despite the fact that many studies have...
As a result of the escalation in low frequency noise sources appearing in new industrial developm... more As a result of the escalation in low frequency noise sources appearing in new industrial development and the incidence of low frequency noise complaints experienced by residents in Queensland, a low frequency noise guideline has been developed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Guideline is applicable to low frequency noise emitted from industrial premises, commercial premises and mining operations (not blasting), and is intended for planning purposes as well as for the evaluation of existing problems. The intent of the established criteria is to accurately assess annoyance and discomfort to persons at noise sensitive premises caused by low frequency noise with a frequency range from 10 Hz to 200 Hz. The technical paper will describe the main elements of this guideline including: use of the G-weighting function to determine annoyance due to infrasound in the frequency range from 1 Hz to 20Hz and low frequency noise criterion adopted for initial screening inside home environ...
Construction noise and vibration must be considered an essential part of the development of any t... more Construction noise and vibration must be considered an essential part of the development of any transportation facility. Road and tunnel construction is often conducted in close proximity to residential and commercial premises and should be predicted, controlled and monitored in order to avoid excessive noise and vibration impacts. Construction noise and vibration can threaten a project's schedule if not adequately analysed and if the concerns of the community are not addressed and incorporated. AIRBORNE NOISE Construction over the length of a project can take place 24 hours a day and for major projects, in excess of 2 to 3 years. Construction equipment can operate in very close proximity to residential and commercial (and even industrial) premises. Many items of equipment can be found operating at any time throughout a project. Equipment types range from mobile cranes, pile drivers, jackhammers, dump trucks, concrete pumps and trucks, backhoes, loaders, dozers, rock-breakers, r...
Since 1977 the community living adjacent to the existing Narangba Industrial Estate approximately... more Since 1977 the community living adjacent to the existing Narangba Industrial Estate approximately 35 km north of Brisbane CBD have registered multiple complaints with the Caboolture Shire Council and the Environmental Protection Agency (previously Department of Environment and Heritage) of odours, a contaminated creek and noise emanating from the Estate. The Minister for the Environment in conjunction with the Council set up a Community Reference Group in 1992, comprising representatives from State Government Departments, Local Councils, industry and the residential community to deal with major environmental issues within the industrial estate. In view of the excessive number of complaints received from the existing industrial estate, a decision was taken in 1994 to formulate a Development Control Plan (DCP) for the area. Measures have been included in the DCP to control all potential environmental impacts that may result from the expansion of the industrial estate. Noise has proven to be the most complex issue. The area has been subdivided into four Constraint Areas providing a basis for future precincts in the DCP and performance standards set for each Constraint Area in terms of cumulative noise exposure, the rating noise level (L{A, r, T}) and the maximum root-mean-square (r.m.s) sound pressure level, (L{max}) to cater for undisturbed sleep in neighbouring residences. New industries establishing in the expanded industrial estate will use these performance standards to guide their noise emission planning.
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