Issues

• Population and Settlement Patterns
• Environmental Health
• Acoustic Environment
• Urban Design
• Drinking Water Quality
• Social and Economic Conditions
• Education

• Transport
• Energy Sources and Use

• Solid Waste
• Hazardous Waste
• Contaminated Sites

At a glance

The issue

The noise environment is a significant environmental quality issue for Tasmania: as many as half of the 4,000 public complaints received each year in Tasmania that relate to harm to the environment are in response to a noise problem (DPIWE 2003). The quality of the acoustic environment may affect work, leisure and sleep. The regulatory impact statement for the 'Draft Environment Protection Policy (Noise)' outlines the case for action to improve the acoustic environment in Tasmania, including the evidence concerning the health effects of noise.

The main impediments to a satisfactory acoustic environment in Tasmania, based on the level of public complaints, are excessive noise from: domestic dogs; other domestic sources (e.g. parties, workshops, and heat pumps); secondary industry; and motor vehicles/traffic (DPIWE 2003).

It is often speculated that noise contributes to overall population stress. Population groups most exposed to noise (by virtue of where they live, work and recreate), and those most sensitive to its impacts, may face particular risks. These groups include infants and the young, shift workers, the elderly, the blind, and those suffering hearing impairment, sleep disorders and other physical and mental health conditions.

Recent research has established that the link between noise and human health may be more certain than previously recognised. The draft report by the enHealth Council on the Non-Auditory Health Effects of Noise notes that there is 'sufficient evidence' linking noise with sleep disturbance, annoyance, speech and communication interference, and hearing impairment to merit public health action in these areas, although additional research is needed to better understand the effects of them. (enHealth Council, unpublished draft 2002).

The extent to which noise causes annoyance can be affected by a number of factors, including: noise level; whether it is a single or ongoing event; time of the day or night; certain characteristics of the noise, such as tonal components; strong vibrations that result from the noise; psychosocial factors, such as personal sensitivity to noise; and a previous history of an annoying noise source. Weather conditions, such as cloud cover or temperature inversions may affect the noise level received. The material of surrounding structures also influences noise levels as harder material, such as concrete, frozen ground or water, is less able to absorb noise and generally reflects the noise (Standards Australia 1997).

This 'At a glance' section provides an overview of acoustic environments. More detailed information and references are contained in the Acoustic Environment Issue Report.

A recommendation on Acoustic Environment is also provided.

Favourable news

• Tasmania has the potential for excellent acoustic environmental quality in terms of ambient noise level. Nonetheless, noise levels of particular sources may be a substantial margin above the background level because of the prevalence of low background levels.
   
• Road transport is the most widespread source of noise pollution in Tasmania, as elsewhere. Vehicle noise from a car travelling at moderate to high speeds on dry roads will increase with speed at between 6 and 12 dB(A) per doubling of speed. The reduction of vehicle speed limits in residential streets to 50 km/h may therefore have contributed in improving the acoustic environment in residential areas in Tasmania. However, there is little monitoring known that documents such improvements.
   
• The Tasmanian Government is currently developing an Environment Protection Policy on noise in response to the need to protect the acoustic environment. The policy will further the objectives of the Resource Management and Planning System, in particular the objectives of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994. The Draft Policy is subject to review by the Environment Protection Policy Review Panel. It includes noise emission standards for industry, transport and neighbourhood noise sources. It also sets standards for noise sensitive developments such as residences, schools and hospitals.
   

Unfavourable news

• Noise surveys to assess and measure the acoustic environment at suburban or regional scales are generally not undertaken in Tasmania. Such noise mapping is most important when zoning and designing future residential and road development. It is also useful for environmental reporting to provide broad measures of population exposure to noise.
   
• Anecdotal information suggests that modified engine exhaust systems, rather than poorly maintained exhaust systems, are the more significant sources of transport-related vehicle noise.
   
• Responses to noise by councils and agencies have generally been reactive, although this situation will be improved with the finalisation of the Environment Protection Policy on Noise.
   

Uncertain news

• The number of workplace complaints relating to noise is not recorded separately from other complaints. The state of the workplace acoustic environment is largely unknown and unreported.
   

• Issue Report - continued in depth