[Greens-Media] Regional Rail train noise over the threshold - Hartland

[Adele.Pedder at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Western Suburbs Greens MP Colleen Hartland says that the government's 
Draft Passenger Rail Infrastructure Noise Policy*, released last week, 
confirms Regional Rail Link noise levels will exceed thresholds and noise 
mitigation measures need to be investigated.

"This noise policy affirms that communities calls for noise mitigation 
measures on the regional rail link corridor are justified" said Greens MP 
Colleen Hartland.

"Current noise levels on the rail corridor already exceed the 
investigation threshold levels in the governments draft policy"** 

"Footscray residents currently experience noise levels up to 105 decibels, 
20 decibels above the policy's 85 decibel threshold". 

"Maximum noise levels of 90–95 decibels are predicted along the rail 
corridor to Deer Park**, which also exceeds the threshold".

"Residents are being kept awake at night and now the figures have been 
released, the Minister should also be losing sleep knowing that noise 
mitigation has not yet been planned".

"The current state of play is that there is no limit to rail noise and 
this policy still doesn't provide a limit. In the least it acknowledges 
noise is a problems provides avenue for investigation into mitigation".

"The community has been waiting for action on noise mitigation since the 
RRL project was announced. This policy confirms it's time to get on with 
the job" said Ms Hartland. 

For comment: Colleen Hartland 0417 445 845 


* Draft Passenger Rail Infrastructure Noise Policy, August 2012. 
http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/projects/pt/draft-passenger-rail-infrastructure-noise-policy 


** Noise Impact Assessment Report Section 1 (Moonee Ponds Creek to Deer 
Park), July 2011. Version one. 
http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/81396/RRL1-20110712-NIAR-Section-1-v.1-FINAL.pdf


The following outlines the projected nose levels on the RRL corridor**. 
The Draft Passenger Rail Infrastructure Noise Policy states: Investigation 
thresholds for redevelopment of an existing passenger rail corridor = 85 
decibel max or a change of 3 decibel (p19). 

Typical maximum event noise levels of 90–95 dBLAmax are predicted 
generally along the RRL1 alignment, with the highest levels of up to 100 
dBLAmax around middle Footscray.

An increase in average noise levels of up to 5dB is predicted at some 
locations between Sunshine and Deer Park  - (draft noise policy indicates 
a change in 3 dB is the threshold which triggers investigation for noise 
mitigation**).

daytime and night-time average noise levels west of Sunshine is expected 
to increase by around 5dB by Year 10.

Noise levels between Moonee Ponds Creek and Tottenham are expected to 
increase only marginally (between 1 to 2 dB(A)).

The typical existing railway noise levels measured in the rail corridor 
were:
 - average weekday existing noise levels of 65-70dBLAeq, 15hr (daytime);
 - average week-night existing noise levels of 58-63dBLAeq, 9h 
(night-time); and
 - maximum existing noise levels of 100-105dBLAmax.





Adele Pedder

Electorate Officer
Greens MP Colleen Hartland 
Ph: 9689 6373. Mob: 0422 108 539
colleenhartland.org
75 Victoria Street Seddon 3011
 


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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
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