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