The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has drafted an updated Noise Guide for Local Government for public consultation until 27 September 2021.
The Noise Guide for Local Government provides practical guidance to council officers on the day-to-day management of common neighbourhood noise problems and in the interpretation of existing policy and legislation.
EPA Director Environmental Solutions Sonya Errington said the Guide assists councils to assess and apply the regulations to noise issues in the way that best suits their local government area.
"This new Guide gives clear advice on the regulatory and non-regulatory approaches to managing noise and community expectations," Ms Errington said.
"The Guide assists council officers in managing neighbour-to-neighbour problems and those noise issues resulting from commercial or industrial premises.
"It also assists planners by including planning considerations that can prevent future noise problems, such as land-use planning to avoid or minimise noise from land-use conflict. Noise-generating activities and noise-sensitive areas should be separated where practicable. For example, situating commercial buildings, recreation space or similar between incompatible land uses provides a physical barrier and/or spatial separation," Ms Errington added.
The key changes in the draft Noise Guide for Local Government include:
o improved and easier to navigate three-part structure;
o updated fact sheets for various common noise sources and summaries of which is the right regulatory authority;
o up-to-date worked examples for common neighbourhood noise issues; and
o consolidated and simplified technical and supporting information for council officers.
Once finalised, the Noise Guide for Local Government will replace the current Guide that was first published in 2013.
Have your say
Council staff and members of the community can:
· have their say at http://yoursay.epa.nsw.gov.au
· make enquiries on the draft Guide to
