Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have provided expert evidence for appeals in the planning and environment court, tribunal hearings and Section 23 hearings. In addition to our technical expertise, our staff are well regarded by local and state government bodies which assists in providing a direct path to the best outcome. Our approach to proposed developments is to provide the appropriate level of detail necessary to address both the matters raised and associated issues which may have been overlooked, thus minimising the risk to clients. Our staff provide calm, impartial, confident, and convincing evidence in negotiations and in court, and have developed the ability to explain technical matters in everyday terms to allow the client and judge to gain a clear understanding of the issues being debated.

The Acoustics Goal:

The goal of the acoustic consultant in legal proceedings is to provide clear advice regarding technical matters to enable the legal team and client to make informed decisions. This requires:

• a thorough knowledge of the noise and vibration policy,
• an understanding of the background to the policy,
• a technical assessment with the level of detail appropriate for the project,
• assessment of both the impact of the proposal on the surrounding land uses and the impact of the surrounding uses on the proposed site, and
• being able to negotiate suitable conditions including defending the noise assessment in planning and environment legal proceedings should the matter proceed to appeal.

Key Elements:

Developments have included:

• extensions to existing operations,
• new facilities, and
• construction noise and vibration.

Acoustic work has included:

• background noise and vibration monitoring,
• setting site specific noise criteria,
• development of suitable criteria where the Council does not have a noise policy,
• noise modelling and assessment,
• design of noise and vibration controls,
• preparation of joint expert reports and court reports,
• pre-trial meetings to enable the number of issues to be reduced,
• negotiation of suitable noise and vibration conditions,
• development of noise and vibration management plans to allow the development to be approved,
• defects inspections during construction,
• compliance inspections and noise monitoring to satisfy development conditions, and
• RPEQ certification of compliance.

Policy review and development work has been undertaken for State Government and Councils including:

• review of mandatory code MP4.4 with the Queensland Government,
• workshop sections of Brisbane City Plan 2014 new noise policy with Brisbane City Council, and
• development of Noise Management Plan and Protocols for South Bank.

Refer to the Policy and Peer Review page for further details.

Matters have included:

• residential development,
• entertainment venues,
• liquor licensed venues,
• theme park rides & events,
• retail centres,
• service stations,
• commercial and mixed use developments,
• oil and gas industry,
• manufacturing industry,
• transport corridors,
• dog kennels,
• workers camps,
• pipeline laydown and assembly areas,
• pipeline right of way,
• abattoirs, and
• quarries.

Projects undertaken by Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have included:

• Timber Transitions appeal to allow manufacturing operations in residential area
• York Marine Industry appeal by adjacent residential land owner
• Alternative Agreements for the Oil & Gas industry to comply with Environmental Approval requirements (where noise criteria cannot be practically achieved) – construction camps, pipe laydown and preparation areas, pipeline right of way corridor
• Ira Buckby Landscape Supplies
• ALDI Toormina Section 23 hearing
• Port Road & Rail Access Corridor, Gladstone
• Cheers Tavern, Kenmore – liquor licensing tribunal hearing
• Dicey Rielly’s, Toowong – liquor licensing tribunal hearing
• Mt Cotton Quarry appeal – review of reports and Council conditions
• Neilson Sand & Gravel operations
• Holts Hill Quarry
• Mt Marrow Quarry
• Beenleigh Abattoir
• Lakes Creek Abattoir
• 7 Eleven BP Service Station – two hearings regarding extension of trading hours
• Service Station Caloundra
• Residential development, Russell Tce Indooroopilly
• RSPCA kennels, Toowoomba
• Kennel noise, Maryborough