Auditorium & Music Facilities

Acoustics Noise Vibration engineering staff have a background in music and are able to bring a unique understanding to the acoustic design requirements for auditorium and music facilities. Facilities have included: community halls, school halls and performing arts complexes, 300 – 3000 seat auditoria, churches, recording studios, music practice rooms, rehearsal spaces, and 100 – 500 seat lecture theatres.

The Acoustics Goal:

The goal of the acoustic design for performance, rehearsal and studio spaces, is to create an experience that meets or exceeds the functional requirements of the client.

This has included:

• modelling the shape and finishes for an auditorium to achieve a great listening experience for the audience and a great performance space for the performers,
• designing variable acoustics for a rehearsal room and a comfortable listening space in the studio control room, and
• designing specialised floating rooms with double or triple glazing to provide a high level of isolation between music practice rooms.

Key Elements:

Auditorium and music building projects have included refurbishments of existing buildings and new building projects. Acoustic work has included:

• noise and vibration monitoring,
• façade design to control external noise intrusion,
• setting suitable internal noise criteria,
• review of room shape and reflecting surfaces to improve the acoustics,
• modelling of room parameters to optimise placement and selection of suitable acoustic treatments,
• design of acoustic finishes for auditoria and music facilities to achieve a great performance and listening space,
• specialised internal acoustic design for studios,
• design of finishes for music practice rooms to control sound levels and protect performers hearing,
• design of walls, doors, ceilings, floors, ducting to achieve a high level of acoustic privacy between spaces,
• design of floating floors and rooms to limit cross talk between spaces,
• roof treatments to control rain noise,
• mechanical and electrical plant noise control treatments to meet internal and external noise criteria,
• hydraulic services noise control,
• inspections during construction,
• measurement and testing of room acoustics, and
• workplace health and safety considerations for acoustically isolated rooms.

Projects undertaken by Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have included:

• State Library of Queensland 300 seat auditorium and music rehearsal room
• Gateway Baptist Church 1500 seats
• Revival Fellowship Church Bundaberg
• Old Queensland Museum auditorium and rehearsal spaces
• Advanced Seminar space UQ Zelman Cowan Building
• Performing Arts Complex Auditorium, Music and Dance facilities -Townsville Grammar School
• Three lecture theatres & Comprehensive Learning Centre – GPN4 University of Queensland
• Lecture theatres and music practice rooms – Australian Catholic University
• “The Shed” rehearsal space for Qld Theatre Company
• Conservatorium of Music practice rooms, performance spaces and recording studios – Griffith University
• Performing Arts Complex Auditorium and music practice rooms Faith Lutheran College Laidley
• Lions AFL Club Auditorium under The Gabba Stadium
• Coomera Youth Centre auditorium
• Scout Association Qld Auchenflower assembly hall
• East Timor Constituent Assembly Building
• Sports and Assembly Hall – Mercy College Mackay
• Taroom Cultural Centre Auditorium
• Caloundra Cultural Centre Auditorium
• Douglas Shire Hall Mossman
• Cultural Centre Auditorium Laidley

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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

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Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have undertaken transport studies for roads, railway, airport and watercraft, and have been involved in the development of transportation policy for state government bodies. Clients include: Qld Transport and Main Roads, Qld Rail, Roads & Maritime Services NSW, and various councils. Projects have ranged in size from environmental impact studies for new transport corridors to road noise assessments for a single house. Our approach 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.

The Acoustics Goal:

The goal of the acoustic consultant for transport projects is to provide an easily understood assessment, with clear recommendations for noise and vibration control measures if required to assist the client to achieve their desired outcome. For developers and government bodies this requires:

• a thorough knowledge of the relevant noise and vibration policies,
• technical staff experienced in transport noise modelling and assessment,
• innovative thinking in terms of development of remedial measures if required, 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:

Projects have involved assessment for construction and operation of existing and new transport corridors and developments. Acoustic work has included:

• noise and meteorological monitoring,
• vibration monitoring,
• development of site specific noise criteria,
• 3D modelling using recognised methods such as CoRTN,
• validation of predicted noise levels against measured noise levels,
• design of suitable noise control measures to enable compliance with noise criteria,
• consideration of rail squeal and flanging noise,
• design of attenuators and building constructions to contain noise from tunnel ventilation systems,
• modelling of construction plant noise for surface roads and tunnel portals,
• preparation of noise management plans,
• presentation of findings in a clear concise report with informative figures and noise contour plots,
• attendance at public displays, and
• presentation of the noise and vibration evidence as expert witness in planning and environment legal proceedings.

Projects have included:

• construction and operational noise and vibration assessment for road tunnels in Sydney for RMS,
• new road corridor and road upgrade projects for TMR throughout Queensland,
• modelling of train noise for Qld Rail,
• compliance noise monitoring and analysis after installation of noise barriers for Qld Rail,
• road and rail noise assessments for new residential development near transport corridors to meet TMR, Qld Rail, Council, RMS and MP4.4 criteria,
• assessment of aircraft noise to AS2021 for residential and commercial development,
• helicopter and helipad noise assessments,
• dredging ship noise assessment,
• port noise assessments, and
• private railways & roads for industry.

Projects undertaken by Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have included:

Roads 

• Sydney Tunnel – WestConnex 1b ventilation station buildings bid design
• Sydney Tunnel – WestConnex 2 ventilation station buildings and construction noise assessment and noise management plan for bid design
• Old Northern Road – inspection and modelling for noise barrier upgrade
• Pacific Motorway Noise Assessment, Logan to Nerang
• Toowoomba Road Bypass
• Port Road & Rail Access Corridor, Gladstone – noise and vibration impact on commercial buildings
• Hope Island Road – detailed review of environmental factors
• Caboolture to Maroochydore Transport Corridor Study, Queensland Transport
• Logan Motorway Barrier Design, TMR
• Redlynch Bypass Post-Upgrade Noise Assessment, TMR, Cairns
• SE Freeway Ekibin – traffic noise monitoring and modelling, development of cost benefit analysis for treatment of residential premises which was incorporated into the QT Interim Guidelines and Technical notes document
• Ipswich Motorway and Ipswich Rail line – noise assessment for residence complaint
• Manager of numerous road traffic noise studies undertaken for TMR as preferred supplier of acoustic services (2 year contract)
• Western Freeway – traffic noise assessment for residential unit development
• Augustus residential estate noise barrier certification
• Residential Subdivision, Gladstone
• Cornwall Street apartments, Woolloongabba
• Logan Road apartments, Mt Gravatt
• Finucane Road apartments, Alexandra Hills
• Highfields Motel, Toowoomba
• Bridgeman Baptist Church youth facility and meeting rooms
• Child Care Centre, The Gap
• Child Care Centre, McDowell

Rail

• Mayne to Northgate Rail Noise Barrier Verification Study, Queensland Rail
• Bald Hills Noise Barrier Verification Study, Queensland Rail
• Norman Park Barrier Noise Monitoring, Queensland Rail
• Private Rail Siding Noise Environmental Management Plan, Emerald
• Port Road & Rail Access Corridor, Gladstone – noise and vibration impact on commercial buildings
• Caboolture to Maroochydore Transport Corridor Study, Queensland Transport

Light Rail

• Gold Coast Light Rail Bid – noise investigations for the Gold Coast light rail system as part of one of the bid teams
• Sydney Light Rail – investigation of noise and vibration of the existing light rail system as background for proposed Brisbane light rail

Aircraft

• Review of ANEF contours for commercial offices near Melbourne Airport
• Helicopter noise assessment for QIMR, Royal Brisbane & Womens Hospital, Cairns Hospital, Hervey Bay Hospital
• Military and Domestic aircraft noise control for Defence buildings at Townsville, Oakey, Nowra
• Commercial offices near flight path of Brisbane airport
• Cairns Hospital – noise from flight path for Cairns airport

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Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have provided advice to councils and state government bodies regarding noise and vibration policy, presentations and teaching on noise matters and peer review of documents. Policy review and development work has been undertaken for State Government and Councils including:

• review of mandatory code MP4.4 with 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.

The Acoustics Goal:

The goal of the acoustic consultant for policy development and per review work is to provide clear information regarding the matter to enable informed decisions to be made. This requires:

• a thorough knowledge of the existing and proposed noise policy,
• an understanding of the background to the policy,
• experience with the real world issues related to the matter faced by industry, the public and the government,
• ability to provide a technical assessment to confirm or adjust the proposed findings,
• assessing both the impact of the proposal on the surrounding land uses as well and assessing the impact of the surrounding uses on the proposed site, and
• being able to provide a clear concise wording for the findings.

Key Elements:

Projects have included:

• provision of technical input into existing and new policy, and
• peer review of a range of developments.

Acoustic work has included:

• background noise and vibration monitoring,
• noise mapping entire suburbs,
• cost benefit studies to confirm $ per dB impacts of proposed changes,
• traffic noise modelling,
• noise level modelling for a range of sources and scenarios,
• review of proposed criteria for developments,
• negotiation of suitable noise and vibration conditions,
• compliance inspections and noise monitoring to satisfy development conditions, and
• RPEQ certification of review.

Matters have included policy for:

• transport noise,
• building construction near transport corridors,
• entertainment noise precincts, and
• town planning noise.

Peer reviews have included a range of proposals including:

• motor racing,
• industry, and
• tourism.

Projects undertaken by Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have included:

Policy 

• Noise Policy City Plan 2014, Brisbane City Council – selected by BCC staff to review and workshop sections of the new noise policy
• MP4.4 mandatory code for residential buildings affected by transport noise, Qld Government – selected to investigate areas for improvements to the existing MP4.4 approach
• South Bank Noise Management Plan Policy and Protocols, South Bank Corporation – review of noise matters with client; noise monitoring program to gather noise data on a range of events over 12 months; development of the noise management plan, policy and protocols; annual review of plan and policy
• Valley Music Harmony Plan, Brisbane City Council – three projects were undertaken to advance the development of this policy with BCC. Firstly the whole inner city suburb of Fortitude Valley was noise mapped to show areas of higher noise and to identify whether the source was an entertainment venue or other. Secondly four key live entertainment venues were inspected and a cost benefit study was undertaken to confirm the value in $ per dB of acoustically treating the venues. Thirdly eight Valley apartments were inspected and a cost befit study was undertaken to confirm the value in $ per dB of acoustically treating the apartments.
• Road Traffic Interim Guidelines and Technical notes, Qld Transport – cost benefit study of the value of acoustically treating the facades of residential building to control road traffic noise

Peer Review 

• Tripple High Rise Mixed Use Tower, Fortitude Valley – review of acoustic assessment for proposed triple high rise residential and retail tower project in Fortitude Valley against Brisbane City Plan 2014 for Brisbane City Council
• Tourism Tours – review of acoustic assessment for proposed Quad Bide tours of State Forest for Council
• Lime Plant redevelopment, Rockhampton – review of criteria and modelling results for the proponent
• Cement Australia Plant, Gladstone – review of noise monitoring and assessment for Cement Australia
• Shale Oil Project, Gladstone – review of noise monitoring plan and results to improve the value of the noise monitoring program for shale oil company
• Speedway Events, Archerfield – review of noise assessment for Brisbane City Council

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Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have provided advice to industry, developers, councils and state government bodies regarding Quarries, Coal Mining, Ports, Coal Seam Gas, Refining, Manufacturing and general Industrial developments. Projects have ranged in size from environmental impact studies for new mines and international production facilities to small processing plant and light industrial facilities. Our staff are well regarded by local and state government bodies which assists in providing a direct path to the best outcome. Our approach 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.

The Acoustics Goal:

The goal of the acoustic consultant for industrial projects is to provide an easily understood assessment, with clear recommendations for noise and vibration control measures if required to assist the client to achieve their desired outcome. For industry and government bodies this requires:

• a thorough knowledge of the noise and vibration policy,
• providing 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 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:

Projects have involved:

• environmental impact assessment studies for construction and operation,
• occupational noise investigations,
• noise modelling,
• complaint investigations,
• development of technical specifications for tender, and
• design and testing of acoustic treatments to enable occupational and environmental noise criteria to be met.

Acoustic work has included:

• noise and vibration monitoring,
• calculating daily noise doses (Leq) and Lpeak for occupational noise assessment,
• blasting over pressure noise and ground vibration monitoring,
• measurement of sound power levels for plant and equipment,
• piling underwater noise,
• application of noise and vibration criteria,
• development of site specific noise criteria,
• allowance for low frequency noise,
• understanding the plant operation,
• preparing 3D noise models for accurate prediction of industry noise levels,
• validation of predicted noise levels against measured noise levels,
• design of suitable noise control measures to enable the noise criteria to be met,
• preparation of noise management plans,
• presentation of findings in a clear concise report with informative figures and noise contour plots,
• preparation of joint expert reports and court reports, and
• presentation of the noise and vibration evidence as expert witness in planning and environment legal proceedings.

Noise Control Measures:

Treatments have been designed for a wide range of noise and vibration sources including:

• noise and vibration isolation treatments for 900kW pumping station,
• design and costing of noise control measures for gas well head compressors,
• enclosure for timber web profiling machine,
• in-line silencers for large exhaust fans (8 x 500kVA motors),
• barriers/enclosures/ close fitting resonator treatments for large transformers,
• conveyors,
• barriers and internal treatments for panel beating & mechanical workshop noise,
• dredge engine enclosure,
• rail grinding machine,
• linings for timber processing industry,
• laundry exhaust fan attenuators,
• cooling tower attenuators,
• enclosures & barriers,
• air conditioning & ventilation plant and ducting treatments,
• rockdrill temporary enclosure,
• options for reversing beepers,
• barriers for loading docks,
• impact noise control options for various industries, and
• steam valve enclosures.

Facilities have included:

• oil & gas industry,
• drilling and fraccing for gas,
• workers camps,
• RO water treatment plant,
• compressor stations,
• mines,
• conveyors,
• railway unloading facilities,
• coal terminals,
• port ship loading facilities,
• alumina refinery,
• aluminium smelter,
• cement production,
• magnesium production,
• sugar mills,
• scrap metal processing,
• dredging,
• railway equipment,
• panel beating,
• industrial sub-divisions,
• abattoirs,
• private railways & roads,
• concrete batching plant,
• construction noise & vibration,
• bio-fuel refining plant,
• commercial kitchens and laundries,
• hard rock quarries,
• sand and gravel quarries,
• wind farms,
• power stations,
• power distribution and sub-stations,
• mechanical workshops,
• timber milling,
• rubber manufacturing,
• paper processing,
• water and sewerage plants, and
• waste transfer stations.

Projects undertaken by Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have included:

Oil & Gas 

• QGC Curtis Island QCLNG Plant EIS – noise and vibration
• QGC Surat North gas fields EIS – noise and vibration
• QGC – monitoring, modelling, assessment and design of noise control measures for: drilling and fraccing, construction worker camps, pipeline right of way, pipe laydown areas, cumulative noise impacts, field compressor stations, central processing plant, RO water treatment plant design and specification of treatments with Bechtel, venting, flaring, gas well head compressor layout assessment
• Origin Energy – gas field compressors, nodal compressors
• APLNG Curtis Island LNG Plant – modelling and design of treatments to achieve compliance
• SANTOS pipeline – noise assessment for pipeline truck haul route near Port Alma

Mining and Quarries 

• Dudgeon Point Coal Terminal – stacker reclaimer, railway, rail unloading, piling underwater noise
• Hay Point Coal Terminal Expansion – piling underwater noise
• Rolleston Coal Mine EIS – noise and vibration
• Rail Siding Environmental Noise Management Plan – Emerald
• McArthur River Mines (Bing Bong outloading facility)
• Redbank mine blast monitoring
• Mt Cotton Quarry
• Holts Hill Quarry
• Mt Marrow Quarry
• Mackay Quarry
• Blast monitoring for various Pioneer and Boral quarries

Power Industry

• Millmerran Power Station noise to residence
• Direct Link power converter station, Mullumbimby – noise assessment, compliance monitoring and approvals
• Substation assessment and noise control for transformers, capacitor banks, load cells, line traps located at – Tweed North, Tweed South, Terranora, Cudgen, Banora Point, Murwillumbah, Ballina, Terranora underground lines
• South Tweed Load Cell – design and testing of noise and vibration control measures
• Terranora new transformer – monitoring, review of enclosure design, inspections at Wilson factory in Melbourne

General Industry

• Frog Metals – metal recycling
• One Steel, Gladstone – metal recycling
• Shale Oil Project Gladstone – review of noise management
• Beenleigh Abattoir
• Lake Creek Abattoir
• Industrial Estate, Beaudesert
• Wastelink concrete crushing and recycling Waste Transfer Stations, Nerang and Pinkenba
• Landscape Supplies, Sand & Gravel
• Boyne Smelters potline fans and 3rd Potline expansion
• Cement Australia Plant, Gladstone – review of plant noise assessment
• Alumina Refinery Wharf, West Kalimantan
• Process Mill Noise, Chengdu
• Queensland Newspapers
• Hyne Timbers, Maryborough
• CSR Softwoods, Caboolture
• Boral Timber sawmill
• Boral Plywood, Ipswich
• Various sugar mills
• Commercial laundries
• Panel beating and mechanical workshops
• Residential sub-division pumping station
• Australia Post parcel handling facility
• TAFE workshops
• Queensland Magnesia

Occupational – Workplace Health, Noise Dose, Hearing Protection, Engineering Solutions

• Cairns helicopters – noise survey
• Queensland Alumina, Gladstone – noise mapping for site
• Qld Rubber – noise survey and management measures
• Paper Bag manufacturing – noise survey

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Acoustics Noise Vibration staff understand the special design requirements for health facilities including: Aged Care, Hospitals, Laboratories, Medical Research, Imaging and Medical Clinics.

The Acoustics Goal:

The goal of the acoustic design for health buildings is to create spaces that enable the care, treatment and speedy recovery of patients. This has included:

• the design of the building façade to control emergency helicopter noise intrusion,
• design of acoustic treatments for clean rooms and PC2 laboratories, and
• designing acoustic treatments for the hospital central energy plant.

Key Elements:

Building projects have included:

• heritage buildings,
• refurbishment of existing facilities, and
• new building projects.

Acoustic work has included:

• noise and vibration monitoring,
• measurement and testing of room acoustics,
• façade design to control aircraft, road, rail and plant noise intrusion,
• setting suitable internal noise criteria,
• reviewing internal noise level requirements for emergency helicopter flights,
• Building Code acoustic design,
• internal acoustic privacy between spaces (via walls, doors, ceilings, floors, ducting),
• separation of noisy areas such as nurses stations and dirty utilities from wards,
• specialised internal acoustic design for audiology booths,
• selection of special finishes for clean rooms and PC2 laboratories,
• ESD and green star rating requirements,
• design of floating floors to limit footfall and workshop noise,
• roof treatments to control rain noise,
• mechanical and electrical plant noise control treatments to meet internal and external noise criteria,
• hydraulic services noise control,
• workplace health and safety considerations for workshop facilities,
• safety in design considerations, and
• defects inspections during construction.

Facilities have included:

• Entrance/ foyer/ atrium spaces,
• medical suites,
• wards,
• consulting rooms,
• treatment rooms,
• operating theatres,
• radiology,
• audiology booths,
• emergency,
• birthing suits,
• dirty utilities,
• medical imaging,
• wards,
• chapel,
• dining rooms,
• kitchen,
• laundry,
• staff areas,
• PC2 an PC3 laboratories,
• animal house facilities,
• indoor swimming pools,
• gymnasium,
• libraries,
• private offices,
• open plan office spaces,
• training rooms,
• board rooms,
• meeting rooms,
• seminar spaces,
• lecture theatres,
• roof top helipads,
• central energy plant,
• plantrooms, and
• workshops.

Projects undertaken by Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have included:

Hospitals

• Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital – Central and East Blocks
• Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital – Central Energy Plant
• Cairns Hospital- laboratories, mental health, Acute Block, Surgical/ Pathology Block, workshops
• Hervey Bay Hospital
• Toowoomba Hospital
• Prince Charles Hospital – medical air facilities
• Holy Spirit Hospital – birthing suites

Medical Research and Teaching Facilities

• Qld Institute of Medial Research (QIMR) Comprehensive Cancer Research Facility, Herston
• Medical Research Centre, Herston
• Anatomy Laboratory – University of Queensland, St Lucia
• School of Medicine – University of Queeensland, Herston
• General Practitioners Training Centre, Stafford

Medical and Community Clinics

• Sports Medicine Clinic refurbishment office and reception acoustic privacy – Holy Spirit Hospital
• Consulting rooms – Holy Spirit Hospital
• Counselling Rooms, Ashgrove
• GP Super Clinic
• Crematorium, Bundaberg

Aged Care

• Woodford Aged Care
• South Tweed Aged Care
• Coolangatta Aged Care & Workshop noise
• Blue Care Aged Care, Redland Bay

The post health appeared first on Acoustics Noise Vibration.

Acoustics Noise Vibration engineering staff have a background in performance and are able to bring a fresh perspective to events. Projects have included: Concerts, Events, Music Venues, Clubs, Liquor Licensing Approvals, Noise Management Plans, Condition Negotiation, Cinemas and Theme Parks.

The Acoustics Goal:

The goal of the acoustic work is to enable the entertainment to meet or exceed the expectations of patrons while meeting internal and external noise criteria. This has included:

• modelling noise levels from a roller coaster to confirm it can meet environmental noise criteria at the nearest residences,
• designing suitable acoustic constructions for licensed clubs and entertainment venues to control noise emissions,
• developing noise management plans and conditions to allow suitable internal levels for musicians and fans while satisfying Council requirements, and
• undertaking compliance monitoring and reporting to validate modelling and reinforce suitable noise criteria.

Key Elements:

Entertainment projects have included refurbishment of existing buildings and new building projects. Acoustic work has included:

• noise and vibration monitoring,
• setting noise criteria for licensed venues to meet Liquor Licensing requirements,
• testing inside and outside new music venues to determine suitable internal levels to enable external criteria to be met,
• façade and roof design to control noise radiating to residences,
• setting suitable noise limits at the mixing desk for outdoor concerts to meet noise criteria at nearest residences,
• design of acoustic finishes for music facilities to achieve a great performance and listening space,
• mechanical and electrical plant noise control treatments to meet internal and external noise criteria,
• inspections during construction, and
• workplace health and safety considerations for acoustically isolated rooms.

Projects undertaken by Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have included:

Larger Entertainment Projects

• South Bank noise management plan based on regular meetings with event management staff and monitoring of a representative range of events over a 12 month period. Events were held as open air and piazza (semi-enclosed space), and included: rock concerts, opera, cinema, bike races, competitions, presentation ceremonies, corporate promotional events, markets, and festivals. Annual reviews of events and feedback via hotline and preparation of review report with recommended improvements
• Valley Music Noise Policy work included: noise mapping of the entire Fortitude Valley entertainment area, noise monitoring, cost benefit analysis of acoustic treatments for venues, cost benefit analysis of acoustic treatments for apartments
• Northbridge Entertainment Precinct Noise, Perth: discussions regarding noise management options similar to Fortitude Valley
• National Rugby League match Clive Berghoffer Stadium Toowoomba compliance noise monitoring, compliance report, liaison with client regarding future events, preparation of noise management plan
• Splendour in The Grass festival at Byron Bay compliance monitoring as part of a team of acoustic engineers, provision of live feedback during performances to each of the six stages
• AFL match Sydney Cricket Ground compliance monitoring, liaison with sound system team, and preparation of compliance report

Licensed Music Venues

• Bar Liquor License application acoustic design, Brunswick Street Mall
• Dicey Reilly’s Liquor License application noise assessment and appeal, Toowong
• Cheers Tavern Liquor License application noise assessment and appeal, Kenmore
• Wool Store Function Centre Liquor License noise testing, Cairns
• Brisbane Underground Club Liquor License acoustic design and noise testing, Brisbane
• Hotel Liquor License noise testing, Colmslie and Calamvale

Public Entertainment Venues

• Youth Centre Auditorium and Rooms acoustic design, Coomera
• Speedway noise assessment review, Archerfield

Theme Park Entertainment

• Dreamworld – Water Park Stages 1 & 2, Reptar Roller coaster, The Claw ride, The Cyclone roller coaster
• Dreamworld Beattie Road Land Use investigation
• Dreamworld – Sunrise TV program, concerts and night time public and corporate events
• Polo Amusement Park – Review of Proposal

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Acoustics Noise Vibration staff understand the design requirements for a wide range of educational buildings including: University, Trade Training Centres, Private and Public Primary and High Schools, Pre-School, Special Schools, Kindergarten, and Child Care.

The Acoustics Goal:

The goal of good acoustic design for educational buildings is to create spaces that are easy to teach and learn in. This will enable better imparting of knowledge from teachers to students, and will enable the facility to be rented out for others to use should this be of interest to the owner. Studies have shown that there is direct relationship between good acoustics and learning. Some spaces also require the acoustic design to allow easy communication during question time, so that the teacher and class mates can hear questions being asked by another student.

Key Elements:

Building projects have included:

• master planning for new school sites,
• heritage buildings,
• redevelopment of existing buildings for new uses, and
• new building projects.

Acoustic work has included:

• noise and vibration monitoring to set criteria and investigate existing facilities,
• measurement and testing of room acoustics,
• façade design to control aircraft, road, rail and plant noise intrusion,
• setting suitable internal noise criteria,
• internal acoustic privacy between spaces (via walls, doors, ceilings, floors, ducting),
• computer modelling of lecture theatres and auditoria,
• specialised internal acoustic design for recording studios,
• design of operable walls to allow spaces to be combined for larger events and to achieve a suitable level of acoustic privacy between spaces,
• design of treatments to control reverberation in larger spaces,
• design of floating floors to limit footfall noise from dance and drama rooms/ concourses,
• roof treatments to control rain noise,
• mechanical and electrical plant noise control treatments to meet internal and external noise criteria,
• ESD and green star rating requirements,
• hydraulic services noise control,
• workplace health and safety considerations for workshop facilities,
• safety in design considerations, and
• defects inspections during construction.

Facilities have included:

• auditoria,
• assembly halls,
• sports halls,
• life training centres,
• early learning spaces,
• home economics,
• hospitality,
• music practice rooms,
• video/ television/ music recording studios,
• creative and visual arts spaces,
• dance studios, drama spaces, performing arts complexes,
• art galleries,
• multi-media rooms,
• multi-sensory rooms,
• withdrawal rooms,
• project rooms,
• lecture theatres (150 – 500 seat),
• general learning areas (20 – 80 seat),
• libraries,
• computer labs,
• science laboratories,
• outdoor covered learning areas,
• Dean’s suite,
• board rooms,
• meeting rooms,
• private offices,
• open plan office spaces,
• training rooms,
• seminar spaces,
• innovative learning spaces,
• video conferencing rooms,
• entrance/ foyer/ display/ gathering spaces, and
• workshops.

Projects undertaken by Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have included:

Early Learning Centres

• The Gap Child Care Centre
• McDowell Child Care Centre

Schools

• Cairns Special School – new school master planning, performance hall, music, multi-sensory, hospitality, therapy, withdrawal, GLA’s, workshop
• St Francis Music & Computer Facility
• Highfields SHS – new school master plan, music, science labs, auditorium, workshops
• Gordonvale SHS – Year 7 music facility and GLA’s
• Townsville Grammar – drama, dance and music teaching/ practice spaces and performance space
• Bremer SSC – master plan, road traffic Noise, Performing Arts Complex
• Inala SHS – auditorium extensions, music facilities, library and GLA’s
• Bundamba SSC – GLA’s, Performing Arts facilities, recording studios, music practice rooms, rehearsal rooms, LTC with climbing wall, gym and offices
• St Ursula’s College Dance, Drama and Music facility – rehearsal spaces and tuition rooms
• St. Pauls Science Block
• Redlands Private College Auditorium
• Various ministerial designations for State Schools
• Moreton Bay College – Auditorium, Library, Music facilities, computer labs
• Performing Arts Complex Faith Lutheran College Laidley
• Mercy College Mackay Sports Auditorium
• Inala State School (GLA’s Music rooms)
• Glenala SHS – music practice & hall, workshops
• Inala Special School – GLA’s

University

• The Learning Innovation Building, UQ – open plan office, sound and video studios for recording and editing of training materials)
• Zelman Cowan Seminar Room 207, UQ – advanced seminar space
• GPN4 building, UQ – Received the Australian Institute of Architects President’s Prize – offices, language training facilities, four lecture theatres, seminar rooms, advanced teaching spaces, Comprehensive Learning Centre and ACTS space with state-of-the-art electronic teaching facilities
• GPN3 building, UQ – offices and teaching spaces, IT support facilities, computer labs, lecture rooms, teaching spaces, academic staff offices, student offices, board room, and major chiller and cooling tower installation to support several local buildings
• Medical School Herston, UQ – mechanical plant
• Social Research Centre, UQ – call centre
• QUT Z Block Business Faculty – located 30 meters from the SE Freeway in Brisbane City, large public foyer space, 5 lecture theatres ranging from 150 to 500 seats, offices, teaching rooms, a “world class guest speaker” seminar space overlooking the Brisbane River
• QUT X Block refurbishment – new rehearsal facilities, refurbishment of the existing theatre, new child care centre, refurbishment of existing office floors, and new break-out/function room area
• QUT Art Gallery
• Australian Catholic University – offices, lecture theatres, music practice and recording rooms, nursing, theology, music, the arts, and computer studies
• Academic 1 Building, Griffith University – specialised acoustic design for music practice rooms, video and music recording studios, and control rooms at the Queensland Conservatorium of Contemporary Music
• Academic 2 Building, Griffith University – offices, teaching spaces, and computer laboratories
• Central Qld University, Gladstone Campus – Entry Court, Cafeteria, and Display Court

TAFE & Trade Training Centres

• Yeronga TAFE
• Australian Technical College Townsville – workshops, teaching spaces, library and administration
• TAFE Environmental Noise Review

Private Training Centres

• General Practice Doctors training Facility

The post education appeared first on Acoustics Noise Vibration.

Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have provided advice to developers, councils and state government bodies regarding development approval matters including: mandatory code MP4.4, RPEQ Certification, City Plan 2014, review of Council and State Government noise criteria, Residential, Community, Health, Child Care, Hospitality, Sport, Retail, Concerts, Theme Parks, Commercial, Education, Infrastructure, and Industrial developments. 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 over-looked, thus minimising the time and financial risk to clients.

The Acoustics Goal:

The goal of the acoustic consultant is to provide clear advice regarding the requirements to achieve the approval. For developers and government bodies this requires:

• a thorough knowledge of the noise 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:

• heritage buildings,
• refurbishment of existing facilities, and
• new building projects.

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,
• traffic noise modelling to allow assessment of noise categories under mandatory code MP4.4, City Plan 2014, Regional and City Council criteria, Transport and Main Roads policy, Queensland Rail policy,
• aircraft noise assessment to Council and AS2021 requirements,
• negotiation of suitable noise and vibration conditions,
• development of noise and vibration managements 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 Queensland Government,
• workshop sections of Brisbane City Plan 2014 new noise policy with Brisbane City Council, and
• development of the Noise Management Plan and Protocols for South Bank.

Refer to the Policy and Peer Review page for further details

Facilities have included:

• Residential high rise and subdivisions,
• churches,
• child care centres,
• aged care,
• health,
• education facilities,
• entertainment venues,
• theme park rides & events,
• outdoor concerts,
• motor racing,
• retail centres,
• service stations,
• commercial and mixed use developments,
• industrial sub-divisions,
• dog kennels,
• hardware centres,
• construction workers camps,
• abattoirs,
• rail & road corridors,
• concrete batching plant,
• construction noise & vibration,
• bio-fuel refining plant,
• quarries & mines,
• wind farms,
• power stations,
• power distribution and sub-stations,
• mechanical workshops,
• oil & gas industry,
• timber milling,
• transport tunnels,
• water and sewerage plants, and
• waste transfer stations.

Projects undertaken by Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have included:

Residential estates

• North Lakes residential sub-division
• Augustus residential sub-division
• Gladstone residential sub-division

Residential towers & apartments

• Longland Street mixed use development Newstead
• Wyandra Street apartments Newstead
• Doggett Street apartments Newstead
• Cornwall Street apartments Woolloongabba
• Logan Road apartments Mt Gravatt
• Finucane Road apartments Alexandra Hills
• Review of proposed triple tower mixed use development Fortitude Valley
• Roma Street Backpackers Hostel
• Highfields Motel Toowoomba

Church & Community

• Bridgeman Baptist Church youth facility and meeting rooms
• Kenmore Baptist Church
• Gateway Baptist Church
• Hosanna Church
• Coomera Youth centre

Health

• Woodford Aged care
• Coolangatta Aged Care Facility & Workshops
• South Tweed Aged Care
• Blue Care Redlands Facility
• Herston Medical Research Centre
• Hervey Bay Hospital
• Royal Brisbane Hospital Central Energy Plant
• GP Super Clinic
• Bundaberg Crematorium

Child care centres

• The Gap Child Care
• McDowall Child Care

Hospitality

• Cheers Tavern, Kenmore
• Woolstore Function Centre, Cairns

Sport

• Jindalee Sports Centre
• Toowoomba Sports Grounds
• AFL match Sydney Cricket Ground
• Archerfield Speedway
• Night Tennis Courts – Westlake and Milton

Retail

• ALDI stores throughout Qld and northern NSW
• Marsden Specialty Shops
• Data Centre tenancy Kenmore shopping centre
• Centro Milton
• Homemaker Centre Maroochydore
• Bunnings Toowoomba

Concerts

• Splendour in the Grass Festival monitoring for conditions
• Laneway Festival discussions with Council
• Dreamworld Theme Park – morning events, evening events, night time concerts
• South Bank open air and piazza (semi-enclosed space) events including: rock concerts, opera, cinema, bike races, competitions, presentation ceremonies, corporate promotional events, markets, and festivals

Theme Parks

• Dreamworld Theme Park – Reptar Roller Coaster, Cyclone Roller Coaster, The Claw ride, White Water World Theme Park, Beattie Road Land Use investigation
• Polo Amusement Park – Review of proposed development

Education

• Australian Catholic University refurbishment and development Banyo
• Yeronga TAFE
• University of Queensland Medical School, Herston
• Various Ministerial Designations for State Schools

Dog Kennels

• RSPCA dog noise Toowoomba
• Dog Kennels Maryborough

Service Stations

• Seven Eleven store and BP Service Stations
• Arundel Service Station & Fast Food
• BP Service Station Car Wash facilities

Infrastructure & Industry

• Road tunnel ventilation station noise, Sydney – West Connex Stage 1b, West Connex Stage 2
• Water Pumping station
• Power Station noise at farm residence
• Directlink power transmission project
• Power Sub-stations – North Tweed Heads, Banora Point, South Tweed Heads, Cudgen, Terranora, Coffs Harbour, Murwillumbah, Lennox Head, Ballina
• Frog Metals
• One Steel Gladstone
• Workers construction camps Thangool and Chinchilla
• QGC and SANTOS Pipe laydown areas and haul routes Thangool and Port Alma
• Mackay Quarry
• Mt Marrow Quarry
• Landscape Supplies, Warner
• Rockhampton Lime Plant redevelopment review
• Industrial estate Beaudesert
• Industrial estate Mackay
• Waste Transfer Stations Nerang and Pinkenba

The post Development Approvals appeared first on Acoustics Noise Vibration.

Acoustics Noise Vibration staff understand the construction process for a wide range of projects from refurbishments to major infrastructure and buildings. These have required the development of practical demolition & construction management plans, modelling of potential impacts, acoustic testing of building constructions, and noise and vibration monitoring.

The Acoustics Goal:

The goal of the noise and vibration work is to enable the construction to proceed in a safe and environmentally acceptable way. This has included the use of:

• 3D modelling software to predict noise levels and present noise contours to relevant authorities,
• review of proposed construction activities to agree on construction methods that will reduce noise and vibration to acceptable standards, and
• use of wireless noise and vibration monitoring systems to enable SMS and email alerts and warnings to be sent to the onsite contractors to manage the levels and office staff to enable easy reporting of incidents.

Key Elements:

Construction projects have included:

• refurbishment of heritage buildings and structures,
• new building projects near sensitive laser laboratories, mass spectrograph facilities, residential, health buildings,
• piling over road tunnels,
• infrastructure and oil & gas projects near residential and livestock,
• construction transport routes, and
• underwater noise impacts from piling and dredging as part of transportation, port and harbour developments.

The work has involved:

• review of contracts to interpret noise and vibration management and measurement requirements,
• preparation of management plans and monitoring programs,
• setting noise and vibration criteria based on relevant standards, guidelines and experience with other projects,
• 3D modelling of noise impacts,
• attended noise and vibration monitoring to confirm suitability of the criteria and compliance,
• review of construction methods to reduce noise and vibration emissions,
• noise logging using equipment with audio capability,
• vibration logging using wireless systems to allow remote access of data,
• acoustic testing of constructions,
• analysis of noise and vibration data,
• monthly reporting, and
• compliance reporting.

Projects undertaken by Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have included:

• ANZAC square redevelopment, Brisbane City
• Water Street apartments, Fortitude Valley
• Government House, Paddington
• ALDI food store site, Miami
• Shafston Ave apartments, Kangaroo Point
• Acoustic testing and certification of Secret Rooms for Defence at Cabarala, Enoggera and Townsville
• Workers construction camps Thangool and Chinchilla
• QGC and SANTOS Pipe laydown areas and haul routes Thangool and Port Alma
• Learning Innovation Building construction vibration, UQ St Lucia Campus
• Glebe Bridge Maintenance sand blasting
• West Connex Stage 2, Road Tunnel Sydney – preparation of construction scenarios for modelling of tunnel surface works including effectiveness of temporary acoustic sheds, and preparation of construction noise assessment report to NSW Interim Construction Noise Guideline
• Dudgeon Point & Hay Point Coal Terminal construction including piling underwater noise impacts, management of technical work
• Rolleston Coal Mine and rail loop construction noise and vibration assessment for Environmental Impact Study
• Queensland Institute of Medical Research at Herston, noise & vibration management plan
• Inspections and defects reporting for numerous: Commercial, Residential, Retail, Educational, Health, Defence, Community Buildings

The post Construction appeared first on Acoustics Noise Vibration.