S 4.55 for Development Application for Expansion of

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Rodney Stevens Acoustics Report Number R170103DR1 Revision 1

S 4.55 for Development Application for Expansion of Existing Tourist Facilities Bendooley Estate, 3020 Old Hume Highway, Berrima NSW 2577

S 4.55 for Development Application for Expansion of Existing Tourist Facilities Bendooley Estate, 3020 Old Hume Highway, Berrima NSW 2577 Acoustical Assessment

REPORT R170103DR1 Revision 1

Prepared for:

Mr. Paul Berkelouw Bendooley Estate Pty Ltd 3020 Old Hume Highway BERRIMA NSW 2577 27 April 2021

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S 4.55 for Development Application for Expansion of Existing Tourist Facilities

Bendooley Estate, 3020 Old Hume Highway, Berrima NSW 2577

Acoustical Assessment

PREPARED BY:

Rodney Stevens Acoustics Pty Ltd

Telephone: 61 2 9943 5057 Facsimile 61 2 9475 1019

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.rodneystevensacoustics.com.au

DISCLAIMER

Reports produced by Rodney Stevens Acoustics Pty Ltd are prepared for a particular Client’s objective and are based on a specific scope, conditions and limitations, as agreed between Rodney Stevens Acoustics and the Client. Information and/or report(s) prepared by Rodney Stevens Acoustics may not be suitable for uses other than the original intended objective. No parties other than the Client should use any information and/or report(s) without first conferring with Rodney Stevens Acoustics.

The information and/or report(s) prepared by Rodney Stevens Acoustics should not be reproduced, presented or reviewed except in full. Before passing on to a third party any information and/or report(s) prepared by Rodney Stevens Acoustics, the Client is to fully inform the third party of the objective and scope and any limitations and conditions, including any other relevant information which applies to the material prepared by Rodney Stevens Acoustics. It is the responsibility of any third party to confirm whether information and/or report(s) prepared for others by Rodney Stevens Acoustics are suitable for their specific objectives.

DOCUMENT CONTROL

Reference Status Date Prepared Checked Authorised

R170103DR1 Revision 0 25 July 2019 Thomas Carney Desmond Raymond Rodney Stevens

R170103DR1 Revision 1 27 April 2021 Thomas Carney Desmond Raymond Rodney Stevens

mailto:[email protected]

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION 4

2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 4

2.1 Proposed Development 4

2.2 Site Location 5

3 EXISTING NOISE ENVIRONMENT 5

3.1 Ambient Noise Monitoring 5

3.2 Noise Monitoring Results 5

4 ACOUSTIC ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 6

4.1 Patron and Entertainment Noise Criteria 6

4.2 Operational Noise Criteria 7

5 NOISE IMPACT ASSESSMENT 8

5.1 Operational Noise Emissions – Mechanical Plant 8

5.2 Accommodation – The Lodge 8

5.3 Restaurant, Chapel and Meeting Rooms – Patron and PA 8

5.3.1 Public Address (PA) Noise 9

5.3.2 Predicted Patron and PA Noise Impacts 10

6 RECOMMENDATIONS 11

6.1 Mechanical Plant 11

6.2 Operational Noise Management 11

6.2.1 Restaurant 11

6.2.2 The Shed 11

7 CONCLUSION 12

APPENDIX A – ACOUSTICAL TERMINOLOGY 13

APPENDIX B – CALIBRATION CERTIFICATES 17

APPENDIX C – UNATTENDED MEASUREMENT RESULTS – OLD HUME HIGHWAY END 19

APPENDIX D – UNATTENDED MEASUREMENT RESULTS – STAFF ACCOMMODATION 23

APPENDIX E – ARCHITECTURAL PLANS 27

Figure 2-1 Site Location 5

Table 3-1 Measured Ambient Noise Levels 6

Table 3-2 Attended Noise Measurements 6

Table 4-1 L&G NSW Criteria for Patron and Entertainment Noise 7

Table 4-2 Operational Project Trigger Noise Levels 8

Table 5-1 Typical Sound Power Level of 1 Person with Raised Voice - Lw 9

Table 5-2 Overall Patron Sound Power Level – LW 9

Table 5-3 Typical Sound Power Level of PA system – dB 9

Table 5-4 Patron and Entertainment Noise Emissions at Nearby Residential Receivers 10

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1 INTRODUCTION

Rodney Stevens Acoustics Pty Ltd (henceforth referred to as RSA) has been commissioned by Ian Williams and

Associates, on behalf of Bendooley Estate Pty Ltd, to assess the potential noise impact associated with the

development application for the expansion of the existing tourist facilities at Bendooley Estate, 3020 Old Hume

Highway, Berrima NSW.

An s 4.55 application has been prepared for the development site to address changes to the approved design of

the development site. The proposed amendments to the approved development include:

• The Lodge (accommodation) – changes to the size, layout and composition with the modification of 41 rooms

to 44 rooms, relocation of housekeeping facilities, amendments to the ingress and egress of the site and an

increase in the proposed car parking by 7 spaces.

• Restaurant – proposed increase in capacity from 80 to 108 patrons, increase in kitchen/food store, amendments

to ingress and egress and a proposed casual lounge/bar area.

• Roadworks, Parking, Stormwater Management and Landscaping – changes to parking orientation and other

changes to the site to improve amenity of the site.

Acoustically, with the exception of the proposed change to the capacity of the restaurant, none of the changes to

the site are considered acoustically significant.

This report presents the results of a survey of ambient noise levels at the site, prediction of the potential noise

levels received at nearby sensitive residences due to the proposed development and an assessment of the impact

of these emissions in relation to recognised criteria for environmental noise. Recommendations are made for

control measures to effectively ameliorate excessive noise emissions and enable the premises to operate without

adverse impact upon the existing acoustical environment of the area.

This report forms part of the submission of a s 4.55 application to Wingecarribee Shire Council and has been

carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Liquor and Gaming NSW (L&G NSW) and other regulatory

criteria.

Specific acoustic terminology is used in this report. An explanation of common acoustic terms is provided in

Appendix A.

2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

2.1 Proposed Development

The approved development includes hotel accommodation (The Lodge), a restaurant with function centre

capabilities, chapel (The Shed) and facilities for back of house and maintenance of the development. The s 4.55

application modifies the design some of the approved buildings.

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2.2 Site Location

The development site is located at 3020 Old Hume Highway, Berrima NSW. The surrounding properties are

predominantly rural.

The project area and nearest neighbouring sensitive receivers are shown in Figure 2-1.

Figure 2-1 Site Location

Aerial image of courtesy of © 2018 nearmap ltd

Architectural plans for the s 4.55 application are shown in Appendix E.

3 EXISTING NOISE ENVIRONMENT

3.1 Ambient Noise Monitoring

In order to establish the existing noise environment of the area, a survey of ambient noise levels was conducted

between 13 February 2018 and 20 February 2018 at the locations shown in Figure 2-1.

The location was selected after a detailed inspection of the project area giving consideration to other noise sources

that may influence the readings, the proximity of noise-sensitive receivers, security issues for the noise monitoring

device and gaining permission for access from the residents or landowners. The results of the ambient noise

monitoring are shown in Table 3-1 and Table 3-2.

Instrumentation for the survey comprised two ARL Rion NL-42 Environmental Noise Loggers (serial numbers

710677 and 572558) fitted with a microphone and windshield. Calibration of the logger was checked prior to and

following measurements. Drift in calibration did not exceed ±0.5 dBA. All equipment carried appropriate and

current NATA (or manufacturer) calibration certificates.

3.2 Noise Monitoring Results

In order to assess the acoustical implications of the proposed development on the levels of noise received at the

neighbouring rural-residential premises, the measured data was processed according to the NSW Environment

Protection Authority (EPA) Noise Policy for Industry (NPfI) assessment time periods. Table 3-1 details the RBL

(background) and LAeq noise levels recorded during daytime, evening and night time.

Proposed development sites

Sensitive receiver: 3092 Old Hume Hwy Sensitive receiver: 550

Oxleys Rd

Sensitive receiver: 164 Greenhills Rd

Sensitive receiver: 224 Greenhills Rd

Unattended logger locations

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Table 3-1 Measured Ambient Noise Levels

Location Noise Level – dBA re 20 µPa

Daytime (7am – 6pm) Evening Time (6pm –

10pm) Night Time (10pm – 7am)

RBL 1 LAeq 2 RBL1 LAeq2 RBL1 LAeq2

Old Hume Hwy end

37 48 39 46 34 42

Greenhills Rd end

52 59 47 60 41 55

Note 1: The RBL noise level is representative of the average minimum background sound level (in the absence of the source under

consideration), or simply the background level.

Note 2: The LAeq is essentially the average sound level. It is defined as the steady sound level that contains the same amount of

acoustical energy as a given time-varying sound.

The octave band results collected by the unattended noise logger are shown in Table 3-2. This data will be

utilised for Liquor and Gaming NSW criteria.

Table 3-2 Attended Noise Measurements

Time Ambient Noise Levels per Octave Bands - dB Overall - dBA

32 Hz

63 Hz

125 Hz

250 Hz

500 Hz

1k Hz

2k Hz

4k Hz

8k Hz

7am to Midnight 36 25 21 23 26 30 26 23 22 38

Midnight to 7am

7 23 29 20 23 25 26 28 25 34

4 ACOUSTIC ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

4.1 Patron and Entertainment Noise Criteria

Licensed premises fall under the control of the Liquor and Gaming NSW (L&G NSW). L&G NSW’s Standard

Conditions for noise from licensed premises apply to the assessment of patron and entertainment noise emissions

and are summarised below:

“The L10 noise emitted from the licensed premises shall not exceed the background noise level in any octave band

frequency (31.5 Hz to 8 kHz inclusive) by more than 5 dBA between 7.00 am and midnight at the boundary at any

affected residence.

The L10 noise level emitted from the licensed premises shall not exceed the background noise in any octave band

centre frequency (31.5 Hz to 8 kHz inclusive) between midnight and 7.00 am at the boundary of any affected

residence.

Notwithstanding compliance of the above, noise from the licensed premises shall not be audible in any habitable

room in any residential premises between the hours of midnight and 7.00 am.”

Based on the measured ambient noise level data for the development presented in Table 3-2 the L&G NSW criteria

applicable to nearby residential receivers, based on the measured spectral characteristics are summarised in Table

4-1.

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Table 4-1 L&G NSW Criteria for Patron and Entertainment Noise

Period Ambient Noise Level per Octave Band (L10 dB) Overall

(L10 dBA) 32 Hz2 63 Hz 125Hz 250Hz 500Hz 1kHz 2kHz 4kHz 8kHz

7.00 am to Midnight1

- 30 26 28 31 35 31 28 27 43

Midnight to 7:00 am

- 23 29 20 23 25 26 28 25 34

Note 1: This criterion is based on the RBL for the periods 7 am to Midnight calculated from the processed results of ambient noise logging.

Note 2: The 32 Hz octave band has not been assessed due to the unreliability of data in this low (bass) frequency band. It is also likely that even if noise emission in this low frequency octave band exceeds the noise criterion; it will be very close to, if not below, the human threshold of hearing at the nearest residential receiver.

4.2 Operational Noise Criteria

Responsibility for the control of noise emissions in New South Wales is vested in Local Government and the EPA.

The EPA oversees the Noise Policy for Industry (NPfI) October 2017 which provides a framework and process for

deriving noise criteria. The NPfI criteria for industrial noise sources have two (2) components:

• Controlling the intrusive noise impacts for residents and other sensitive receivers in the short term; and

• Maintaining noise level amenity for particular land uses for residents and sensitive receivers in other land uses.

Intrusiveness Criterion

For assessing intrusiveness, the background noise generally needs to be measured. The intrusiveness criterion

essentially means that the equivalent continuous noise level (LAeq) of the source should not be more than 5 dB(A)

above the measured Rated Background Level (RBL), over any 15 minute period.

Amenity Criterion

The amenity criterion is based on land use and associated activities (and their sensitivity to noise emission). The

cumulative effect of noise from industrial sources needs to be considered in assessing the impact. The criteria

relate only to other industrial-type noise sources and do not include road, rail or community noise. The existing

noise level from industry is measured.

If it approaches the criterion value, then noise levels from new noise sources, (including air-conditioning mechanical

plant) need to be designed so that the cumulative effect does not produce total noise levels that would significantly

exceed the criterion.

Area Classification

The NPfI characterises the “Rural” noise environment as an area with an acoustical environment that:

• is dominated by natural sounds, having little or no road traffic noise and generally characterised by low

background noise levels.

• Settlement patterns would be typically sparse

The area surrounding the proposed development falls under the “Rural” area classification.

Project Specific Noise Levels

Having defined the area type, the processed results of the unattended noise monitoring have been used to

determine project specific noise criteria. The intrusive and amenity criteria for nearby residential premises are

presented in Table 4-2.

These criteria are nominated for the purpose of assessing potential noise impacts from the proposed development.

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In this case, the ambient noise environment is not controlled by industrial noise sources and therefore the project

amenity noise level are assigned as per Table 2.2 of the NPfI (Recommended Amenity Noise Levels). For each

assessment period, the lower (i.e. the more stringent) of the amenity or intrusive criteria are adopted.

These are shown in bold text in Table 4-2.

Table 4-2 Operational Project Trigger Noise Levels

Receiver Time of Day

ANL 1 LAeq(15min)

Measured

Criteria for New Sources

RBL 2 LA90(15min)

LAeq Noise Level)

Intrusive LAeq(15min)

Amenity LAeq(15min)

Residential Day 50 37 48 42 50

Evening 45 39 46 44 45

Night 40 34 42 39 40

Note 1: ANL = “Amenity Noise Level” for residences in Urban Areas. Note 2: RBL = “Rating Background Level”.

In summary, the project specific noise level for the assessment of (continuous LAeq(15minute)) operational noise

emissions between 7:00am and 6:00pm, based upon the procedures documented within the NSW NPfL, is 42 dBA

and evening period of 6:00pm and 10:00pm is 44 dBA. For any plant operating at night-time, between 10:00pm

and 7:00am, the project specific noise limit is 39 dBA.

5 NOISE IMPACT ASSESSMENT

5.1 Operational Noise Emissions – Mechanical Plant

Precise mechanical plant selection for the proposed development is currently unknown. Selected item must meet

the Noise Policy for Industry criteria of 39 dB(A) for any equipment that may operate during the night time period

(10:00pm to 7:00am). Any plant which operates only during daytime areas needs to comply with 42 dB(A) criteria.

The proposed equipment selected should be reviewed at Construction Certificate stage by an appropriately

qualified Acoustic Consultant.

5.2 Accommodation – The Lodge

The acoustic impact of the proposed new accommodation (The Lodge) is not considered to be acoustically

significant. The number of patrons proposed and activities that take place in these environments – and the time

which these take place – will not have a detrimental effect on the existing environment. The expected noise impact

of these spaces would be considered to be in the area of (maximum) 60 dB(A) (accumulatively). Considering the

distance from these proposed sites to the nearest sensitive receivers (the closest being 200 metres, the furthest

being more than 500 metres away). Sensible design of these spaces will enable them to operate without having a

detrimental impact on the surrounding sensitive receivers.

5.3 Restaurant, Chapel and Meeting Rooms – Patron and PA

Calculations of noise transmitted from the proposed developments have been made based on a typical patron

sound power spectrum as based on the sound power levels derived from Table 16.1 in “Handbook of Acoustical

Measurements and Noise Control” by C.M. Harris. Harris documents a typical casual male voice being 53 dBA at

1 m, a typical normal voice is 58 dBA at 1 m, a typical raised voice is 65 dBA at 1 m, a typical loud voice is 75 dBA

at 1 m and shouting is 88 dBA at 1 m. Applying a standard conversion of + 8 dBA to convert sound pressure level

at 1 m to a sound power level, the sound power level of a typical raised voice equates to 78 dBA.

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Table 5-1 outlines the sound power spectrum of a patron talking with a raised vocal effort.

Table 5-1 Typical Sound Power Level of 1 Person with Raised Voice - Lw

Scenario Resultant Noise Level per Octave Band (dB) Overall (dBA)

63Hz 125Hz 250Hz 500Hz 1kHz 2kHz 4kHz 8kHz

1 Patron – Raised Voice 58 59 69 76 74 68 64 55 67

This spectrum and overall noise level is believed to be a reasonable approximation of the typical “worst case” that

could be expected from patrons using the premises.

The following operational scenario has been assumed for the purposes of this assessment:

• A maximum of 108 people in the restaurant, 40 people in the meeting rooms, 120 people at “The Shed” (chapel)

at one time with half of all people talking at once (worst case scenario).

Table 5-2 Overall Patron Sound Power Level – LW

Scenario Resultant Noise Level per Octave Band (dB) Overall (dBA)


268 patrons 70 87 91 95 90 86 82 76 96

The 32 Hz octave band has not been assessed due to the limited availability of transmission loss (TL) data in this

low (bass) frequency band. It is also very likely that even if noise emission in this low frequency octave band

exceeds the noise criterion; it will be very close to, if not below, the human threshold of hearing at the receivers.

5.3.1 Public Address (PA) Noise

The proposed development could have PA speakers for music and speeches involved within the proposed

restaurant, meeting spaces and chapel. Background music might be played in other venues, but this is not

considered acoustically significant.

Based on typical amplified music in a similar venue, the sound power level spectrum of a public address (PA)

system for background music/live music is shown in Table 5-3.

Table 5-3 Typical Sound Power Level of PA system – dB

The 32 Hz octave band has not been assessed due to the limited availability of transmission loss (TL) data in this

low (bass) frequency band. It is also very likely that even if noise emission in this low frequency octave band

exceeds the noise criterion; it will be very close to, if not below, the human threshold of hearing at the receivers.

Scenario Resultant Noise Level per Octave Band (dB) Overall

(dBA)


PA System 88 87 88 88 86 79 81 77 88

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5.3.2 Predicted Patron and PA Noise Impacts

Noise level predictions for noise emissions from the site have been predicted by utilising NSW EPA recognised

and approved computer noise model SoundPlan 8 software. SoundPlan is a fully integrating software suite that

specialises in computer simulations of noise situations incorporating over 50 calculation standards. The model

calculates overall noise levels at receiver locations considering distance, atmospheric absorption, barriers effects

of intervening ground types, source levels, source and receiver locations and topography.

The predicted noise level emissions due to typical operation of the venue with the windows (and doors as applicable) open are presented in Table 5-4.

Table 5-4 Patron and Entertainment Noise Emissions at Nearby Residential Receivers

Receiver

Resultant Sound Pressure Level per Octave Band (dB)

Overall (dBA)


3092 Old Hume Highway (200m from the development site)

Patron Noise and PA System Noise Emission

Predicted noise level

9 12 13 25 28 22 14 0 28

Criterion 7:00am to Midnight

30 26 28 31 35 31 28 27 43

Exceedance - - - - - - - - -

550 Oxleys Road (400m from the development site)



0 14 14 24 28 23 16 0 24


30 26 28 31 35 31 28 27 43

Exceedance - - - - - - - - -

224 Greenhills Rd (650m from the development site)



0 12 13 20 22 17 4 0 22


30 26 28 31 35 31 28 27 43

Exceedance - - - - - - - - -

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164 Greenhills Rd (550m from the development site)



0 13 14 22 25 21 14 0 23


30 26 28 31 35 31 28 27 43

Exceedance - - - - - - - - -

The operational noise levels shown in Table 5-4 comply with the L&G NSW criteria at all the nearest potentially affected residential receivers.

6 RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 Mechanical Plant

Precise mechanical plant selection for the proposed development. Selected item must meet the Noise Policy for

Industry criteria of 39 dB(A) for any equipment that may operate during the night time period (10:00pm to 7:00am).

Any plant which operates only during daytime areas needs to comply with 42 dB(A) criteria.

The proposed equipment selected should be reviewed at Construction Certificate stage by an appropriately

qualified Acoustic Consultant.

6.2 Operational Noise Management

The following measures are recommended to be included in order to maintain a healthy relationship with

surrounding sensitive receivers.

6.2.1 Restaurant

• When the venue is at 70% capacity or greater, external doors and windows should be closed at 9:00pm.

• External doors and windows to be closed at 10:00pm.

• Outdoor speaker systems (if proposed) should be small scale and used only for background music, not large

events. Speakers to face away from neighbouring residential receivers.

• Any outdoor speaker systems to have a limiter installed with a maximum sound pressure level of 70 dB(A) @

one metre from the speaker.

6.2.2 The Shed

• Building to be designed and built to ensure any noise from venue does not exceed criteria at the boundary.

• Any outdoor speaker systems to have a limiter installed with a maximum sound pressure level of 80 dB(A) @

one metre from the speaker.

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7 CONCLUSION

An s 4.55 application is being made for the approved development at Bendooley Estate. The proposed changes to

the design will not have an adverse acoustic impact on the surrounding community providing the recommendations

set out in this report are adhered to.

The assessment has included acoustical measurements to characterise the ambient noise environment of the area,

establishment of noise criteria, and a comparison of predicted noise levels with regard to guidelines recommended

by Liquor and Gaming NSW (L&G NSW) and other regulatory criteria.

Noise emissions from the proposed development to the surrounding nearest sensitive receivers have been

calculated with the noise criteria as established in accordance with the L&G NSW guidelines and other regulatory

criteria. The development will comply with criteria if recommendations in this report are followed.

Approved:-

Rodney Stevens – MAAS

Principal/Manager

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Appendix A – Acoustical Terminology

A-weighted sound

pressure

The human ear is not equally sensitive to sound at different frequencies.

People are more sensitive to sound in the range of 1 to 4 kHz (1000 – 4000

vibrations per second) and less sensitive to lower and higher frequency

sound. During noise measurement an electronic ‘A-weighting’ frequency

filter is applied to the measured sound level dB(A) to account for these

sensitivities. Other frequency weightings (B, C and D) are less commonly

used. Sound measured without a filter is denoted as linear weighted

dB(linear).

Ambient noise The total noise in a given situation, inclusive of all noise source

contributions in the near and far field.

Community

annoyance

Includes noise annoyance due to:

• character of the noise (e.g. sound pressure level, tonality,

impulsiveness, low-frequency content)

• character of the environment (e.g. very quiet suburban, suburban,

urban, near industry)

• miscellaneous circumstances (e.g. noise avoidance possibilities,

cognitive noise, unpleasant associations)

• human activity being interrupted (e.g. sleep, communicating, reading,

working, listening to radio/TV, recreation).

Compliance The process of checking that source noise levels meet with the noise limits

in a statutory context.

Cumulative noise

level

The total level of noise from all sources.

Extraneous noise Noise resulting from activities that are not typical to the area. Atypical

activities may include construction, and traffic generated by holiday periods

and by special events such as concerts or sporting events. Normal daily

traffic is not considered to be extraneous.

Feasible and

reasonable

measures

Feasibility relates to engineering considerations and what is practical to

build; reasonableness relates to the application of judgement in arriving at

a decision, taking into account the following factors:

• Noise mitigation benefits (amount of noise reduction provided, number

of people protected).

• Cost of mitigation (cost of mitigation versus benefit provided).

• Community views (aesthetic impacts and community wishes).

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• Noise levels for affected land uses (existing and future levels, and

changes in noise levels).

Impulsiveness Impulsive noise is noise with a high peak of short duration or a sequence of

these peaks. Impulsive noise is also considered annoying.

Low frequency Noise containing major components in the low-frequency range (20 to

250 Hz) of the frequency spectrum.

Noise criteria The general set of non-mandatory noise levels for protecting against

intrusive noise (for example, background noise plus 5 dB) and loss of

amenity (e.g. noise levels for various land use).

Noise level (goal) A noise level that should be adopted for planning purposes as the highest

acceptable noise level for the specific area, land use and time of day.

Noise limits Enforceable noise levels that appear in conditions on consents and

licences. The noise limits are based on achievable noise levels, which the

proponent has predicted can be met during the environmental assessment.

Exceedance of the noise limits can result in the requirement for either the

development of noise management plans or legal action.

Performance-based

goals

Goals specified in terms of the outcomes/performance to be achieved, but

not in terms of the means of achieving them.

Rating Background

Level (RBL)

The rating background level is the overall single figure background level

representing each day, evening and night time period. The rating

background level is the 10th percentile min LA90 noise level measured over

all day, evening and night time monitoring periods.

Receptor The noise-sensitive land use at which noise from a development can be

heard.

Sleep disturbance Awakenings and disturbance of sleep stages.

Sound and decibels

(dB)

Sound (or noise) is caused by minute changes in atmospheric pressure that

are detected by the human ear. The ratio between the quietest noise

audible and that which should cause permanent hearing damage is a million

times the change in sound pressure. To simplify this range the sound

pressures are logarithmically converted to decibels from a reference level

of 2 x 10-5 Pa.

The picture below indicates typical noise levels from common noise sources.

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dB is the abbreviation for decibel – a unit of sound measurement. It is equivalent

to 10 times the logarithm (to base 10) of the ratio of a given sound pressure to

a reference pressure.

Sound power level

(SWL)

The sound power level of a noise source is the sound energy emitted by

the source. Notated as SWL, sound power levels are typically presented in

dB(A).

Sound pressure

level (SPL)

The level of noise, usually expressed as SPL in dB(A), as measured by a

standard sound level meter with a pressure microphone. The sound

pressure level in dB(A) gives a close indication of the subjective loudness

of the noise.

Statistical noise

levels

Noise levels varying over time (e.g. community noise, traffic noise,

construction noise) are described in terms of the statistical exceedance

level.

A hypothetical example of A weighted noise levels over a 15 minute

measurement period is indicated in the following figure:

40

50

60

70

80

00:00 05:00 10:00 15:00

Monitoring Period (minutes)

so

un

d p

ressu

re le

ve

l d

B(A

)

LA90

LA

LAMAX

LA1LAeq

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Key descriptors:

LAmax Maximum recorded noise level.

LA1 The noise level exceeded for 1% of the 15 minute interval.

LA10 Noise level present for 10% of the 15 minute interval. Commonly

referred to the average maximum noise level.

LAeq Equivalent continuous (energy average) A-weighted sound pressure

level. It is defined as the steady sound level that contains the same amount of

acoustic energy as the corresponding time-varying sound.

LA90 Noise level exceeded for 90% of time (background level). The average

minimum background sound level (in the absence of the source under

consideration).

Threshold The lowest sound pressure level that produces a detectable response (in

an instrument/person).

Tonality Tonal noise contains one or more prominent tones (and characterised by a

distinct frequency components) and is considered more annoying. A 2 to

5 dBA penalty is typically applied to noise sources with tonal characteristics.

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Appendix B – Calibration Certificates

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Appendix C – Unattended Measurement Results – Old Hume Highway end

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Appendix D – Unattended Measurement Results – Staff Accommodation

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Appendix E – Architectural Plans

Proposed Lodge and Restaurant Site Plan

Proposed Lodge Ground Floor Plan

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Proposed Lodge First Floor Plan

Proposed Lodge Roof Plan

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Proposed Lodge Elevations

Proposed Lodge Sections AA and BB

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Proposed Lodge Sections CC

Proposed Lodge Sections DD and EE

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Proposed Restaurant Ground Floor Plan

Proposed Restaurant Lower Ground Floor Plan

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Proposed Restaurant Roof Plan

Proposed Restaurant Elevations A to C

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Proposed Restaurant Elevations D and E

Documents

S 4.55 for Development Application for Expansion of