chapter b10 - noise and vibration - …eisdocs.dsdip.qld.gov.au/cairns shipping development/eis/part...
TRANSCRIPT
Draft : Environmental Impact Statement
Chapter B10 Noise and Vibration
B10.1 Introduction 2
B10.2 Policy Context and Legislative Framework 2
B10.3 Methodology 4
B10.3.1 Methodology Overview 4
B10.3.2 AssumptionsandTechnicalLimitations 5
B10.3.3 AcousticImpactCriteria 6
B10.3.4 OperationalNoise 7
B10.3.5 RoadTrafficNoise 7
B10.3.6 MaximumNoiseLevels 7
B10.3.7 ConstructionNoise 8
B10.3.8 ConstructionVibration 9
B10.3.9 ImpactsonFauna 9
B10.3.10 SignificanceCriteria 10
B10.4 Existing Conditions 14
B10.4.1 SiteDescriptionandStudyArea 14
B10.4.2 NoiseSensitiveReceptors 14
B10.4.3 ExistingAcousticEnvironment 15
B10.5 Assessment of Potential Impacts 21
B10.5.1 Construction 22
B10.5.2 OperationalImpacts 26
B10.6 Mitigation Measures 31
B10.6.1 Construction 31
B10.6.2 OperationalNoise 32
B10.7 Residual Impacts 33
B10.7.1 Construction 33
B10.7.2 Operation 33
B10.8 Summary of Impacts 34
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page2
B10.1 IntroductionTheacousticchapterofthisEnvironmentalImpactStatement(EIS)providesanassessmentofpotentialimpactsfromairbornenoise,underwaternoiseorvibrationtotheidentifiedsensitivereceptorsfromtheconstructionandoperationoftheproposedCairnsShippingDevelopmentProject(theproject).Thisassessmentprovidesanunderstandingoftheexistingterrestrialandmarineacousticenvironmentandthepotentialimplicationsoftheprojectonit.
Thischapterpresentsassessmentsoftheairbornenoise,vibrationandunderwaternoiseimpacts(whereapplicable)fromrelevantsources.
Asaresult,thereisasignificantamountofdatapresentedinthischapter.Forclarityandeaseofinterpretation,theoverallconclusionsandfindingsarepresentedinthemainbodyofthischapter,andsupportinginformationincludinglargetablesandfiguresarepresentedseparatelyinAppendix D7.
B10.2 Policy Context and Legislative FrameworkAsummaryoflegislation,policies,guidelinesandstandardsrelevanttotheassessmentandmanagementofnoiseandvibration,includingguidelinesrequiredbytheprojectTermsofReference(TOR)andEISGuidelines,isprovidedinTable B10.2a and B10.2b.
Table B10.2a Summary of Relevant Legislation and Policy
Relevance
TheEPActisthegoverninglegislationcoveringpolicythatconcernsnoiseandvibrationwithinQueensland.
SubordinatepolicywasdevelopedunderneaththeEPAct,asdescribedbelow.
Document
QLD Environment Protection Act 1994 (EPAct)
(QLDGovernment,1994)
Application
TheEPActformsthegoverningframeworkforallimpactcriteriadevelopedforassessingtheproject.
TheEPActcontainsdefaultnoisestandardsregulatingthehoursofoperationofconstructionequipment.
TheEPActrequiresactivitiestotake“allreasonableandpracticablemeasures…toprotectenvironmentalvaluesfromallsourcesofenvironmentalharm”.Thisrequirementformstheframeworkforassessingunderwaternoiseimpactsfromtheproject.
TheEPP(Noise)setslong-termacousticqualityobjectivestobeprogressivelyachieved.
QLD Environmental Protection (Noise) Policy 2008(EPP(Noise)2008)
(QLDGovernment,2008)
TheimpactcriteriafortheprojecthavebeendevelopedusingthesubordinatePlanningforNoiseControlGuideline(PNCG)undertheEPP(Noise).
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page3November 2014
Relevance
TheFNQRPaimstomaintainhighlevelsofenvironmentalqualityinnoisesensitivelandusages.TheFNQRPreferencestheEPActandtheEPP(Noise).
ThePlanningforNoiseControlGuideline(PNCG)containsproceduresformakingplanningdecisionsregardingnoiseemissionfromindustrialdevelopments.PNCGprovidesplanninglevelstograduallyapproachthelong-termpolicyobjectivesofEPP(Noise).
TheNoiseMeasurementManualcontainsproceduresforconductingenvironmentalnoisesurveysinQueensland.
IntheabsenceofQueenslandconstructionnoisecriteria,theNSWICNG(whichrepresentsAustralianbestpracticeinmanagementofconstructionnoise)hasbeenusedforguidanceinsettingconstructionnoiseimpactcriteria.
IntheabsenceofspecificQueenslandguidanceforvibration,theNewSouthWalesguideline(whichrepresentsAustralianbestpractice)iscommonlyadoptedforsettingimpactcriteriaforvibration.
IntheabsenceofQueenslandguidanceformanagingunderwaternoiseimpactsfrompiling,theSouthAustralianUPNGhasbeenusedforguidanceinmanagingunderwaternoiseimpactsfrompilingandconstructionoftheproject.
Document
Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2009 (FNQRP)
(QLDDepartmentofInfrastructureandPlanning,2009)
PlanningforNoiseControlGuideline2004
(QLD Environmental Protection Agency, 2004)
Noise Measurement Manual 2000
(QLDEnvironmentalProtectionAgency2000)
Interim Construction Noise Guideline 2009 (ICNG)
(NSWDepartmentofEnvironmentandClimateChange2009)
Assessing Vibration: A Technical Guideline 2006
(NSWDepartmentofEnvironmentandConservation2006)
UnderwaterPilingNoiseGuidelines2012(UPNG)
(SADepartmentofPlanning,TransportandInfrastructure2012)
Application
ThedevelopedimpactcriteriaareconsistentwiththeaimsoftheFNQRP
ImpactcriteriaforpotentialoperationalnoisefromtheprojecthavebeendevelopedwithguidancefromthePNCG.
BaselinenoisesurveyconductedgenerallyinaccordancewiththeDepartmentofEnvironmentandHeritageProtection(DEHP)NoiseMeasurementmanual.
ImpactcriteriaforconstructionoftheprojecthavebeendevelopedusingtheICNG.
CriteriaforworksoutsidethestandardhoursdescribedintheEPActhavebeendevelopedusingtheICNG.
ImpactcriteriaforhumancomforthavebeendevelopedusingtheguidanceoftheAssessingVibrationguideline.
ImpactcriteriaforunderwaternoiseandstandardmitigationmeasureshavebeendevelopedusingtheUPNG.
Table B10.2b Guidelines and Standards
Document
CONCAWE,ThePropagationofNoisefromPetroleumandPetrochemicalComplexestoNeighbouringCommunities,C.J.Manning,1981
AustralianStandardAS2436:2010Guidetonoiseandvibrationcontrolonconstruction,demolitionandmaintenancesites
Relevance
Predictionmethodologyusedforthepredictionofenvironmentalnoisefromtheoperationoftheproject.CONCAWEiscommonlyusedinAustraliaasanenvironmentalnoisepredictionmodelasitallowspredictionofnoiselevelsunderdifferentmeteorologicalconditions.
Constructionnoiseandvibrationpredictions,assessmentandmitigationhavebeenconductedinaccordancewithAS2436.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page4
Document
AustralianStandardAS2670.2:1990Evaluationofhumanexposuretowhole-bodyvibration.Part2:Continuousandshock-inducedvibrationinbuildings (1to80Hz)
BritishStandardBS5228.1:2009Codeofpracticefornoiseandvibrationcontrolonconstructionandopensites–Part1:Noise
BritishStandardBS5228.2:2009Codeofpracticefornoiseandvibrationcontrolonconstructionandopensites–Part2:Vibration
GermanStandardDIN4150.31986Structuralvibrationinbuildings;effectsonstructures.
CalculationofRoadTrafficNoise,DepartmentofTransport,WelshOffice1988
Relevance
CriteriaforassessinghumancomfortimpactsofvibrationhavebeenderivedusingtheguidanceofAS2670.2asascreeningmethodinfavourofusingthemorecomplicatedmethodologyintheAssessingVibrationguideline.
InaccordancewithAS2436,sourcenoiselevelsofconstructionplanthasbeenobtainedfromBS5228.1.
MethodologyofconstructionvibrationpredictionandassessmenthasbeenbasedonrecommendedcalculationsandcriteriafromBS5228.2.
DIN4150containscriteriaforassessingimpactsondilapidatedorheritage-significantstructuresandiscommonlyusedasaconservativethresholdforbuildingdamageimpactsinAustralia.
NoiselevelsfromroadtrafficnoisehavebeenpredictedusingCalculationofRoadTrafficNoise(CoRTN),whichiscommonlyusedforroadtrafficnoisepredictioninAustralia.
B10.3 Methodology B10.3.1 Methodology OverviewForacousticimpacts,theadoptedassessmentmethodologyisoutlinedbelow:
• DeterminerepresentativeairbornebackgroundnoiselevelsintheabsenceofoperationofthePortofCairnsatidentifiedsensitivereceptorsinthestudyarea
(Notethatunderwaternoiseimpactsareassessedagainstabsolutethresholdsforphysiologicaleffectsonspeciesandhenceunderwaterbackgroundnoiselevelsarenotrequiredforassessingunderwaternoiseimpacts)
• Presenttheresultsofpredictedtypicalscenariosforconstructionnoiseandvibrationimpactsoftheprojectonsensitivereceptors
• Presenttheresultsofpredictedtypicalscenariosforoperationnoiseandvibrationimpactsoftheprojectonsensitivereceptors
• Assessmentofthesepotentialimpacts/effectsagainstidentifiedacousticimpactcriteria
• Provideprojectmitigationmeasureswhereperformancecriteriaarepredictedtobeexceeded
• Presentthepotentialresidualeffectsoftheproject(withmitigation)ontheacousticenvironment.
FulldetailsoftheadoptedacousticassessmentmethodologyarecontainedinAppendix D7.
Abaselinenoisesurveywasconductedtodetermineexistingnoiselevelsatsensitivereceptorswithintheacoustic studyarea,asoutlinedinSection B10.4.1.AdditionaldetailregardingthenoisesurveymethodologyiscontainedinAppendix D7.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page5November 2014
B10.3.2 Assumptions and Technical LimitationsAswithmostproposeddevelopments,theimpactassessmentprocessisbasedondefiningrepresentativescenariosreflectingtypicalconditionslikelytobeexperiencedduringconstructionandoperationoftheproject.
Thenatureoftheprojectisthatthemainoperationalnoisesource,thecruiseships,are‘external’totheprojectinthatPortsNorthhasnodirectcontrolorspecificpriorknowledgeofthenoiseemissioncharacteristicsofindividualships.Theassessmentisthereforebasedon‘typical’noiseimpactsfordifferentcategoriesofcruiseship.
Toasimilarextent,predictionofnoiseimpactsfromanyconstructionprojectinvolvesunknownsourcecharacteristicsinthattheparticularconstructionequipmenttobeusedonsiteisnotconfirmeduntildetailedplanningfortheconstructionprocessisconducted.
ThereforetherepresentativeacousticscenariosfortheprojecthavebeendeterminedbasedonmeasurementsandassumptionsofrepresentativeplantandvesselsandacomparativereviewofsourcelevelsusedforpreviousEISassessments.Inthecaseofconstructionnoiseandvibrationpredictions,theadoptedmethodologybasedontheNSWICNGisa“screeningcriterion”approach–i.e.theassessmentidentifieswhichconstructionactivitieshavehigherrisksofresultinginnoiseorvibrationimpactsandthereforewhichactivitiesrequirenoisemitigationmeasurestobeincorporatedintoplanningtheactivity.
Duringthedetailedplanningoftheconstructionsequencetheseactivitiesshouldbeplannedandmanagedtominimisenoiseimpacts,e.g.byincludingmitigationmeasuresasdiscussedinthisEISchapter.
Thepredictionofacousticimpactsbasedonrepresentativesources,meansthatthereisthepossibilitythattheactualsourceconstructionoroperationalnoiselevelsmaybehigher(orlower)thanpredictedinthisEISchapter(e.g.anindividual‘loudship’oraparticularlynoisyconstructionactivity).Ifthisoccursinpractice,additionalmitigationmeasureswillbeimplementedasdocumentedinaNoiseManagementPlantobepreparedfortheproject.Actualresidualimpactswill,however,bedeterminedbytheacousticimpactsafterappropriatemitigationisapplied.
Forunderwaternoiseimpacts,thefollowingenvironmentally-significantspecieshavebeenidentifiedaspotentiallybeingpresentwithintheprojectstudyarea(refertoChapter B7, Marine Ecology):
Cairns Harbour• LoggerheadTurtle(Caretta caretta)
• GreenTurtle(Chelonia mydas)
• HawksbillTurtle(Eretmochelys imbricate)
• SaltwaterCrocodile(Crocodylus prosus)
• FlatbackTurtle(Natator depressus)
• Dugongs (Dugong dugong)
• Bottlenosedolphin(Tursiops truncatus)
• DwarfSawfish,QueenslandSawfish(Pristis clavata)
• AustralianSnubfin,IrrawaddyDolphin(Orcaella heinsohni (previously O. brevirostris)
• Indo-PacificHumpbackDolphin(Sousa chingensis).
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page6
Offshore• LoggerheadTurtle(Carettacaretta)
• GreenTurtle(Cheloniamydas)
• HawksbillTurtle(Eretmochelysimbricate)
• FlatbackTurtle(Natatordepressus)
• SaltwaterCrocodile(Crocodylusprosus)
• WhaleShark(Rhincodontypus)
• HumpbackWhale(Megapteranovaeangliae)
• AustralianSnubfin,IrrawaddyDolphin(Orcaellaheinsohni(previouslyO.brevirostris))
• KillerWhale,Orca(Orcinusorca)
• Indo-PacificHumpbackDolphin(Sousachingensis).
B10.3.3 Acoustic Impact CriteriaImpactcriteriausedforassessingtheacousticimpactsoftheprojecthavebeendeterminedforconstructionandoperationalnoiseandvibration.Thecriteriahavebeendeterminedbasedontherelevantstatelegislation,policiesandguidelines.Insomecases,nospecificQueenslandStatepolicyorguidelinesexist(e.g.forconstructionnoiseandvibrationimpacts)andguidancefromotherstates,particularlyNSW,hasbeenusedtoassignrelevantimpactassessmentcriteria.FullderivationofthenoiseimpactcriteriaandthederivedcriteriaaregiveninAppendix D7.
Asummaryofrelevantimpactcriteriaforconstructionandoperationalnoiseandvibrationaregivenin Tables B10.3a-f.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page7November 2014
B10.3.4 Operational NoiseTable B10.3a Operational Noise Impact Criteria for the project
Receptors
WharfStreetResidential
EastTrinity
TrinityInlet
Time Period
Day
Evening
Night
Day
Evening
Night
Day
Evening
Night
Project Noise Impact Criteria
LAeq,1hour dB(A)
57
51
49
43
38
33
45
43
43
B10.3.5 Road Traffic NoiseTheimpactthresholdforroadtrafficnoiseistheplanninglevelof63dBLA10,18hr;however,existingnoiselevelsonroadscommonlyalreadyexceedthenoiseplanninglevels.
Incaseswhereexistingnoiselevelsexceedtheplanninglevels,impactcriteriaforroadtrafficnoisearetypicallybasedonthemagnitudeoftheincreaseintrafficnoiselevels.
Table B10.3b Road Traffic Noise Criteria
Predicted Noise Change
Increaseofmorethan15dB
Increaseof10-15dB
Increaseof6-10dB
Increaseof3-5dB
Increaseoflessthan3dB
Magnitude of Impact
Verymajorincrease
Majorincrease
Moderateincrease
Minorincrease
Negligibleincrease
B10.3.6 Maximum Noise LevelsImpactcriteriaformaximumnoiselevelsfromtheprojecthavebeendevelopedtoassesssleepdisturbanceimpactsforhumanreceptorsandtoassessdisturbancetomigratorybirdreceptors.
Sleepdisturbanceisacomplicatedphenomenonandneedstobeevaluatedonacase-by-casebasisandhenceitisnotpossibletoprovideasinglenumericalcriterionforsleepdisturbanceimpacts.Whenconsideringsleepdisturbance,thefollowingfactorsneedtobeconsidered:
• Thenumberofloudnoiseevents
• Theabsoluteleveloftheloudnoiseevents
• Therelativelevel(‘emergence’)oftheloudeventcomparedtotheambientnoiselevel.
Criteriaforabsolutelevel(10percentchanceofawakeningbasedonasinglenoiseevent)andforemergence (BG+15dB)arepresentedbelowasscreeningcriteriaforsleepdisturbance.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page8
Table B10.3c Maximum Noise Impact Criteria
Receptors
WharfStreetResidential
EastTrinity
TrinityInlet
Project Noise Impact Criteria
LAmax dB(A)(absolutelevel)
62
62
62
LAmax dB(A)(emergence)
61
45
55
B10.3.7 Construction NoiseTable B10.3d Construction Noise Impact Criteria for CSDP
Receptors
WharfStreetResidential
EastTrinity
TrinityInlet
Time Period
Day
Evening
Night
Day
Evening
Night
Day
Evening
Night
Noise Affected Level
dB(A)
64
53
51
50
40
35
52
45
45
Highly Noise Affected Level
dB(A)
75
58
56
75
45
40
75
50
50
NotethattheconstructionnoiseimpactcriteriaarebasedonascreeningapproachfromtheICNG.Thesecriteriaarenottargetsthatmustbemet,butmeansofquantifyingtheexpectedimpactofconstructionnoiseonthecommunity.
Wherenoiselevelsexceedthe“NoiseAffectedLevel”somecommunityreactiontoconstructionnoiseisexpectedandtheprojectshouldimplementmitigationmeasurestoreducenoiseimpacts.
Whereconstructionnoiselevelsexceedthe“HighlyNoiseAffectedLevel”,astrongadversereactiontotheconstructionnoisefromthecommunitywouldbeexpected.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page9November 2014
B10.3.8 Construction VibrationHumancomfortvibrationimpactsmaybeexpectedforvibrationlevelsaboveapproximately0.3mm/sPPV.Forlevelsabove0.3mm/sPPV,vibrationimpactshavebeenclassifiedbasedonthefollowingranges.
Table B10.3e Construction Vibration Criteria
Impact Category
Negligible
Minor
Moderate
Major
PPV (mm/s)
PPV≤0.3
0.3<PPV≤1.0
1.0<PPV≤10
PPV>10
Subjective Impact (from BS5228.2)
Vibrationjustperceptible
Vibrationperceptible,potentialforcomplaint
Complaintslikely
Vibrationlikelyintolerable
B10.3.9 Impacts on FaunaImpactthresholdsfordifferentphysiologicalorbehaviouralimpactsonmarinespecieshavebeendevelopedbasedonanextensiveliteraturestudyasdetailedinAppendix D7.Thesecriteriaareacombinationofunweightedcriteriaandcriteriaweightedaccordingtothehearingsensitivityofparticularspecies(e.g.‘M-weighted’levelsorthedBhtmetric).Criteriaaregenerallypresentedasunderwaternoiselevels(dBre1µPa)exceptforcriteriaformigratorybirds(inair)whicharepresentedusingA-weighteddBre20µPasoundpressurelevels.
Table B10.3f Summary of Noise Thresholds for Species
Impact
50%Mortality(allsizes)
SeriousPhysicalInjury
PermanentHearingDamage(PHD)
Species
Fish
Migratorybirdsandshorebirds
MarineMammals
Fish
Migratorybirdsandseabirds(diving)
Allspecies
Whales–Baleen
Whales–Toothed
Dugongs
Seabirds(airborne)
Seabirds(diving)
Sound Pressure dB re 1 µPa
240dBpeak
130dBht
230dBpeak
230dBpeak
220 dBpeak
110dB(A)(continuous) 125dB(A)(impulsive)
Sound Exposure Level dB re 1 µPa²·s
210dB
198dB
195dB(onsetofmortality)
195dB(onsetofmortality)
135dBht
198dB(Mlf)(impulsive) 215dB(Mlf)(continuous)
198dB(Mmf)(impulsive) 215dB(Mmf)(continuous)
188dB(Mmf)(impulsive) 205dB(Mmf)(continuous)
193dB
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page10
Impact
TemporaryHearingDamage(TTS)
Disturbance–Strong(~90%avoidance)(SA)
Masking
Detection
Species
Whales–Baleen
Whales–Toothed
Dugongs
Seabirds(airborne)
Seabirds(diving)
Allspecies
MarineMammals
Fish
Seabirds(airborne)
Whales–ToothedandBaleen
Whales-Toothed
Dugongs
Sound Pressure dB re 1 µPa
224dBpeak 160dBrms(continuous)
224dBpeak 160dBrms(continuous)
214dBpeak 150dBrms(continuous)
93dB(A)(continuous) 110dB(A)(impulsive)
90dBht
160dBrms(impulsive) 120dBrms(continuous)
140-160dBpeak(impulsive)
72dB(A)
115dBrms
90dB (forfrequenciesbelow1000Hz)
80dB (forfrequenciesbelow1000Hz)
Sound Exposure Level dB re 1 µPa²·s
183dB(Mlf)(impulsive)
183dB(Mmf)(impulsive)
173dB(Mmf)(impulsive)
190dB (safelevelfornoinjuries)
B10.3.10 Significance CriteriaThissectionshouldbereadinconjunctionwiththenoiseimpactcriteriadetailedinAppendix D7.AnassessmentofthesignificanceofthenoiseimpacthasbeenconductedusingthesignificancecriteriaoutlinedinTable B10.3g.
Determinationofthesignificancecriteriahasbeenundertakenusingthefollowingmethodology:
• Predictedexceedance(ifany)ofnoiseimpactcriteria
• Numberofreceptorsexposedtoaparticularlevelofimpact.
Impactsthatoccuronlyatasmallnumberofreceptorswouldnotbeconsideredassignificantforprojectdecision-makingaswidespreadimpacts.Thedurationofthenoiseexposure(inthecaseoftemporarynoiseorvibrationsourcessuchasconstruction)isalsoaconsideration.
Noiseimpactsoccurringatareceptorformorethanonemonthhavebeenassessedasbeingmore-significantthanthesameimpactoccurringforlessthanonemonth.
AsoutlinedinChapter A1, Project Introduction,theimpactassessmentprocessinvolvesariskassessmentofthepredictedexceedanceoftheacousticimpactcriteriaoccurring(e.g.someexceedancesareonlypredictedtooccurunderadversemeteorologicalconditionsand/orunderuncommon/unlikelyoperationalscenarios).
AsummaryoftheadoptedsignificancecriteriaareprovidedinTable B10.3g.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page11November 2014
Proj
ect A
spec
t
Sign
ifica
nce
of Im
pact
VeryHigh
Hig
h
Cons
truc
tion
Noi
se a
nd V
ibra
tion
Constructio
nno
iselevelsarepredicted
to
regu
larly
excee
dthe‘HighlyNoiseAffe
cted
Level’bym
orethan
10dB
(A)a
tthe
majority
ofn
oise-sen
sitivereceptorsfor
morethan
one
mon
th.
Vibrati
onlevelsof>
10mm/satm
ajority
ofsen
sitivereceptorsform
orethan
one
mon
th.
Buildingda
magetoanyherita
ge-listed
structure.
Constructio
nno
iselevelsarepredicted
to
exceed
the‘HighlyNoiseAffe
cted
Level’b
y15
dB(A)o
rmoreatth
emajority
ofn
oise-
sensitivere
ceptorsforu
ptoone
mon
th.
Constructio
nno
iselevelsarepredicted
to
regu
larly
excee
dthe‘HighlyNoiseAffe
cted
Level’byupto10d
B(A)atthe
majority
of
noise-sensitivere
ceptorsform
orethan
on
emon
th.
Vibrati
onlevelsof>
10m
m/satm
ajority
of
sensitivere
ceptorsforu
ptoone
mon
th.
Buildingda
magetoanyperman
ently-
occupied
structure.
Airb
orne
Ope
ratio
nal N
oise
Ope
ratio
nalnoiselevelsarepredicted
to
regu
larly
excee
dtheim
pactcriteriaby
morethan
15d
B(A)atm
ostn
oisesen
sitive
receptors.
Road
traffi
cno
iselevelsexperienceaVe
ry
Majorincreaseabo
vepre-con
struction
levelsand
resulting
levelsexcee
d
63dBL A
10,18h
r.
Ope
ratio
nalnoiselevelsarepredicted
to
exceed
theim
pactcriteriabybe
twee
n10
to15d
B(A)oro
ccasiona
llybymorethan
15
dB(A)a
tnoisesen
sitivereceptors.
Road
traffi
cno
iselevelsexperienceaMajor
increaseabo
vepre-con
struction
levelsand
resulting
levelsexcee
d63
dBL A
10,18h
r.
Und
erw
ater
Noi
se
Cons
truc
tion
and
Ope
ratio
n
Noisefrom
con
struction
oro
peratio
nal
activ
ities,inpa
rticularu
nderwaterpiling
thatre
sultinm
ortalityorperman
ent
thresholdshift(h
earin
gda
mage)which
lead
stom
ortality,perman
ento
rlon
g-term
(greaterth
anfiveyears)d
isap
pearan
ce
ofapop
ulati
onofn
ation
allyand
state
sign
ificantspe
cies,(referto
Secti
on
B10.
3.2 an
d Ch
apte
r B7,
Mar
ine
Ecol
ogy
forlistedspecies).
Noisefrom
con
struction
oro
peratio
nal
activ
ities,inpa
rticularu
nderwaterpiling
thatre
sultinm
ortalityorperman
ent
thresholdshift(h
earin
gda
mage)
whichlead
stom
ortalityorperman
ent
disapp
earanceofapop
ulati
onofn
on-
sign
ificantspe
cies.
Noisefrom
con
struction
oro
peratio
nal
activ
ities,inpa
rticularu
nderwaterpiling
thatre
sultinte
mpo
raryth
resholdshiftor
disrup
tiontohab
itat,whichlead
stosho
rt
term
disap
pearan
ce(lessthan
fiveyears)
ofapop
ulati
onofn
ation
allyand
state
sign
ificantspe
cies.
Noisefrom
con
struction
activitie
s,in
particularu
nderwaterpiling
thatre
sultin
tempo
raryth
resholdshiftord
isrupti
onto
ha
bitat,whichlead
stolong
-term(g
reater
than
fiveyears)d
isap
pearan
ceof
apo
pulatio
nofnon
-significan
tspe
cies.
Table B10.3g Acoustic Significance Criteria
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page12
Proj
ect A
spec
t
Sign
ifica
nce
of Im
pact
Mod
erate
Minor
Cons
truc
tion
Noi
se a
nd V
ibra
tion
Constructio
nno
iselevelsarepredicted
to
exceed
the‘HighlyNoiseAffe
cted
Level’
bybetwee
n10
dB(A)to15
dB(A)a
tthe
majority
ofn
oise-sen
sitivereceptorsforu
ptoone
mon
th.
Constructio
nno
iselevelsarepredicted
to
regu
larly
excee
dthe‘HighlyNoiseAffe
cted
Level’byupto5dB
(A)a
tthe
majority
of
noise-sensitivere
ceptorsform
orethan
1
mon
th.
Vibrati
onlevelsof1
10m
m/satm
ajority
of
receptorsform
orethan
1m
onth.
Constructio
nno
iselevelsarepredicted
to
exceed
the‘HighlyNoiseAffe
cted
Level’
byupto5dB(A)atthe
majority
ofn
oise-
sensitivere
ceptorsforu
ptoone
mon
th.
Constructio
nno
iselevelsexcee
dthe‘Noise
AffectedLevel’bu
tdono
texcee
dthe
‘HighlyNoiseAffe
cted
Level’form
orethan
on
emon
th.
Vibratio
nlevelsof1
10mm/satm
ajority
ofre
ceptorsforu
ptoone
mon
th
Vibrati
onlevelsof0
.31m
m/satm
ajority
ofre
ceptorsform
orethan
one
mon
th.
Airb
orne
Ope
ratio
nal N
oise
Ope
ratio
nalnoiselevelsarepredicted
to
exceed
theim
pactcriteriabybe
twee
nfive
to10d
B(A)oro
ccasiona
llybymorethan
10
dB(A)a
tnoisesen
sitivereceptors.
Road
traffi
cno
iselevelsexperiencea
Mod
erateincreaseabo
vepre-con
struction
levelsand
resulting
levelsexcee
d
63dB
LA1
0,18
hr.
Ope
ratio
nalnoiselevelsarepredicted
toexcee
dtheim
pactcriteriare
gularly
bybetwee
nthreedB
(A)u
ptofivedB(A),
orra
relybyup
toth
an10d
B(A)atn
oise
sensitivere
ceptors.
Road
traffi
cno
iselevelsexperiencea
Minorincreaseabo
vepre-con
struction
levelsand
resulting
levelsexcee
d
63dBL A
10,18h
r.
Und
erw
ater
Noi
se
Cons
truc
tion
and
Ope
ratio
n
Noisefrom
con
struction
activitie
s,in
particularu
nderwaterpiling
thatre
sultin
tempo
raryth
resholdshiftord
isrupti
on
tohab
itat,whichlead
stosho
rt-term
(lessth
anfiveyears)d
isap
pearan
ceofa
po
pulatio
nofnon
-significan
tspe
cies.
Noisefrom
con
struction
oro
peratio
nal
activ
itieswhichlead
stoate
mpo
rary(less
than
one
wee
k)disturban
ceofsignifican
tornon
-significan
tspe
cies.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page13November 2014
Proj
ect A
spec
t
Sign
ifica
nce
of Im
pact
Negligible
Be
neficial
Cons
truc
tion
Noi
se a
nd V
ibra
tion
Constructio
nno
iselevelsdono
texcee
dthe‘HighlyNoiseAffe
cted
Level’atthe
majority
ofn
oise-sen
sitivereceptorsforu
ptoone
mon
th.
Constructio
nno
iselevelsdono
texcee
dthe‘NoiseAffe
cted
Level’atthe
majority
ofnoise-sen
sitivereceptorsform
orethan
on
emon
th.
Vibrati
onlevelsof0
.31mm/satm
ajority
of
receptorsreceptorfo
ruptoone
mon
th.
Vibrati
onlevelsof<
0.3m
m/satm
ajority
of
receptorsforg
reaterth
anone
mon
thata
llreceptors.
Constructio
ncontrib
utesto
theredu
ction
ofnoise.Forexample,con
struction
or
operati
onshu
tsdow
nan
existing
sou
rce
ofnoisesuchasaro
adand
theresulting
no
iseim
pactislessth
anth
epreviousnoise
impa
ct.
Constructio
ncontrib
utesto
theredu
ction
ofvibratio
n.Forexample,con
struction
or
operati
onshu
tsdow
nan
existing
sou
rce
ofvibratio
n.
Airb
orne
Ope
ratio
nal N
oise
Ope
ratio
nalnoiselevelsarepredicted
to
mee
tthe
impa
ctcriteriaore
xcee
dbyless
than
threedB
(A).
Road
traffi
cno
iselevelsexperiencea
Negligibleincreaseabo
vepre-con
struction
levels;o
rpost-resulting
levelsdono
texceed
63dB
LA1
0,18
hr.
Ope
ratio
ncontrib
utesto
theredu
ction
of
noise.Forexample,ope
ratio
nshutsdo
wn
anexisting
sou
rceofnoisesuchasaro
ad
andtheresulting
noiseim
pactislessth
an
thepreviousnoiseim
pact.
Road
traffi
cno
iselevelsdecreasebe
low
pre-constructio
nno
iselevels.
Und
erw
ater
Noi
se
Cons
truc
tion
and
Ope
ratio
n
Noisefrom
con
struction
oro
peratio
nal
activ
itiesdoe
sno
thavean
impa
cton
species
Constructio
norope
ratio
nalactivitie
sresult
inadecreaseinund
erwaternoiselevels.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page14
B10.4 Existing Conditions B10.4.1 Site Description and Study AreaTheprojectdescriptionforconstructionandoperationphasesandthegeneralstudyareaisoutlinedinChapter A4, Project Description.ThelandimmediatelyadjacenttotheCCLTisusedforportoperationsorissetasideforfutureportdevelopment.TheareasurroundingthePortofCairnscontrolledlandincludestheCairnsCBD,EastTrinity,TrinityInletandTrinityBay.
Theaimoftheprojectistoallowaccessoflargercruiseships,includingaportionofthosethatcurrentlyanchoroffYorkeysKnob,intothePortofCairnsviatheupgradedshippingchannel.AstheprojectwillthereforeresultinareductioninthenumberofshipsutilisingYorkeysKnob,itwasnotconsiderednecessarytoassessnoiseimpactsatYorkeysKnob,howeverthischangeislikelytoresultinasmallbeneficialimpactsincetheprojectwillresultinreductioninassociatednoiselevels.
NotethattheprojectwillnotchangetheroutesusedbyshipstoapproachtheCairns/YorkeysKnobvicinityandhencenoiseimpactsfromindividualshipmovementsonthewiderFarNorthQueenslandcoastalarea(includingtheGreatBarrierReefMarineParkandtheWorldHeritageArea)willnotchangecomparedtothe‘donothing’scenario.
TherewillbeacumulativenoiseimpactfromthegreaternumberofshipsaccessingthePortofCairnsasaresultoftheproject,whichisaddressedinChapter B18, Cumulative Impacts Assessment.
Theacousticstudyareaforthisassessmentencompasses:
• TheimmediatevicinityofthePortofCairns,includingTrinityInletandtheCairnsCBD
• ResidentialareasatEastTrinity
• MarineareasadjacenttothePortofCairnsshippingchannelandDredgeMaterialPlacementArea(DMPA).
B10.4.2 Noise Sensitive Receptors SensitivereceptorsaredefinedinSchedule1oftheEnvironmental Protection (Noise) Policy 2008,theEPP(Noise),toincludedwellings,librariesandeducationalinstitutions,childcarecentresandkindergartens,outdoorschoolplaygroundareas,medicalinstitutions,commercialandretailactivities,protectedareas,marineparksandpassiveparksandgardens.
Thenearestnoisesensitivereceptorswithinoradjacenttotheacousticstudyareahavebeenidentifiedandassignedtocatchmentareaswhereexistingnoiseconditionsarecharacterisedbysimilarnoisesourcesandlevels.Themost-affectedsinglerepresentativesensitivereceptor(generallytheclosestreceptorunlessfactorssuchasscreeningarerelevant)hasbeenadoptedforeachcatchmentarea.
SomeareasoflandadjacenttotheCCLTareproposedtoberedevelopedinthefuture(potentiallyasresidential)as partoftheapprovedCityPortdevelopment.Thenoiseassessmenthasalsoincludedtheseproposedfuturedevelopmentareas.
TheseareasandtheirapproximatedistancestothecruiseterminalareprovidedinTable B10.4a.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page15November 2014
Table B10.4a Noise Sensitive Receptor Locations
Noise Sensitive Receptor Catchment
1. HotelsandresidencesalongWharfSt
2. HotelsalongtheMarina,includingtheCairnsHilton
3. ResidencesalongthecoastlineatEastTrinity(South)
4. ResidencesalongthecoastlineatEastTrinity(North)
5. ResidentialreceptorsonboatsmooredonTrinityInlet
6. Cityportdevelopment (proposedonly,notbuilt)
7.Marinelife
Representative Receptor
31WharfStreet,Cairns
HiltonHotel,34Esplanade,Cairns
2Esplanade,EastTrinity
2427PineCreekRoad,EastTrinity
Closestreceptortoshippingchannel
ClosestreceptortoCruiseShipTerminal
ForspeciesrefertoChapterB7,MarineEcology
Direction from Project to Receptor
West
North-west
East
East
East
North-west
Varies
Approximate Minimum Distance to Receptor
125mfromCCLT
250mfromCCLT
2300mfromShippingChannel
2500mfromShippingChannel
Varies.Closestreceptorapproximately100mfromshippingchannel(forspecificlocationsrefertoChapter B9, Socio-Economic)
125mfromCCLT
Varies
TheseareashavebeenidentifiedinpinkinFigure B10.4.2a, Figure B10.4.2bandFigure B10.4.2c.
B10.4.3 Existing Acoustic EnvironmentNoiseimpactcriteriaforassessmentofconstructionandoperationalnoisesourcesfromtheprojectarebasedonrepresentativebackgroundnoiselevelsmeasuredduringthesitesurvey.Noisemonitoringlocationsareshownin Figure B10.4.3aandFigure B10.4.3b.RefertoAppendix D7fordetailsofthemeasurednoiselevelsandthemeasurementmethodology.
TheCCLTvicinityistypicalofanurbannoiseenvironment,withambientnoiselevelsgenerallycharacterisedbyman-madenoisesourcessuchastrafficnoisefromlocalroadsandmechanicalplantnoisefromsurroundingbuildings.
TheEastTrinityvicinityisaruralnoiseenvironmentcharacterisedbynaturalnoisesourcessuchaswaveandwindnoise,withintermittentman-madenoisesourcessuchasaircraftmovements.
TheTrinityInletvicinityisanintermediatenoiseenvironmentinthat,althoughtypicallong-termnoiselevelsarecharacterisedbynaturalnoisesources(particularlywavenoise)thereisalsonoiseexposurefromman-madenoisesourcesfromshippingmovementsonthechannel.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page16
Figure B10.4.3a
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page17November 2014
Figure B10.4.3b
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page18
Figure B10.4.3c
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page19November 2014
Figure B10.4.3d
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page20
Figure B10.4.3e
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page21November 2014
Existingnoisesourceswithinthenoisestudyareainclude:
• NoisefromcruiseshipswhenberthingattheCCLTandassociatedvehiculartrafficduringvisits.Currentlythelargest(andloudest)cruiseshipregularlyaccessingtheterminalisthe78,000tonneRhapsodyoftheSeas
• NoisefromothershipvisitstothePortofCairns,includingnavyandcargoshipsatberth
• NoisefromreefboatsleavingfromandreturningtotheMarina
• IndustrialnoisefromthePortofCairns(includesvesselmovementsfromreeftourboatsandothersmallerworkandrecreationalvessels)
• Eventnoisee.g.fireworks,functionsandmusiceventswhichoccurirregularly
• Vehicularandpedestriantraffic
• WavenoisefromTrinityInlet
• Aircraftnoisefromaircraftapproaching/departingCairnsAirport
• SeaplaneandhelicopteroperationsfromCairnsEsplanade/Pier
• MechanicalservicesnoisefrombuildingswithintheCairnsCentralBusinessDistrict(CBD)whichwasaudibleatthepropertiesalongWharfStandatboththeeasternandsouthernfacadesoftheHiltonhotel.
Onceoperational,theprojectwillresultinincreasednumberofcruiseshipvisits,butwillnotintroducenewnoisesourcesintothearea;rather,itwillincreasethenumberofexistingcruiseshipportvisiteventsforsurroundingnoise-sensitivereceptors.
BeyondthePortofCairns,atnoisesensitivereceptorsatEastTrinity,additionalnoisesourcesthatwereaudibleincluded:
• Roadtrafficfromlocalroads
• Birdnoise.
Duringthemeasurementperiod,noperceptiblevibrationfromexistingsourceswasobserved.
B10.5 Assessment of Potential ImpactsAcousticimpactsfromtheprojectmayconsistof:
• Airbornenoise
− Impactsonhumans
− Annoyanceorlossofacousticamenity
− Sleepdisturbance
− Impactsonmigratorybirds
− Behaviouraldisturbance/disruptionofnesting
• Vibration
− Humancomfort(disturbance)
− Buildingdamagetostructures
− Heritagelistedwharf(refertoChapter B13, Cultural Heritage)− Otheroccupiedstructures
• Underwaternoise
− Impactsonunderwaterfauna
− Auditorymasking
− Avoidance/disturbancebehaviour
− Temporaryhearingdamage
− Permanenthearingdamage
− Physicalinjury
− Fatality.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page22
Potentialacousticimpactsfromtheprojectarepredominantlyanticipatedtooccurfromthefollowingprojectsources:
• Constructionoftheproject,including:
− Capitaldredging
− Pilingforwharfconstruction
− OtherlandsideconstructionactivitiesassociatedwiththeIFOpipelineandtheupgradeofotherservices (SeeChapter A4, Project Description).
• Operationalnoise,including:
− NoisefromshiptransitsthroughtheShippingChannel
− Noisefromshiploadingandunloading
− Noisefromberthedships
− Increasedtrafficnoiselevelsbothonsiteandonroadsservingtheproject
− Ongoingadditionalmaintenancedredgingassociatedwiththeexpandedchannel.
*Notethatwhilstongoingmaintenancedredgingisan‘operationalstageactivity’itisbestassessedagainst“construction”noiseimpactcriteriasinceitisashort-termnoiseactivitythatoccursonlyforadefinedperiodeveryyear.MaintenancedredgingalreadyoccursforthePortofCairnsbuttheexpandedchannelassociatedwiththeprojectwillnecessitateanextensioninthedurationofmaintenancedredging.However,theincreaseddredgingwillpredominantlyoccurintheouterchannelandthepotentialimpactsofnoisefrommaintenancedredgingintheinnerportwillremainunchanged.
Anassessmentofthepotentialimpactsoftheproject(withoutmitigation)isprovidedbelowinthefollowingsections.AsummaryofpotentialimpactsisalsoprovidedtogetherwithproposedmitigationmeasuresandpredictedresidualimpactsinSection B10.8.
B10.5.1 ConstructionB10.5.1.1 Airborne NoiseAirbornenoiselevelsfromtheconstructionactivitieslistedbelowhavebeenpredictedatthenearestaffectednoisesensitivereceptors,assumingthatnonoisemitigationmeasureshavebeenapplied.
Sourcenoiselevelsofconstructionactivitieshavebeentakenfromarangeofsourcesincludingrelevantstandardsandnoisemeasurementsusedforpreviousassessments.RefertoAppendix D7fordetailsofthesourcelevels.
• Constructionmethodology,plantnumbers,andhoursofoperationhavebeenbasedontheconstructionmethodologyoutlinedinChapterA4,ProjectDescription.
• Potentially-significantconstructionnoiseimpactsareanticipatedfromthefollowingmainactivities:
− Piling
− IFOPipelineinstallation
− Constructiontraffic
− Capitaldredging.
• FulldetailsofconstructionactivitiesusedintheassessmentareincludedinAppendix D7.NoiseimpactsfromroadtrafficnoiseassociatedwithconstructionisdiscussedfurtherinSection B10.5.2.3.
• Duetothedistancesinvolvedandchangingwindconditionsinthecoastalarea,itispossiblethatmeteorologicaleffectsmayimpactnoiselevelsatreceptors.Assuch,noiselevelshavebeencalculatedforbothneutralweatherconditionsandadverseweatherconditions.
NoisecontourshavebeenproducedandareincludedasAppendix D7.
DetailedtablespresentingthenoiselevelsaregiveninAppendix D7.
Adiscussionofresultsisgivenbelowforeachofthemainnoisesources.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page23November 2014
Table B10.5a Summary of Construction Noise Impacts
Noise Source
Capitaldredging–TSHD
Capitaldredging–Backhoe
IFOPipelineConstruction
Piling
Summary of Construction Noise Impacts
TSHDdredgingispredictedtohavenegligibleimpactsduringstandardconstructionhours.
Outsidestandardconstructionhours,TSHDdredgingispredictedtohaveaMinornoiseimpactonmooredresidentialreceiverslocatedonTrinityInlet.
IftheprogramofTSHDdredgingresultsinthedredgestayinginthevicinityofareceiverforgreaterthanonemonth,noiseimpactsoutsidestandardconstructionhourswouldincreasetobeModerate.
BackhoedredgingispredictedtoresultinMinornoiseimpactstoreceiversatWharfStreetandTrinityInletduringstandardconstructionhours.
Outsidestandardconstructionhours,BackhoedredgingispredictedtoresultinHighnoiseimpactstoreceiversatWharfStreetandTrinityInlet.
ConstructionoftheIFOpipelineispredictedtoresultinnegligiblenoiseimpactsatalltimes.
PilingispredictedtohaveaMinornoiseimpactduringstandardconstructionhours.
Ifpilingoccursoutsidestandardconstructionhours,increasednoiseimpactsarepredictedforresidentialreceiversatWharfStreet(High)andonTrinityInlet(Moderate).
ConstructionnoiseimpactsarepredictedtooccurforWharfStreetandTrinityInletreceivers.NoimpactsarepredictedtooccurforEastTrinityreceivers,duetothedistance(approximatelytwokm)tothesereceiversfromconstructionactivity.
TheactivitypredictedtoresultinthehighestnoiseimpactsisBackhoedredging,whichmaypotentiallybeconducted24hoursperday.Minornoiseimpactsarepredictedduringstandardconstructionhours;howeverhighnoiseimpactsareexpectedoutsideofstandardhours,whereconstructionnoiselevelsarepredictedtobeapproximately20dBhigherthanthebackgroundnoiselevel.ThesleepdisturbancescreeningassessmentindicatesthatthereisahighriskofsleepdisturbanceimpactsforWharfStreetandTrinityInletreceivers.
Additionalmitigationmeasureswilllikelyberequiredforbackhoedredgingtomitigatenoiseimpactsoutsideofstandardconstructionhours.ThesemitigationmeasuresarediscussedinmoredetailinSection B10.6.
TSHDispredictedtohavelowernoiseimpacts,duetolowernoiseemissionofthedredgeitselfandalsobecausethedredgenoisesourceismoving,meaningthatthedurationofnoiseexposureatanysinglereceiverisreduced.IfTSHDdredgingoccursinthevicinityofreceiversatnight,thereisaminorriskofsleepdisturbanceimpactsforTrinityInletreceivers.ThismayrequiremeasurestomitigatenoisefromtheTSHDdredging,asdiscussedfurtherinSection B10.6.
Pilingispredictedtohavelowerimpactsbecausepilingoperationswilllikelybelimitedtostandardconstructionhours.Minorimpactsarepredictedduringstandardconstructionhours.However,ifpilingoccursoutsideofstandardconstructionhours,ModeratetoHighnoiseimpactsarepredictedtooccur.AdditionalmitigationmeasuresforpilingarediscussedinSection B10.6.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page24
B10.5.1.2 VibrationVibrationlevelsfromvibration-inducingequipmenthavebeenpredictedatthenearestsensitivereceptors.
Theclosestreceptorsforhumancomfortvibrationeffectsfromconstructionactivitiesaretheapartments/hotelsonWharfStreet.
TheclosestreceptorforbuildingdamageistheheritagewharfatPortofCairns.
Thehighestvibrationinducingactivitiesduringconstructionwillbe:
• Impactpiling
• Dredging(TSHDandbackhoe)
• DirectionaldrillingfromIFOpipelineinstallation(ifrequired).
Vibration from Piling
Vibrationlevelsfrompilingaredependentonthehammerenergy,whichinturnisrelatedtothehammermassanddropheight.Thesefactorswillbedeterminedaspartofthedetailedplanningofconstructionactivities.
Accordingly,thisassessmentisbasedonprovidingcalculatedstand-offdistances(i.e.horizontalbufferzonebetween thepilingrigandsensitivereceptors)forpilingasafunctionofthedropenergyinordertocomplywiththeprojectvibrationgoals.
Thesestand-offdistanceswillbeusedinplanningpilingoperationstoensurethatvibrationgoalsarenotexceeded.
Agraphofnominalhammerenergiesrelativetodistanceisprovidedforvibrationcriteriarelevanttothisstudy (seeFigure B10.5.1.2a).
Figure B10.5.1.2a Maximum nominal hammer energy (kJ) to comply with project vibration targets for piling as a function of distance from receiver.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Max
imum
Ham
mer
Ene
rgy
(kJ)
Horizontal Distance from Hammer (m)
Residential - Minor Impact (0.3mm/s) Residential - Moderate Impact (1.0mm/s) Heritage Structures - 3mm/s
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page25November 2014
FortypicalhammerenergiespredictedvibrationimpactsontheWharfStreetresidentialreceptorsarelikelytobeintherange0.3<PPV<1.0forthedurationofpiling(>1month).Thiscorrespondstoaminorimpact.
Topreventimpactstotheheritagewharf,thepilingrighammerenergywillbecontrolled,withthehammerenergybeingreducedasthepilingrigapproachesthewharf.Thiswillbeachievedbylimitingthedropheightrelativetothehammermasssothatpilinghasanegligibleimpact.FromtheexperienceofpastinstallationofpilesduringcapitalworkssuchastheCCLTwharfrefurbishmentin2010andinstallationofpilesformaintenanceoftheactualheritagestructure,vibrationimpactsarepredictedtobenegligible.
Terrestrial Vibration from Dredging
Vibrationimpactsfromdredgingarenotcommonlyassessedbecauseofthesource-receiverdistancesencounteredintypicalEISprojects.ThePortofCairnsisunusualinthatportoperationsoccurincloseproximitytoresidentiallandusageandhenceitisrelevanttoconsidervibrationlevelsfromdredgingactivities.
Thereislittleornospecificinformationofgroundbornevibrationlevelsfromdredgingintheliterature(likelybecauseinatypicalassessmenttherearenovibration-sensitivereceiversinthevicinity).
Intheabsenceofspecificvibrationinformationfromdredgingintheliterature,dredgingimpactshavebeenmodelledusingtheTRLconstructionvibrationmethodology(HillerandCrabb2000)datafortunnellingoperations.
Datafromtunnellingindicatesthatthegroundconditionsarethemainfactordeterminingvibrationlevelsfromanexcavationtypeactivity.
Forsoftsoils(clayandsand+clay),whicharetheclosestavailabledatatotheseabedconditionsfordredging,tunnellingvibrationlevelsareexpectedtobebelow0.1mm/sforalldistances.Notethatthisislikelyaconservativeapproachsinceafluidseabedislikelyevensofterthanthedataassumedinthisassessment.
Thisiswellbelowvibrationimpactcriteriaforallreceptortypesandthereforerepresentsanegligibleimpact.
B10.5.1.3 Underwater Noise – PilingUnderwaternoiseimpactsfrompilinghavebeenpredictedusingmeasuredunderwaternoisesourcespectraofpreviouspilingoperations,scaledtothesizeofpilelikelytobeusedfortheproject.FulldetailsofthepredictionmethodologyaregiveninAppendix D7.
ExampleplotsofunderwaternoiselevelsasafunctionofdistancearegiveninFigure B10.5.1.3a.FullplotsofpredictedunderwaternoiselevelsarepresentedinAppendix D7.
Noiselevelsarepresentedasunweightedsoundpressurelevel(dBre1µPa)asafunctionofdistance.Eachlinecorrespondstoadifferentdirectionfromthesource(labelledbasedonthebearing,i.e.000isnorth).Noiseimpactthresholdsfordifferentspeciesareoverlaidontheplottoshowthepredicteddistanceofimpact.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page26
ThenoiseimpactthresholdsaresummarisedinAppendix D7andarebasedonaliteraturereviewofsensitivityofthemarinespeciesidentifiedinChapter B7, Marine Ecology.
Figure B10.5.1.3a Example Plot of Underwater Noise Levels – Piling at Dock
Pilingnoiseispredictedtohaveminorimpactsonfish,withlocalisedfishmortalitypossiblewithintheimmediatevicinity(approximatelytwo-threem)ofthepilingrigandbehaviouralchanges(avoidance)expectedatdistanceswithin1,000mofthepilingrig.
Pilingnoiseisexpectedtohaveminorimpactsonmarinemammals(dugongsandwhales),withhearingdamagelimitedtotheimmediatevicinityofthepilingrig(uptoapproximately10m).Althoughbehaviouralchanges(avoidance)areexpected,thesearepredictedtobelimitedtothelocalvicinityofthepilingrig(approximatelybetween100-500mdependingonthemetricconsidered)andhencenotconsideredlikelytohavesignificantlong-termimpacts,especiallyconsideringthegeneralabsenceofsuchspeciesfromwithinTrinityInletandthepresenceofexistingnoisesourcesfromtheexistinglevelofshiptrafficinTrinityInlet.
B10.5.1.4 Underwater Noise - DredgingDredgingnoiseispredictedtohavenegligibleimpactsonsensitivemarinefauna(refertoSection B10.3.2andChapter B7, Marine Ecology),withlocalisedbehaviouralchanges(avoidance)withinapproximately100-200mofthedredge.Hearingdamagewouldonlybeexpectedifanimalsremainintheimmediatevicinity(approximately10mofthedredge)forprolongedperiods,whichisconsideredextremelyunlikelytoeveroccur.
RefertoChapter B7, Marine Ecologyforafurtherdiscussionofsensitivemarinefaunaandtheimpactsofunderwaternoise.
B10.5.2 Operational Impacts Airbornenoiselevelsfromtheoperationalactivitiesassociatedwiththedevelopmenthavebeenpredictedatthenearestaffectednoisesensitivereceptors,assumingthatnonoisemitigationmeasureshavebeenapplied,andareoutlinedinthefollowingsection.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page27November 2014
B10.5.2.1 Shipping Noise - AirborneThePortofCairnscurrentlyoperateswithportvisitsfromcruiseshipsandothervessels(includingvisitingNavyships).Theprojectwillincreasethenumberofportvisitsbutwillnotresultintheadditionofacompletelynewnoisesource.
ThelargestcruiseshipcurrentlyregularlyaccessingthePortofCairnsistheRhapsody of the Seas(78,000tons). Thisrepresentstheexisting“largestorpotentialworstcase”cruiseshipnoiseexposureforthePortofCairns.
Oncetheprojectisoperational,thePortofCairnswillbeabletobeaccessedbycruiseshipswhicharecurrentlyunabletoaccessPortofCairnsduetodraught,lengthand/ormanoeuvrabilityconstraints.Theseincludeamixofsome “mid-size”cruiseshipssuchastheP&OAustraliafleet(Pacific Dawn/Pacific Pearl/Pacific Jewel),aswellasmegacruiseshipssuchasSun Princess/Dawn Princess,Carnival Spirit or Radiance of the Seas.
Notethatsomeofthesmallermegaclassships(e.gSun Princess/Dawn Princess/Sea Princess)haveapproximatelythesamesoundemissioncharacteristicsasmid-sizeshipssuchasPacific Dawnetc.
Tocapturethenoiseimpacts,twocategoriesofshiphavebeendefined:
• Mediumship(mid-sizedshipsuchasPacific DawnandsmallermegashipssuchasSun Princess)
• Largeship(AllothermegashipssuchasRhapsody of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Carnival Spirit,etc.).
ExaminationofthepublishedvisitschedulesforPortofCairnsfor2013and2014(includingshipsmooringoffYorkeysKnob)(PortsNorth2013a)showsthatapproximately60percentofshipvisitstoYorkeysKnobaremediumships (i.e.Pacific Dawn, Sea Princess,etc.).
Hencethesemediumshipswouldinitiallyrepresentthemajorityofadditionalportvisitsassociatedwiththeproject,withthemixofshipsprogressivelymovingtowardslarge-typeshipsasmid-sizeshipsareremovedfromservice.
Assuch,noiselevelshavebeenpredictedforthefollowingscenarios:
• Existingsituation(Rhapsody of the Seas),usingmeasurednoisedataforRhapsody of the Seas
• Futuremediumcruiseship(e.g.Pacific Dawn, Sun Princess),usingaveragesourcelevelsforamid-sizecruiseship
• Futurelargecruiseship(e.g.Radiance of the Seas),usingaveragesourcelevelsforamegacruiseship.
Sourcesoundpowerlevelsofoperationalactivitieshavebeentakenfromarangeofsourcesincluding:
• InternalArupnoisedatabase(measurementsfrompreviousprojects)
• Measurementsofnoiselevelsassociatedwithcruiseshipsatexistingcruiseterminals
• Publiclyavailabledatafromsimilarnoiseimpactassessments
• Noisedatafrompeer-reviewedtechnicalpapersaddressingnoisefromsimilardevelopments
• NoisemeasurementsofexistingshipactivitiesprovidedbyPortsNorth.
ModellingmethodologyforoperationalactivitieshavebeenbasedonthetypicaloperationalactivitiesoutlinedinChapter A4, Project Description,andfromtheabovedatasources.Fulldetailsofthetypesofplant,locationandsoundpowerlevelsthathavebeenusedintheassessmentareincludedinAppendix D7.
Theprojectispredictedtoresultinagreaternumberofovernightshipvisits,whichwillconsistofamajorityofmid-sizecruiseshipsaswellasasmallernumberofMegacruiseshipvisits.RefertoChapter A4, Project Descriptionfordetailsoftheadditionalcruiseshipnumbersassociatedwiththeproject.
Noiselevelsfromdockedlargecruiseshipsarelikelytobeapproximatelyequivalenttotheexisting“worstcase”noiseexposurefromRhapsody of the Seas(measureddockednoiselevelsofsignificantlylargershipssuchasthe86,000tonCarnival Spiritandthe90,000tonRadiance of the Seas,orthepublisheddataofDiBellaandRimigi(2013)arewithin~±3dBofthemeasurednoiselevelsfromRhapsody of the Seas).
NoiselevelsfromtypicalmediumsizedcruiseshipsthatwillaccessthePortofCairnspost-project(e.g.Pacific Dawn, Sun Princess)willbequieterthantheexistingnoiselevelsfromRhapsody of the Seas.
AminorexceedanceofthenoisecriteriaatnightispredictedforWharfStreetreceiversfromovernightvisitsbylargecruiseships;howeverthisexceedanceispredictedtoalreadyoccurforRhapsody of the Seas.NonoisecomplaintshavebeenreceivedbyPortsNorthforshipvisitsbyRhapsody of the Seas,whichsuggeststhatthepredictedexceedancefromotherlargecruiseshipsisunlikelytobesignificantandishencelowrisk.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page28
ReceptorsonTrinityInletarepredictedtoexperienceaminortomoderateexceedanceofthenoisecriteriaaslargecruiseshiptransitthroughthechannel.Mediumcruiseshipsarepredictedtomeetthenoisecriteriaexceptforaminorexceedanceifshiptransitoccursatnight.However,sinceacruiseshiptransitisadiscretesoundeventandingeneralwillnotoccurduringthenighttimeperiod,exceedancesduringshiptransitsareunlikelytobesignificantandareassessedaslowrisk
B10.5.2.2 Shipping Noise – UnderwaterUnderwaternoiselevelsfromcruiseshipstransitingtheShippingChannelhavebeenpredictedbasedonunderwaternoisemeasurementsofseveralcruiseshipsavailableintheliterature,asdiscussedinmoredetailinAppendixB10.
Theavailabledatashowsthatcruiseshipnoiseemissiongenerallyfallsintotwocategories:
• Mediumships,oldertypically-smallershipswithhighernoiseemission
• Largeships,newertypically-largershipswhichhavereducednoiseemission.
Thegeneraltrendofcruiseshipdesignismovingtowardsquieterunderwaternoiselevelsfromcruiseships,withtheEUimplementingalong-terminitiative(SILENV)tosignificantlyreduceunderwaternoiselevelsfromships.
Noiselevelsfromamediumship(i.e.theexpectedworstcaseshipaccessingthePortofCairnspost-project)arepresentedinFigure B10.5.2.2aforashipintheshippingchannel.AdditionaldatafordifferenttypesofcruiseshipsandfordifferentsourcelocationsarepresentedinAppendix D7.
Figure B10.5.2.2a Underwater Noise Levels from Medium Cruise Ship in Cairns Shipping Channel
Shippingnoiseispredictedtohavenegligibleimpactonmarinemammals.ThereisexistingvesseltrafficatthePortofCairnsandtheupgradewillresultinadditionalvesselsofsimilartypetotheexistingvessels;indeeditispossiblethatthenewer,largershipsassociatedwiththeprojectwillbequieterthanexistingvesselsusingthePortofCairns,especiallyifproposedEUunderwaternoiseinitiativessuchasSILENVarewidelyadoptedinfuture.
Noiselevelsfromshippingmaycauseavoidancebehaviourfrommarinemammalswithin~150-200mofthevessel. Thisavoidancebehaviourisunlikelytocausesignificantdisruptiontomarinemammalsandindeedmayassistinreducingtheincidenceofshipstrikes.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page29November 2014
B10.5.2.3 TrafficRoadtrafficvolumesforpeakperiodoperationaltimesandpercentheavygoodsvehicles(hgv)havebeenprovidedinChapter B14, Transportforthefollowingroads:
• LakeStreet
• WharfStreet
• CairnsPort(on-site).
Assessmenthasbeenmadeforthestudyareaimmediatelyadjacenttothesiteentrance,beingthepotentiallyworstaffectedzone.ThetrafficcountdatawascollectedduringapeakperiodinuseoftheCCLTbutoutsideoftheCBDpeakperiod.Thisprovidesthebasisforassessmentofrelativeimpactsduetoproposedalterationtoportusageaspercriteria.
Existingandpredictedoperationaltrafficflowsarenotedtobehighlyvariable.Theworstcasetrafficvolumesfromlargestshipclass,however,arepredictedtoincreaseoveralltrafficvolumesafactoroflessthantwotimes.Assumingthatthemixofheavyandlightvehiclesisapproximatelythesame,thisrepresentsanoverallchangeinroadtrafficnoiseimpactoflessthanthreedB.ItshouldbenotedthatthisisduringpeakuseoftheCCLT,whenaveragedoveran18-hourperiod,theincreaseinnoiselevelsisexpectedtobeevenlower.
Constructionactivitiesassociatedwiththeprojectarenotexpectedtoproducesignificantadditionalroadtrafficcomparedtoexistingvolumes.Roadtrafficassociatedwithconstructionactivitiesisthereforeexpectedtobeinsignificantinthecontextofexistingtrafficflowsonthelocalroadnetwork.
TheincreaseinroadtrafficnoiselevelsaresummarisedinTable B10.5f,alongwiththepredictedsignificanceofimpact.
Table B10.5f Cairns Port Road Traffic Noise Impact Assessment
Activity
Additionalroadtrafficnoise(operational)
Additionalroadtrafficnoise(construction)
Potential Impact
<3dB
<3dB
Significance
Negligible
Negligible
Likelihood
Likely
Likely
Risk Rating
Negligible
Negligible
Trafficmovementsonsitearepredictedtocomplywithrelevantoperationalcriteriaatallreceptorlocationsduringalltimeperiods.Further,predictednoiselevelsaresufficientlybelowoperationalnoiseimpactsfromshipstonotcontributesignificantlytonoiseimpacts.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page30
Table B10.5g Predicted Operational Noise Levels at Nearest Noise Sensitive Receptors – On-Site Traffic
Source Location
WharfSt
EastTrinity
TrinityInlet
Noise Impact Criteria dB(A) re 20µPa LAeq
Day
57
43
45
Evening
51
38
43
Night
49
33
38
Meteorological conditions
Sound Pressure Level
dB(A) re 20µPa LAeq
Neutral
44
-
7
Adverse
44
-
12
Significance of Impact
Negligible
Negligible
Negligible
Probability
Almost Certain
Almost Certain
Almost Certain
Risk Rating
Low
Low
Low
Trafficmovements
B10.5.2.4 Maintenance DredgingNoiseimpactsfrommaintenancedredginghavebeenassessedusingconstructionnoisecriteriaalthoughmaintenancedredgingisanoperationalactivity.
Thisisbecausedredgingisashort-termnoisesourcethatonlyoccursforashort,definedperiodperyear.
SourcelevelsforatypicalsizeTSHDareapproximatelytwodBlowerthanthelargesizeTSHDusedforCapitaldredging(refertoAppendix D7).
B10.5.2.5 Maximum Noise LevelsMaximumnoiselevelimpactfromoperationalnoiselevelshavebeenpredictedforassessmentagainstsleepdisturbance.ThesearepresentedinAppendix D7.
Sleepdisturbancescreeningcriteriaaremetforallactivitiesexceptshipsenteringandleavingport.
Minorsleepdisturbanceimpactsareexpectedatsensitivereceptorsformediumcruiseships.Moderatesleepdisturbanceimpactsareexpectedforlargercruiseshipsatsensitivereceptors.
Theriskratingfornoiselevelimpactsforshipsleaving/enteringportisassessedasLowsincecruiseshipsgenerallyenter/exitthePortofCairnsduringthemorning(7.00am–10.00am)orearlyevening(5.00pm–8.00pm)timeperiodsandhencecruiseshipmovementsatnightwillbeinfrequent.
B10.5.2.6 VibrationNoneoftheequipmentusedintheoperationoftheprojectareexpectedtocreatevibrationlevelshighenoughtocreateadversevibrationlevelsatthenearestsensitivereceptors.
Ship-basedsourceswillnotresultinsignificantterrestrialvibrationduetothelargecumulativelossesfromacombinationofcouplinglossesattheship-waterinterfaceandthewater-seabedinterfaceandpropagationlossesthroughtheseabedandground.
Land-basedoperationalvibrationsourcesarelimitedtomobileequipmentsuchasforklifts.Vibrationfromvehiclestypicallyresultsinnegligibleimpactsbecausethepneumaticsuspensionofvehiclesisolatesthevehiclemassfromtheground.
Impact-typevehicleoperations(e.g.forkliftunloading/loadinginvolvingsettingdownofloads)willresultinincreasedvibration;howevertheseactivitieswouldoccuralongsidethecruiseshipatdistancesof~100morgreatertosensitivereceiversandhencenoimpactsatreceiversareexpectedtooccur.
Henceoperationalvibrationimpactsfromtheprojectareassessedasbeingnegligible.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page31November 2014
B10.6 Mitigation MeasuresB10.6.1 ConstructionSpecificmitigationmeasuresforeachoftheconstructionactivitiesthatcauseexceedancesatnoisesensitivereceptorsareincludedbelowinTable B10.6a
Table B10.6a Construction mitigation measures
Construction Activity
BackhoeDredging
TSHDDredging (CapitalandMaintenancedredging)
IFOPipeline
Piling
Recommended Mitigation
BackhoedredgingwillbescheduledtoavoiddredgingoftheTrinityInletchannelinthevicinityofresidentialreceptorsduringthenighttimeperiodwhereverpossible.
Whereschedulingtoavoidimpactsisnotpossible,consultationwithaffectedresidentswillbeconductedtoreviewpotentialmitigationmeasures.AllworkstobeundertakenwithregardtoAS2436-2010-Guidetonoiseandvibrationcontrolonconstruction,maintenanceanddemolitionsites.
AConstructionNoiseandVibrationManagementPlanwillbepreparedfortheprojectconstructionwhichwilldetailnoisemitigationmeasuresagreedinconsultationwithDEHP/localauthority.
DredgingwillbescheduledtoavoiddredgingoftheTrinityInletchannelinthevicinityofresidentialreceptorsduringthenighttimeperiodwhereverpossible.
Whereschedulingtoavoidimpactsisnotpossible,consultationwithaffectedresidentswillbeconductedtoreviewpotentialmitigationmeasures.
Noadditionalmitigationmeasuresrequired.
PilingactivitieswillbelimitedtothedaytimeperiodunlessapprovalisobtainedfromDEHP/localauthoritybasedon“sufficientgrounds”tojustifynighttimeconstruction.
Amarinemammalobservationzoneofonekm,exclusionzoneof100manda“soft-start”regimewillbeadoptedtomitigatenoiseimpactsonmarinefauna.TheeffectivenessofthismeasuremaybelimitedintheturbidwatersofTrinityInlethowever,andtheperformanceofthismeasurewillbemonitored.
Underwaternoisemonitoringwillbeconductedattheonsetofpilingtoconfirm/calibratethenoisepredictions.
Ifnighttimeworksarerequired,e.g.duetotideconstraints,communityconsultationwithresidentsshouldoccurtoexploremitigationoptions.
Aresilientpad(dolly)willbeusedwherefeasiblebetweenthepileandhammerheadinordertoreduceairbornenoiseimpacts,asrecommendedbyBS5228.
Vibrationimpactswillbecontrolledbylimitingthehammerenergyusedtoundertakepilingbasedonthedistancetothenearestsensitivereceptorsandstructures.Thiswillbeachievedbysettingtherelevantdropheightrelativetothemassofthepilingrighammer.
Vibrationmonitoringwillbeundertakenonthefirstdayofpilingtoconfirm/calibratethevibrationpredictions.
Contractortoreviewexistingdilapidationsurvey(s)fortheheritagewharfduringplanningof/priortocommencementofconstructionandadjustconstructionprogramaccordingly.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page32
Inadditiontotheabovemeasuresforspecificactivities,allgeneralactivitiesrelatingtotheconstructionworkswillbecarriedoutinlinewithandengagetheprinciplesofBestManagementPractice(BMP)andBestAvailableTechnologyEconomicallyAchievable(BATEA)duringtheconstructionperiodtomanagethenoiseimpacts:
• Thecontractorwillusemodernandwell-maintainedequipmenttoundertaketheworks
• Limitingoperationoftheconstructionworksto6:30amto6:30pmMondaytoSaturdayexceptforspecificidentifiedactivitiesforwhichapprovalfromtheDEHP/localauthorityisobtained
• Notifyingpotentially-affectedresidentsofanyout-of-hoursconstructionworks(preferablyatleastoneweeks’notice,minimumoftwodays’noticeexceptforemergencyworks)
• PortsNorthwillidentifyandgathercontactdetails(address,phone,email)ofstakeholderslocatedinthevicinityofconstructionareaswhocouldpotentiallybeimpactedbyactivitiesresultinginnoiseandvibration.PortsNorthwillcommunicatewiththesepeopleviaphone,emailandpostasappropriate.ThiswillalsoincludeTrinityInlet,PortandMarlinMarinausersaswellaslocalresidentsandbusinesses.Aconstructionengagementprogramwouldbedevelopedandimplementedtocreateadialoguewithstakeholdersduringtheconstructionphase
• Whereworksarescheduledtooccuroutsideregularconstructionhours,stakeholderswouldbeadvisedinadvanceviaemailorpost
• PortsNorthwouldcontinuetopromoteandmanagefeedbackchannels,suchasaprojectemailaddressandphonenumber,duringconstructionactivitiesforstakeholderstoaskquestions,providefeedbackandlodgecomplaints.
B10.6.2 Operational NoiseThemaincontributingnoisesourcetooperationalnoiseimpactsarefromtheshipitself,eitheronarrivaltothePortofCairnsorwhiledockedattheCCLT.
ItisrelevanttonotethatPortofCairnshasbeenoperatingfordecadeswithvesselmovementspotentiallyoccurring24-hoursperdayintheimmediatevicinityoftheCairnsCBD.Assuch,althoughtheprojectwillintroduceagreaternumberofovernightportvisits,theprojectwillnotresultintheintroductionofacompletelynewnoisesource.ItisalsorelevantthatPortsNorthhavereceivedfew,ifany,noisecomplaintsregardingnoiseemissionfromexistingoperationattheCCLT(withtheexceptionofcomplaintsagainstspecific“loudships”,particularlyvisitingNavyvessels).
ThereislittleopportunitytoreducenoiseemissionsfromindividualshipsaccessingtheCCLT;howeverprogressivelyasnewer,quietershipsareintroducedintoservicenoiselevelsmayreduceinfuture.Availablenoisedatagenerallysupportsthistrend:e.g.despiteitslargersize,measureddockednoiselevelsfromtheCarnival SpiritwerelowerthanmeasureddockednoiselevelsfromRhapsody of the Seas.
Existing“worstcase”noiseexposures,representedbytheRhapsody of the Seascruiseship,whichisthelargestshipcurrentlyregularlyvisitingPortofCairns,arepredictedtoresultinminorexceedancesofthenoisecriteriaduringthenighttimeperiod,withnoiselevelsfromdockedships,loading/unloadingactivitiesandshiparrival/departurepredictedtoexceedthenoisecriteria.Althoughloading/unloadingandshiparrival/departureareunlikelytooccuratnightforatypicalshipvisit,thenoisefromtheshipitselfispredictedtoexceedthenoisecriteriaatnight.
Futurenoiseimpactsassociatedwiththeprojectcanbedividedintotwocategories:
• Medium-sizedcruiseships(e.g.Pacific Dawn,Sun Princess),whichwilllikelyrepresentthemajority(~60percentorgreater)offuturecruiseshipvisitsfollowingtheproject,andarepredictedtobequieterthanRhapsody of the Seas andtomeetnoisecriteriaforallactivitiesexceptshipsarriving/departingatnight(whichisunlikelytooccur inpractice)
• Large-sizedcruiseships(e.g.Radiance of the Seas),whicharepredictedtohaveverysimilarnoiseimpactstotheexistingnoiseimpactsfromRhapsody of the Seas.
ThelackofhistoricalnoisecomplaintsregardingcruiseshipnoiseatPortofCairnssuggeststhatfuturelargecruiseshipswithsimilarnoiseemissioncharacteristicstoRhapsody of the Seasareunlikelytocausesignificantadditionalnoiseimpacts.
The“typical”futurescenario,withMedium-sizedcruiseships,isunlikelytoresultinsignificantnoiseimpactsonresidences.
Noiseimpactsfromshiparrival/departureatTrinityInletreceptorsarenotexpectedtobesignificant.Thisisbecauseshiparrivalswillonlyoccuronceperassessmenttimeperiod(i.e.asinglenoiseevent);willgenerallynotoccurduringtheNighttimeperiod;andbecausethelocationofreceptorsadjacenttotheshippingchannelmeansthatthesereceptorsshouldreasonablybeexpectedtobeexposedtoshipnoise.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
ChapterB10:Page33November 2014
Intheeventthatnoiseimpactsoccur,updatestofuturePortOperationsandCCLTprocedurestoensureshipoperatorsareawareoftheneedtoreducenoiseimpactsonsurroundingresidencesandsuchmeasuresmayinclude:
• Wherepossible,avoidingrunningtheshipsprimarypropulsionenginesatnight(between2200-0600)
• Wherepossible,avoidingconductingloading/unloadingactivitiesorrefuellingatnight
• Wherepossible,avoidingtheuseoftheshipsexternalPAsystematnight.
Whereoperationalcircumstancesrequireshipstoconductnoise-generatingactivitiesatnight,futurePortOperationsproceduresmayrequireshipoperatorstoprovidePortsNorthwithadvancewarning(e.g.24hours’notice)sothatPortsNorthmay,atitsdiscretion,implementadditionalmanagementmeasures(e.g.notifyingsurroundingresidents).Suchproceduresmayberequiredinfuture,andcouldincludemechanismsfornotifyingresidentsofshipvisits(e.g.linktoappropriatesectionofPortsNorthwebsite),aswellasdetailsofcomplaintshandlingprocedurestodealwithanyfuturenoisecomplaintsassociatedwithoperationoftheCCLT,andprovisionsfordealingwithindividualnoisyships.
B10.7 Residual Impacts B10.7.1 ConstructionB10.7.1.1 Airborne NoiseTheresidualimpactofconstructionnoisewithallmitigationmeasuresisassessedtobenegligibleforconstructionduringstandardconstructionhours.
Theresidualimpactofdredgingconstructionnoiseoutsideofstandardconstructionhoursisassessedtobeminor.
B10.7.1.2 Vibration Theresidualimpactofconstructionvibrationispredictedtobenegligibleforallreceptorswithallmitigationmeasuresinplace.
B10.7.1.3 Underwater NoiseTheresidualimpactofconstructionunderwaternoiseispredictedtobenegligibleforallspecieswithallmitigationmeasuresinplace.
B10.7.2 OperationB10.7.2.1 Airborne NoiseTheresidualimpactofoperationalnoisewillbenegligibleforreceptorsatWharfStreetandEastTrinity.
ResidualimpactstoreceptorsatTrinityInletwillbeminor,primarilyduetoshipmovementswithinthechannel.However,theseimpactsareconsideredless-significantthanforland-basedreceiversduetothelocationofthesereceptorsadjacenttotheshippingchannel(andhenceitisnotconsideredreasonabletoexpectthesereceptorsnottobeexposedtonoisefromshippingmovements).
B10.7.2.2 Vibration Theresidualimpactofoperationalvibrationwillbenegligibleforallreceptors.
B10.7.2.3 Underwater NoiseTheresidualimpactofunderwaternoiseemissionfromoperationoftheprojectwillbenegligibleforallspeciesconsidered.
Cairns Shipping Development Project
Draft EIS : Chapter B10 Noise & Vibration
November 2014 ChapterB10:Page34
B10.8 Summary of ImpactsAsummaryoftheimpacts,mitigationmeasuresandresidualimpactsisgiveninTable B10.8below.
Table B10.8a Summary of Impacts, Mitigation Measures and Residual Effects
Effect
Constructionnoise–landbasedinfrastructure
ConstructionNoise–dredging
Constructionvibration
Operationalvibration
Operationalnoise–shippingandterminal
Operationalnoise– roadtraffic
Impactofpilingonfish
Impactsofpilingonmarinemammals(includingdugongs)
Impactsofdredgingonfish,marinemammalsanddugongs
Shippingnoise
Assessment of Impact
NegligibletoModerate
NegligibletoModerate
Negligibletominor
Negligible
NegligibletoMinor
Negligible
Minor
Negligible
Negligible
Negligible
Mitigation
Constructionactivitywillnotbeconductedduringthenight-timeperiod,unless“sufficientgrounds”existtoobtainapprovalforout-of-hours’work.
AllworkstobeundertakenwithregardtoAS2436-2010–Guidetonoiseandvibrationcontrolonconstruction,maintenanceanddemolitionsites.
GeneralsiteactivitiestofollowtheprinciplesofBestManagementPractice(BMP)andBestAvailableTechnologyEconomicallyAchievable(BATEA).
Communityconsultationwithlocalresidentsshouldseekagreedmitigationmeasures.
Back-hoedredgingnearsensitivereceptorswillbeavoidedduringthenight-timeperiodwhereverpossible.
AllworkstobeundertakenwithregardtoAS2436-2010–Guidetonoiseandvibrationcontrolonconstruction,maintenanceanddemolitionsites.
Communityconsultationwithlocalresidentsshouldseekagreedmitigationmeasuresifnight-timedredgingistooccur.
Implementmitigationmeasuresandmonitoratcommencementofconstructionworks.Undertakedilapidationsurveyofexistingheritagestructuresshouldpilingworksnotbeconductedinaccordancewiththenominatedcriteria.
N/A
Updatestoexistingportoperationsproceduresmaybepreparedinthefutureshouldpredictedimpactseventuate,andthesemayincludeadministrativemeasurestoreducenoiseemissionduringthenighttimeperiod.
N/A
Softstarts
Softstarts,safetyzones(ifnecessary,orpracticable)
Nomitigationrequired
Nomitigationrequired
Residual Risk
Medium
Medium
Low
Negligible
Low
Negligible
Low
Low
Low
Low