Le Fevre Peninsula (noise regulation)
The EPA regulates more than 80 sites that are undertaking activities of environmental significance on the Le Fevre Peninsula. Many of these industries have been in operation for a very long time, however more recently additional industries have commenced. This has added pressure on the environment and in particular increased the level of noise.
Power generation is an activity of environmental significance that requires an EPA authorisation. To gain authorisation, an activity must comply with the Environment Protection (Noise) Policy 2007 (Noise Policy).
Snapper Point Power Station
The Snapper Point Power Station is licensed by the EPA (Licence #51513) and is operated by Port Adelaide Energy, trading as Nexif Energy. The plant is a new ‘grid firming’ power station located at Pelican Point Road, Outer Harbor. It exists to keep the electricity grid stable by supplementing wind and solar power.
The EPA is undertaking ongoing noise measurements in areas surrounding the Snapper Point Power Station and continues to analyse the data collected. An update will be provided when the analyses are complete.
Noise monitoring at St Kilda and Pelican Point
Noise transmission is heavily influenced by weather conditions and the distance between the noise source and receiver. These variables are particularly relevant to the noise that has been reported at St Kilda.
Noise logging undertaken to date by the EPA has confirmed that noise emissions from Snapper Point Power Station exceeds the night-time noise levels set by the Noise Policy under certain weather conditions and that action is required by the Nexif Energy to reduce the noise impacts. This is being further investigated by Nexif Energy. Night-time operations have ceased until it can be established that the Snapper Point Power Station can operate within the requirements of the Noise Policy.
The EPA is undertaking ongoing noise measurements in areas surrounding the Snapper Point Power Station and continues to analyse the data collected. The EPA is examining noise monitoring data and cross-referencing it with recent operational data from the three power stations (Snapper Point, Osborne and Pelican Point).
Potential noise from other industries and activities detected in the ongoing monitoring will be objectively analysed. The noise will also be assessed by listening to available audio recordings. These will be compared to the indicative noise levels as required under the Noise Policy with a particular focus on nights that have been reported or recorded as being out of the ordinary.
The EPA will also continue further investigations into any other significant noise sources identified during this monitoring period.
Community updates and noise diary
Further information
