New noise regulations will allow acceptable noise levels to be set

31/10/97

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said Western Australia's new noise regulations would provide local government and industry with clear information on how to administer and measure noise levels.

The new Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997, gazetted today, replace the Noise Abatement (Neighbourhood Annoyance) Regulations 1979.

"The old regulations enforced penalties (under the Environmental Protection Act 1986) after a disturbance had occurred while the new regulations are more proactive and enforce compliance so that disturbances do not occur," Mrs Edwardes said.

She said the new noise regulations would allow for the setting of acceptable noise levels before an event so that an enforceable noise management plan could be established, making noise levels easier to control.

"The new regulations do not alter the acceptable noise limits already in place," the Minister said.

She said the new regulations had been made flexible enough to take into account the wide range of economic, cultural and social activities desired by the WA community in the 1990s.

"These new regulations make provision for this range of activities, also taking into account different land uses such as residential and industrial landuse, as well as the time of day, and type of noise when setting acceptable noise levels," the Minister said.

"The new regulations are designed as a basis from which to manage noise emissions from premises, rather than being solely a system to deal with complaints."

Mrs Edwardes said the new regulations were drafted in close consultation with key industry and Government groups.

"This intensive consultation process has ensured all sectors of the community are aware of how the new regulations will affect them, and has given people the chance to raise any concerns," she said.

The new noise regulations come into effect on January 31, 1998.

A summary of the noise regulations is available from the Department of Environmental Protection - Ph: 08 9222 7000

Media contacts:

Minister's Office - Diana Russell Coote: 9421 7777

Department of Environmental Protection - Jacqui Rovis-Hermann: 9222 7174