❓ Hon. Sally Talbot questions the Minister for Environment regarding the accuracy of Alcoa's noise maps for the Wagerup refinery and their impact on nearby residential areas, particularly Yarloop. The Minister confirms awareness and satisfaction based on EPA advice.
AnsweredQoN 987Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ALCOA NOISE MAPS — WAGERUP REFINERY
987. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I gave the minister a prop when I submitted the question.
(1) Is the
minister aware of the noise maps—a map is attached—produced by
Alcoa that show noise contours as bands surrounding the Wagerup refinery and
extending to the Yarloop town site?
(2) Is the
minister satisfied that these maps accurately indicate how residential areas
south of Wagerup are affected by noise emissions?
(3) If yes to
(2), can the minister explain why the bands appear to narrow as they come close
to the first street in the town centre?
(4) If no to
(2), how has the minister expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the data
has been presented, and what is he doing about it?
987. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I gave the minister a prop when I submitted the question.
(1) Is the
minister aware of the noise maps—a map is attached—produced by
Alcoa that show noise contours as bands surrounding the Wagerup refinery and
extending to the Yarloop town site?
(2) Is the
minister satisfied that these maps accurately indicate how residential areas
south of Wagerup are affected by noise emissions?
(3) If yes to
(2), can the minister explain why the bands appear to narrow as they come close
to the first street in the town centre?
(4) If no to
(2), how has the minister expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the data
has been presented, and what is he doing about it?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) Yes.
(2) The
Minister for Environment granted approval on 29 June 2012 to Alcoa for its
Wagerup alumina refinery, under regulation 17 of the Environmental Protection
Noise Regulations 1997, to vary the allowable noise emissions based on advice
from the Environmental Protection Authority, which included an assessment of
Alcoa's noise contour maps.
(3) These maps
are produced by computer noise models, which take into account topography and
noise barriers and, as such, the contours reflect these variations.
(4) Not applicable.
(1) Yes.
(2) The
Minister for Environment granted approval on 29 June 2012 to Alcoa for its
Wagerup alumina refinery, under regulation 17 of the Environmental Protection
Noise Regulations 1997, to vary the allowable noise emissions based on advice
from the Environmental Protection Authority, which included an assessment of
Alcoa's noise contour maps.
(3) These maps
are produced by computer noise models, which take into account topography and
noise barriers and, as such, the contours reflect these variations.
(4) Not applicable.
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