Consultation on new noise policy
A new South Australian noise policy has been released for the final phase of public consultation.
The new policy, which will operate under the Environment Protection Act 1993, has been developed after extensive review by the Environment Protection Authority to replace the Environment Protection (Noise) Policy 2007.
The draft Environment Protection (Commercial and Industrial Noise) Policy 2022 will protect human health from the impacts of commercial and industrial noise by providing a legal framework for the assessment of a wide range of commercial and industrial noise issues.
Unlike pollution of water or air by chemicals, noise pollution is not visible but falls within the definition of both a ‘pollutant’ and ‘environmental nuisance’ under the Environment Protection Act 1993.
EPA Director of Policy, Assessment and Finance Kathryn Bellette said feedback on a discussion paper released in 2020 had contributed to the new draft policy.
“The existing policy has been in effect for 15 years and some improvements have been identified over that time,” she said.
“In addition, with the introduction of the Local Nuisance and Litter Control Act 2016, local government is now responsible for the management of local nuisance issues, such as noise from sources not licensed by the EPA and other domestic noise sources. Part 6 of the Noise Policy has been removed to avoid duplication of these provisions.”
The new draft policy is connected to decision-making regarding noise impacts of developments under the South Australian planning system, including the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 and the single electronic Planning and Design Code.
The development of the new policy is part of a statutory process required under the Environment Protection Act.
A two-month consultation period will run until 23 November 2022. There will be virtual public information sessions on 6 and 18 October and an in-person session at the EPA on 13 October.
