EIS information guideline  Noise and vibration
Information requirements
EHP has drafted guidelines on information needed [s125 (l) (1)] to make an application for an environmental
authority. While those guidelines have their primary purpose in relation to projects where an EIS has not been
triggered; they also provide useful guidance on information requirements for preparation of an EIS.
The EHP Application requirements for activities with impacts to noise is at: https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/era/noiseimpacts-em962.pdf
EHP Application requirements for petroleum activities is at: Guideline EM705
A guideline for noise and vibration from blasting is available at https://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/assets/explosivespdf/noise-vibration-blasting.pdf
Receiving environment
When describing the receiving environment, the EIS should describe the existing environmental values which
enhance or protect the qualities of the acoustic environment that are conducive to protecting:
 the health and biodiversity of ecosystems
 human health and wellbeing (EPP Noise policy 2008 Part 3, section 7).
If the project could adversely impact on the noise environment, undertake baseline monitoring at a selection of
sensitive receptors potentially affected by the project. Sensitive receptors are defined in the EPP (Noise). The
locations of sensitive receptors should be illustrated on a suitably-scaled map.
Describe the results of any baseline monitoring of noise and vibration in the proposed vicinity of the project,
including long-term measured background noise levels that take into account seasonal variations.
The EIS should describe the daily variation of background noise levels at nearby sensitive receptors, with particular
regard to detailing variations at different periods of the night.
All collection of data in the EIS should be in accordance with quality-assured measurements and methods.
Monitoring methods should adhere to accepted best practice methodologies, relevant EHP guidelines and
Australian Standards, and any relevant requirements of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 and the
EPP (Noise). EHP has prepared a Noise Measurement Manual that facilitates consistency and reliability of noise
measurement https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/licences-permits/pdf/noise-measurement-manual-em1107.pdf.
Any current activities near the project area that may cause a background level of noise and ground vibration (for
example major roads, quarrying activities, etc.) should be described.
The type of site-occupancy or use between the activity and sensitive receptors potentially affected by the activity
should be described, for example whether commercial, residential etc. This will enable an assessment of the
possible impacts of the project on sensitive receptors in the affected area both now and in the future.
The EIS should identify suitable indicators for measuring noise which will best characterise the noise as described
in Schedule 2 of EPP Noise 2008, and objectives should be selected that would protect the environmental values
from significant noise and vibration impacts according to the time varying characteristic of the noise. The noise
objectives are described in Schedule 1 of EEP Noise 2008. This will provide the basis for the assessment of
possible noise and vibration impacts.
Where a government plan is relevant to the project, or the project site, describe the project’s consistency with that
plan. This will ensure compliance with approved policy.
Seasonal variation needs to be addressed for both background noise and sound propagation conditions since
seasonal variation can affect the ambient background noise and noise propagation conditions. For example, while
background noise may be dominated by insect noise in summer, in winter the noise background in remote areas of
Queensland may reach the noise floor, meaning there may be no noise at all. Noise propagation conditions in
winter in Queensland can be dominated by temperature inversion resulting in an enhancement of noise
propagation compared with Sumer conditions. All calculations and the noise model must include both summer and
winter conditions, including specifically with temperature inversion. The strength of any temperature inversions
EIS information guideline  Noise and vibration
used in the model should be reported. Similarly to a wind direction that may change direction, a temperature
inversion’s strength may change daily but the typical and maximum conditions along with their occurrence statistics
need to be known for assessment purposes.
Potential impacts and mitigation measures
The EIS should fully describe the characteristics of noise sources that would be emitted from the project, giving
consideration to full spectral content with potential time varying characteristics, and or the noise indicator which
best characterises the noise, while aiming to achieve the objectives to preserve and enhance the environmental
values.
Sleep disturbance should be considered in accordance with World Health Organisation (WHO) proposed criteria
and referenced to the following publications:
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Community Noise; Berglund M and Lindvall T; 1995; World Health Organisation
Guidelines for community noise; Berglund M, Lindvall T and Schwela D; April 1999; World Health Organisation
Night noise guidelines for Europe; 1999; World Health Organisation
Burden of disease from environmental noise; 2011; World Health Organisation.
In reviewing the above the following should be considered:
 indoor noise levels are used in WHO publications
 indoor to outdoor sound attenuation used in WHO publication is 25dB. This is significantly different to the indoor
to outdoor noise attenuation of a typical building in Queensland. EHP expects that the typical sound attenuation
value for a traditional Queenslander is in the order of 7dB. Importantly the indoor to outdoor sound attenuation is
frequency dependant
 WHO refer to a LAmax value and Lnight which is an average value. Both need to be treated independently.
Give particular consideration to emissions of low-frequency noise; that is, noise with components below 200 Hz.
Using a suitable acoustic model, the EIS should predict the likely generation of noise for different times of day
under both the average and worst case climatic conditions. Describe the predictions using suitable indicators, and
illustrate the predicted noise contours on suitably-scaled maps showing the locations of noise sensitive receptors.
The potential impacts of noise and vibration at all potentially sensitive receptors should be assessed in comparison
to the objectives and standards to be achieved. The impact prediction should address the cumulative impact of the
noise with other known emissions of noise. In the case of other anthropogenic noise sources being in the vicinity of
the project, background noise should also be measured along the project boundaries so similar measurement
locations may be used to justify the noise ownership once the project is operating. Those measurements would
enable the validation of predictive noise models.
The EIS should describe the capacity of the receiving environment to accept noise emitted from the project and
from future activities - while meeting the noise objectives corresponding to the noise environmental values to be
protected.
The EIS should assess the potential environmental impacts of noise and vibration on terrestrial and marine animals
and birds, including migratory species and on any nearby protected areas – also addressing amenity.
The EIS should provide information on blasting that might cause ground vibration in or adjacent to the site with
particular attention given to places of work, residence, recreation, worship, heritage and general amenity.
The EIS should discuss the magnitude, duration and frequency of any vibration and assess the potential impacts
on sensitive receptors. Reference should be made to the EHP guideline: Noise and Vibration from Blasting
https://mines.industry.qld.gov.au/assets/explosives-pdf/noise-vibration-blasting.pdf.
Potential off-site noise and vibration impacts that could arise due to increased road or rail transportation directly
resulting from the project should be assessed according to TMR code of practice and QR code of practice or NSW
Rail Infrastructure Guideline 2013 for a new rail line. The assessment of noise impacts should include matters
raised in the document, The Health Effects of Environmental Noise – Other Than Hearing Loss published by the
enHealth Council, 2004 (or later editions), ISBN 0 642 82304 9.
The EIS should describe how the project would be managed to be consistent with best practice environmental
management for the activity and detail practices and procedures that would be used to avoid or minimise impacts.
The EIS should identify and describe global best practice environmental management for any novel or unproven
resource extraction process, technology or activity that is proposed.
Describe the project’s consistency with the management hierarchy, environmental values, relevant quality
objectives and management intent in the Noise EPP.
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EIS information guideline  Noise and vibration
The EIS should define and describe practical measures for protecting or enhancing environmental values from
impacts by noise and vibration, including details and illustrations of any screening, lining, enclosing or bunding.
Provide a discussion of timing schedules for construction and operations with respect to minimising environmental
nuisance and harm from noise and vibration. Also, describe how the achievement of the objectives would be
monitored, audited and corrective action taken when needed. Describe how any complaints about noise or
vibration would be managed and reported.
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