Compared to the situation under the current regulations, residents with neighbouring premises undergoing construction may experience more noise annoyance for 3 months of the year between 5am 7am on – weekdays. Given concrete pouring for residential construction does not occur for extended periods the extra noise annoyance may be limited in duration. There is a likelihood that it may trigger other construction work to start which could generate noise and create more noise annoyance. There is also a risk of the definition of dispensing being exploited to include other noise generation trucks and ‘trucks concrete’ creating more noise annoyance for residents. Impact for industry Construction involving concrete pouring at residential premises could occur 2 hours earlier for 3 months of the year. This may increase the flexibility of the residential construction industry, which may reduce costs and improve productivity. Impact for local government Local government may receive more noise complaints, given that there may be more noise annoyance. However it would be quicker to explain to a complainant that concrete pouring noise is not considered unreasonable under the proposed new regulations than having to attend and investigate the alleged source of the complaint under the current regulations. There is also a risk of the definition of dispensing ‘trucks being exploited to include other noise generating trucks and creating more noise annoyance for concrete’ residents and noise complaints for local government. The costs and benefits of the option are presented in Table 16. Table 16 Costs and benefits of Option 2B (i): Reduce prohibited hours for concrete pouring Costs Benefits Community: Increased potential for noise Industry: Access to more optimal concrete pour annoyance and impacts to health from disturbing conditions with resulting benefits in terms of sleep although likely to be limited in duration as structural integrity of the concrete pour because concrete pours for residential Local government: Reduced cost to respond to construction does not occur for extended noise complaints because no requirement to periods. investigate noise complaints about concrete Industry: Increased cost to industry to pay for pours from 5am Monday to Friday operations in non-standard working hours which Community: Stronger, less compromised would be compared to the benefits of starting concrete earlier. Industry: Greater flexibility to operate in summer Industry: Increased burden on personnel to start months earlier in summer. Industry: Increased productivity more projects – State government: Need to communicate could be undertaken due to the reduced changes to the regulations. prohibited hours in summer months. Community: May trigger other construction work to start which could generate noise and create more noise annoyance Local government and community: Risk of the definition of dispensing being ‘trucks concrete’ exploited and generating noise annoyance and
Compared to the situation under the current regulations, residents with neighbouring premises undergoing construction may experience more noise annoyance for 3 months of the year between 5am – 7am on weekdays. Given concrete pouring for residential construction does not occur for extended periods the extra noise annoyance may be limited in duration. There is a likelihood that it may trigger other construction work to start which could generate noise and create more noise annoyance. There is also a risk of the definition of ‘trucks dispensing concrete’ being exploited to include other noise generation trucks and creating more noise annoyance for residents. Impact for industry Construction involving concrete pouring at residential premises could occur 2 hours earlier for 3 months of the year. This may increase the flexibility of the residential construction industry, which may reduce costs and improve productivity. Impact for local government Local government may receive more noise complaints, given that there may be more noise annoyance. However it would be quicker to explain to a complainant that concrete pouring noise is not considered unreasonable under the proposed new regulations than having to attend and investigate the alleged source of the complaint under the current regulations. There is also a risk of the definition of ‘trucks dispensing concrete’ being exploited to include other noise generating trucks and creating more noise annoyance for residents and noise complaints for local government. The costs and benefits of the option are presented in Table 16. Table 16 Costs and benefits of Option 2B (i): Reduce prohibited hours for concrete pouring Costs Benefits Community: Increased potential for noise annoyance and impacts to health from disturbing sleep although likely to be limited in duration as because concrete pours for residential construction does not occur for extended periods. Industry: Increased cost to industry to pay for operations in non-standard working hours which would be compared to the benefits of starting earlier. Industry: Increased burden on personnel to start earlier in summer. State government: Need to communicate changes to the regulations. Community: May trigger other construction work to start which could generate noise and create more noise annoyance Local government and community: Risk of the definition of ‘trucks dispensing concrete’ being exploited and generating noise annoyance and Industry: Access to more optimal concrete pour conditions with resulting benefits in terms of structural integrity of the concrete pour Local government: Reduced cost to respond to noise complaints because no requirement to investigate noise complaints about concrete pours from 5am Monday to Friday Community: Stronger, less compromised concrete Industry: Greater flexibility to operate in summer months Industry: Increased productivity – more projects could be undertaken due to the reduced prohibited hours in summer months.
Environment-Protection-Residential-Noise-Regulations-2018-RIS-Word.docx