Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment O1
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Appendix Noise and O1 Vibration Impact Assessment Hunter H2O Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment 267007-AC01 Issue 1 | 27 October 2020 This report takes into account the particular instructions and requirements of our client. It is not intended for and should not be relied upon by any third party and no responsibility is undertaken to any third party. Job number 267007 Arup – Canberra Office Suite 4.04 Level 4 10 Moore Street Canberra ACT 2600 Australia www.arup.com Document verification Job title Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Job number 267007 Document title Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment File reference Document ref 267007-AC01 Revision Date Filename 267007-AC01_v1 QSTP Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment.docx Draft 1 30 June Description First draft 2020 Prepared by Checked by Approved by Name Ida Larrazabal Glenn Wheatley Glenn Wheatley Signature Issue 1 27 267007-AC01_v2 QSTP Noise and Vibration Impact Filename October Assessment FINAL.docx 2020 Description First issue Prepared by Checked by Approved by Name Ida Larrazabal Glenn Wheatley Glenn Wheatley Signature Filename Description Prepared by Checked by Approved by Name Signature Filename Description Prepared by Checked by Approved by Name Signature Issue Document verification with document 267007-AC01 | Issue 1 | 27 October 2020 C:\USERS\FIONA.RILEY\DESKTOP\QUEANBEYAN REVIEWS\267007-AC01 V2 QSTP NOISE AND VIBRATION ASSESSMENT FINAL.DOCX Hunter H2O Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment Contents Page 1 Introduction 3 1.1 Project Description 3 1.2 Environmental Authorisation 3 2 Statutory Context and Standards 5 2.1 Summary of Key Documents 5 2.2 Applicability to Road Traffic Noise 6 2.3 Applicability to Construction Noise 7 2.4 Applicability to Vibration: Human Comfort 7 2.5 Applicability to Vibration: Building Damage 9 2.6 Applicability to Operational Noise 11 3 Noise Receivers 13 4 Construction Impacts 15 4.1 Construction Overview 15 4.2 Construction Noise Assessment 18 4.3 Construction Vibration Assessment 21 4.4 Construction Generated Traffic 21 5 Operational Impacts 22 5.1 Operational Overview: Existing vs Proposed 22 5.2 Operational Noise Assessment 26 5.3 Operational Vibration Assessment 26 6 Mitigation Measures 27 6.1 Construction Noise Mitigation and Management Measures 27 6.2 Construction Vibration Management 30 6.3 Operational Noise and Vibration Management 31 7 Conclusion 32 8 Bibliography 34 Appendices Appendix A Acoustic Terminology 267007-AC01 | Issue 1 | 27 October 2020 C:\USERS\FIONA.RILEY\DESKTOP\QUEANBEYAN REVIEWS\267007-AC01 V2 QSTP NOISE AND VIBRATION ASSESSMENT FINAL.DOCX Hunter H2O Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment 267007-AC01 | Issue 1 | 27 October 2020 C:\USERS\FIONA.RILEY\DESKTOP\QUEANBEYAN REVIEWS\267007-AC01 V2 QSTP NOISE AND VIBRATION ASSESSMENT FINAL.DOCX Hunter H2O Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment 1 Introduction Arup has been engaged to conduct an Environmental Noise and Vibration Assessment for the construction and operational phases of the proposed upgrade to the Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant (QSTP) (‘the Project’) in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The Assessment addresses emissions to surrounding developments and has been carried out in accordance with the requirements of relevant ACT noise and vibration policies further described in Section 2 of this Assessment. 1.1 Project Description The Project will provide an upgraded sewage treatment plant (STP) for 75,000 EP (equivalent population) in an area adjacent to the current STP. [1] The design has also considered a further capacity of 150,000 EP with the assumption that the same process technology will be located within the current leased area available. [2] The concept design has been developed based on the design criteria and assumptions report [1] and an options study that selected the preferred treatment process for the upgrade. [3] The Project aims to be operational by 2024 and includes the following key facilities and components: Primary inlet works with screening and grit removal Secondary biological processes to remove carbon and nutrients Tertiary filtration to remove phosphorus, solids and pathogens such as protozoa Disinfection to treat pathogens such as viruses and bacteria Sludge treatment to stabilise biosolids for offsite reuse Controlled effluent discharge to the Molonglo River providing a safe environmental flow to Lake Burley Griffin All buildings including administration and those that house support facilities Standpipe for recycled water to be provided for offsite use Mountain Road upgrade Decommissioning of the current evaporation ponds followed by rehabilitation to return them to their more natural river and riparian state. 1.2 Environmental Authorisation Under the Environment Protection Act 1997, certain activities that pose environmental risk require environmental authorisation. Environmental authorisations are one of the most important regulatory tools available to the Environment Protection Authority (ACT EPA), as they set out conditions for activities carrying with them the greatest environmental risk [4] 267007-AC01 | Issue 1 | 27 October 2020 | Arup Page 3 Hunter H2O Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment The Environmental Authorisation 0417 (dated 21 February 2017) which authorises the operation of sewage treatment and storage of petroleum products of the existing QSTP facility does not note any specific criteria for noise. It makes references to an Environmental Management Plan which requires the protection of the amenity of nearby residents from noise/vibration impacts resulting from activities associated with the existing development by ensuring that noise/vibration levels meet statutory requirements and acceptable standards. 267007-AC01 | Issue 1 | 27 October 2020 | Arup Page 4 Hunter H2O Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment 2 Statutory Context and Standards This section lists, explains and assesses the relevance of key statutory documents and standards. 2.1 Summary of Key Documents Key Legislation and PolicyIn assessing the noise and vibration impacts of the QSTP, the following policies, acts and regulations are relevant: ACT Government Environment Protection Act 1997 [5] ACT Government Environment Protection Regulation [6] ACT Environment Protection Authority Noise Environment Protection Policy 2010 [7] These documents are summarised here and their applicability to the Project is explored in sections 2.2 to 2.6. Environment Protection Act 1997 The ACT Environment Protection Act 1997 (the EP Act) [5] sets out the basis for regulations and policies pertaining to protection of the environment within the ACT. The EP Act makes provision for general environmental duty such that: “A person must take the steps that are practicable and reasonable to prevent or minimise environmental harm or environmental nuisance caused, or likely to be caused, by an activity conducted by that person.” Environmental nuisance is defined by the EP Act to include noise emission that causes unreasonable interference to the enjoyment of the public, a section of the public or a person of a place or area. In the context of the proposed QSTP, noise emissions could be generated by construction or operation activities. The relevant policies and guidelines are discussed in the succeeding sections that address these matters. Environment Protection Regulation 2005 Section 25 of the ACT Government Environment Protection Regulation 2005 (‘the Regulation’) [6] makes provision for excessive noise that causes environmental harm, to support the intent of the EP Act. The Regulation states: “Under section 25 (1), noise is not taken to cause environmental harm in an affected place if it is noise mentioned in schedule 2, table 2.3, column 2 and the conditions (if any) mentioned in column 3 for the noise are met.” Under the Regulation, the ACT is divided into ‘Noise Zones’ in accordance with land use policies defined by the Territory Plan. ‘Noise Standards’ apply to each Noise Zone, except where otherwise permitted by the Regulation. This regulation would apply to fixed infrastructure noise and construction. 267007-AC01 | Issue 1 | 27 October 2020 | Arup Page 5 Hunter H2O Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plant Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment ACT EPA Noise Environment Protection Policy 2010 The ACT EPA Noise Environment Protection Policy 2010 (NEPP) [7] has been published to provide guidance on meeting the legislative requirements, particularly the EP Act, and requirements of the Regulation applicable to noise. The objective of the NEPP is to establish environmental noise limits which are consistent with the requirements and Object of the EP Act. Section 7 of the NEPP outlines how the ‘Noise Standards’ and ‘Noise Zones’ defined in the Regulation are applied, and Section 9 defines the permitted activities, with some extenuating circumstances set out in Table 2.3 of Schedule 2 of the Regulation. 2.1.1 Key Guidance Material The following guidance, resources and documents are relevant: Roads ACT Noise Management Guidelines 2018 [8] NSW Department of Environment and Conservation Assessing Vibration: A Technical Guideline 2006 [9] British Standard BS 6472:2008 – Guide to Evaluation of Human Exposure to Vibration in Buildings Part 1: Vibration sources other than blasting [10] British Standards BS 7385-1:1990 - Evaluation and measurement for vibration