Hon Giz Watson inquires about the procedure for assessing environmental noise from wind farms in WA, referencing the EPA's 2007 draft guidance. The Minister outlines the relevant regulations and guidelines used, including the SA procedure and national guidelines.

AnsweredQoN 404Legislative Council
Asked
20 June 2012
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

WIND FARMS
— ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE
404. Hon GIZ WATSON to the
minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the Environmental Protection Authority's
2007 draft ''Guidance for the Assessment of Environmental Factors: Environmental
Noise: No. 8''.
(1) What
procedure currently applies to assessing environmental noise from wind farms?
(2) When was this
procedure last reviewed?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1) Noise is
regulated under the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997.
Premises, including wind farms, must comply with assigned noise levels set out
in the regulations. Local governments are responsible for assessing wind farm
proposals and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.The Environmental
Protection Authority's draft ''Guidance for the Assessment of
Environmental Factors: Environmental Noise: No. 8'' from 2007 indicates
the procedure to be used to assess wind farms is the South Australian Environment
Protection Authority's procedure for the assessment of wind farm noise.
(2) The South
Australian procedure was updated in 2009. Western Australia also considers the ''National
Wind Farm Development Guidelines—Draft'' of July 2010 for the
assessment of low frequency noise and infrasound. Wind farm development in WA
is also guided by the Department of Planning's ''Planning
Bulletin 67 Guidelines for Wind Farm Development''.

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