Noise and vibration
As with any construction, noise from T2D Project construction has the potential to affect the health and wellbeing of people and the amenity of places, such as residences, schools, places of worship and recreational areas if not appropriately managed.
Vibration can affect the comfort and wellbeing of people, as well as the integrity of buildings and structures (including heritage places). Vibration can also affect the efficacy of vibration-sensitive equipment used in specialised research and medical facilities.
The project may generate vibration from construction equipment, but also ground-borne noise from heavy earthworks, including operation of the tunnel boring machines (TBMs). This will need to be appropriately managed to mitigate any potential impact.
Once the project is complete, the operational noise and vibration environment will change because of the upgraded road alignment.
Under the Environment Protection Act 1993 the Department has a duty of care to take all reasonable and practical measures to prevent or minimise any harm to the environment. The T2D Project will implement all reasonable and practical measures that prevent or minimise noise and vibration impacts from the construction and operation of the project.
- Summary
Download a summary of the Noise and vibration impact assessment in PDF format
Approach
The assessment of the impacts of noise and vibration from the T2D Project was based on numerous technical investigations which have been undertaken as the project design evolved. For more information visit About the design.
The assessments followed the same approach as those outlined in the assessment methodology.
In the context of noise and vibration, sensitive receptors are land uses that may be sensitive to noise and/or vibration impacts. Land uses that are classified as sensitive receptors are defined in the relevant guidelines and policies applicable to the T2D Project.
Assessment area
The map below shows the noise and vibration assessment area which encompasses the project corridor, extending 500m on either side of the surface road alignment sections and 100m on either side of the tunnel alignment sections:
Map: Noise and vibration assessment area
Map disclaimer
Existing environment
Environmental noise and vibration are disruptive effects typically generated by human activity. Expected environmental noise and vibration sources from the T2D Project include road traffic, surface construction works and tunnelling. Different types of noise and vibration sources are regulated differently. Baseline assessments and modelling help inform the level of risk and potential impact from a project or activity, and are used to determine reasonable and practical mitigation measures.
Noise and vibration impacts are assessed at sensitive receptors, which are typically residential dwellings, schools, hospitals and places of worship. Vibration sensitive receptors typically include occupied buildings, heritage listed places and sensitive infrastructure and equipment.
Investigations, including significant noise and vibration monitoring, have been undertaken to understand the existing local conditions, identify sensitive receptors and monitor baseline noise and vibration levels.
Noise
Noise monitoring has been undertaken at 25 locations across the assessment area to provide a record of the existing conditions before any construction activity commences. This helps to quantify the existing daytime and night-time noise levels and can help validate road traffic noise modelling and set appropriate construction targets.
Monitoring has shown that the noise environment in the vicinity of the project is typical of suburban Adelaide, with the noise environment reflecting the variety of surrounding land uses. Within 200m of South Road, the noise environment is generally influenced by traffic on South Road.
In some localised areas, noise generating commercial or industrial activity also contributes to the noise environment. Where the Adelaide Airport flight path intersects with South Road aircraft noise may contribute to the noise environment primarily during the day. Areas set further back from South Road are primarily residential neighbourhoods where the noise environment includes local road traffic, domestic activity, and sounds from the natural environment such as birds and wind.
Photo: Noise and vibration monitoring equipment on site.
Vibration
Baseline vibration monitoring has been undertaken at 25 potentially sensitive locations, including 15 Heritage places. This monitoring provides context for local conditions and existing vibration exposure levels which will inform appropriate threshold limits for project activities.
The existing vibration levels in the environment are generally low and mainly influenced by road traffic. Other sources of vibration are localised sources such as industrial activity which typically has minimal impact at sensitive receptors located far away.
The table below summarises the primary sensitive land uses for assessment of noise and vibration relating to construction and operational impacts.
| Noise sensitive receptors | |
| Construction |
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| Operation |
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| Vibration sensitive receptors | |
|---|---|
| Construction |
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| Operation |
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An overview of the noise and vibration sensitive receptors along the project extent within each section of the T2D Project is provided below:
Current noise and vibration sensitive receptors within the Northern Tunnels section
Key noise and vibration sensitive receptors are:
- residential and commercial land uses, with Hindmarsh being an area of predominantly commercial activity
- parks and recreation spaces like Kings Reserve, educational facilities including Thebarton Senior College and St George College, and places of worship such as Queen of Angels Church
- State and Local Heritage places including Hindmarsh Cemetery, Brickworks Hoffman kiln and Thebarton Theatre, and representative buildings.
Photo: Brickworks Hoffman kiln.
Current noise and vibration sensitive receptors within the open motorway section
Key noise and vibration sensitive receptors are:
- residential and commercial land uses, primarily commercial uses throughout Mile End, medical facilities like Ashford Hospital and Tennyson Medical Centre, educational facilities such as Richmond Primary School and places of worship
- State and Local Heritage places including Richmond Primary School, Ashford House and the former Roxy Cinema
- facilities which may contain vibration sensitive equipment like Tennyson Medical Centre, Ashford Hospital and Adelaide Animal Emergency Veterinary Centre.
Photo: Tennyson Medical Centre, Kurralta Park.
Current noise and vibration sensitive receptors within the Southern Tunnels section
Key noise and vibration sensitive receptors are:
- commercial and industrial land uses throughout Edwardstown, Ackland House Retirement Village, and the Avoca, Maid of Auckland and Tonsley Hotels
- educational facilities Black Forest Primary School, St Anthonys School, St Bernadette’s Primary School, and Tonsley university and TAFE facilities
- places of worship and parks and recreation spaces such as Ragless Reserve and Glandore Oval
- State and Local Heritage places including St Mary’s Anglican Church and the Ackland House Retirement Village
- infrastructure which may be sensitive to vibration including the Telstra Exchange in Edwardstown, and the Melrose Park substation
- facilities which may contain vibration sensitive equipment including Southern Care Family Practice and Southern Clinic Medical Centre.
Photo: Black Forest Primary School.
Impacts and mitigation measures
The potential noise and vibration impacts have been assessed by applying the projects assessment methodology to the T2D Project. The objective of this assessment methodolgy is to document and assess the process for identifying key social and environmental risks from the project and identify management and mitigation measures to reduce these risks. A project-wide evaluation of each potential noise and vibration impact was undertaken for both the construction and operational phases of the project.
Construction impacts
The key outcomes of the impact assessment regarding noise and vibration during construction are summarised below and are the potential effects of the project prior to the implementation of mitigation or management measures.
Surface works
Sources of noise and vibration associated with the project incudes demolition, construction and increased traffic. Laydown areas will also be required at the starting points of the Northern and Southern Tunnels and will be potential areas of concentrated noise and vibration.
These laydown areas will be used for TBM launch and to support the ongoing operation of the TBMs which, once launched, will operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week, with the laydown area also operating continuously in support.
If not appropriately managed, noise and vibration from construction activities, construction laydown areas and increased traffic may impact:
- the comfort and amenity of building occupants
- the integrity of buildings, including Heritage places.
Tunnelling
- vibration from tunnelling activities is not expected to affect the integrity of any buildings or structures, including Heritage places. However, vibration-sensitive infrastructure or vibration sensitive equipment may be affected due to the sensitivity of these items
- vibration and ground-borne noise from tunnelling activities may temporarily impact the comfort and amenity of residents. In the worst case, these impacts are not expected to last more than five days at any individual residence.
Photo: Example of construction activity, Darlington upgrade.
Other impacts
- land clearing of acquired properties may remove buildings or structures which previously shielded properties from South Road or other arterial roads such as Anzac Highway. While impacts of road traffic will be assessed and mitigated in the design stage, there is the potential for road traffic noise impacts from the existing roads during the construction stage. This impact will also need to be assessed and closely monitored.
Mitigation measures
Mitigation for these potential impacts will be considered throughout the design process. Noise and vibration construction mitigation measures will aim to:
- prevent any damage to buildings and structures, including Heritage items
- minimise any impacts on the comfort and amenity of the surrounding community from construction noise and vibration, including tunnelling
- keep the community well informed about potential noise and vibration effects and mitigation measures
- allow the project to be constructed safely and efficiently.
See How impacts will be minimised or avoided for information regarding minimising impacts.
Key construction mitigation measures are summarised below.
Construction mitigation measures
Potential construction impacts | Key mitigation measures |
|---|---|
Noise and vibration from construction activities (general) | The construction contractor will be required to ensure any construction impacts are proactively monitored, managed and minimised. The construction contractor will prepare a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) which sets out how impacts will be minimised and monitored. Specifically for noise and vibration, the CEMP will include a Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan (CNVMP) and where there are justifiable reasons for night works, Night Works Management Plans (NWMPs). Where issues are identified the contractor will take action to alter their approach to mitigate concerns. For more information visit About construction. |
Vibration and ground-borne noise from TBM (tunnelling) activities | TBM operations shall be specifically addressed in the CNVMP with mitigation measures likely to include:
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Noise and vibration from surface construction activities | Noise and vibration impacts from construction activities shall be addressed in the CNVMP. It is expected that the construction noise and vibration measures which would be implemented would be typical of other major infrastructure projects. These measures would include:
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Noise from construction laydown areas | The construction contractor will be required to proactively manage the laydown areas to minimise impacts on nearby residents. A temporary acoustic shed will be constructed over the tunnel launch site to reduce construction noise. All construction activities including the construction activities in the laydown areas will need to be assessed by the construction contractor to ensure that noise impacts on residents are minimised. Ongoing monitoring will be undertaken. Where issues are identified the contractor will take action to alter their approach to mitigate concerns. Management strategies for the laydown areas will be documented in the construction contractors CEMP, CNVMP and any associated NWMPs. |
Noise and vibration from construction traffic | The construction contractor will need to proactively manage noise and vibration impacts from construction traffic. Typical measures to minimise construction traffic movements include:
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The demolition of buildings and structures adjacent to South Road impacting the comfort and amenity of newly exposed residents | To reduce road traffic noise impacts on newly exposed properties during construction, the project team is investigating early implementation of noise walls or property treatments required for the project. Alternatives such as installation of temporary fencing are also being considered. |
Operational impacts
The T2D Project incorporates design features which avoid and minimise operational road traffic noise impacts. For example, the incorporation of tunnels and cut-and-cover infrastructure for approximately 60% of the alignment is expected to significantly reduce the spread of road traffic noise in comparison to the existing at-grade traffic on South Road. Lowered motorway infrastructure can also be beneficial in reducing the spread of road traffic noise as the walls of the motorway act as noise barriers.
Photo: Noise wall at the West Hindmarsh Dog Park, Torrens to Torrens project.
The key outcomes of the impact assessment regarding operational noise and vibration impacts are summarised below. Again, these potential impacts are prior to the implementation of mitigation design features:
- operational road traffic noise impacts at sensitive receptors may occur where the project footprint is larger than the existing South Road footprint. Design aspects which may cause these impacts include adding additional lanes of traffic, moving traffic closer to sensitive receptors, changing the road elevation, and demolishing buildings or structures that previously shielded sensitive receptors. These aspects occur across the entire project extent, except above tunnels. In addition to road traffic, the project will require supporting facilities and plant such as tunnel maintenance compounds which will potentially host noise emitting plant including tunnel ventilation fans. Other smaller items such as ventilation facilities, substations and pump stations will be required which could potentially have a localised noise impact
- vibration impacts from road traffic are not expected to be significant in comparison to noise, as they are not typically perceptible at distances greater than a few meters from the road. However, the project must consider these impacts and ensure that road traffic vibration does not affect the amenity and wellbeing of residents or the operation of sensitive equipment.
See How impacts will be minimised or avoided for information regarding minimising impacts.
Operation mitigation measures
Operational impacts | Key mitigation measures |
|---|---|
Noise from road traffic | The Road Traffic Noise Guidelines (RTNG) requires noise mitigation to be designed and implemented for all noise sensitive receptors which are identified as eligible for noise mitigation. The overarching noise mitigation strategy for the project is the implementation of noise barriers, which is consistent with the approach for other sections of the North-South Corridor. The final locations and heights of noise barriers will account for non-acoustic considerations such as access, safety and visual amenity. In addition to noise barriers, further mitigation will be applied through a combination of property boundary fence upgrades and architectural property treatments. |
Noise from supporting infrastructure such as tunnel ventilation facilities and maintenance compounds | The Environment Protection (Commercial and Industrial Noise) Policy 2023 provides guidance on the management of noise emissions from industrial noise sources. Noise from supporting infrastructure including noise from tunnel maintenance compounds would be assessed using this policy. Supporting infrastructure would likely be mitigated through typical measures such as selection of low noise plant, or incorporation of acoustic enclosures and attenuators. |
Vibration from road traffic | The RTNG provides a screening process to determine whether a detailed assessment of operational vibration is required. This will be assessed as the design develops. Typically, to avoid or minimise operational vibration impacts, the road alignment is designed such that sensitive buildings or structures are not within 6m of the road. In addition, discontinuities in the road surface such as expansion joints, or access covers are minimised, or located further than 15m from a sensitive receptor. |
How impacts will be minimised or avoided
The project has confirmed that application of the Department’s Master Specification (MS) with its links to relevant parts of the Environment and Heritage Technical Manual (EHTM) will be used to mitigate the construction and operational noise and vibration impacts.
Of relevance to noise and vibration are:
- MS PC-ENV1 – Environmental Management
- MS PC-ENV2 – Environmental Protection Requirements
- MS PC-ENV4 – Noise Assessment Treatment Design and Implementation
- MS PC-SI2 – Site Investigations
- MS PC-SI3 – Condition Surveys
- EHTM Attachment 7A – Road Traffic Noise Guidelines
- EHTM Attachment 7C – Noise Treatment Implementation Guideline
- EHTM Attachment 7D – Guideline for the Management of Noise and Vibration: Construction and Maintenance Activities.
These MS and EHTM sections require the project to develop and undertake assessments and prepare reports that document the required outcomes during construction and operation.
These include:
- Contractor’s Environmental Management Plan (CEMP)
- Construction Noise and Vibration Management Framework (CNVMF)
- Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan (CNVMP)
- Night Work Management Plans (NWMP)
- Property Condition Assessment Reports
- Noise Modelling and Mitigation Design Report.
Potential opportunities
There are several opportunities which can be investigated further during Detailed Design development.
Impact | Design opportunity |
|---|---|
Surface construction noise impact on sensitive receptors | Early implementation of noise mitigation measures such as noise barriers, fencing upgrades or property treatments may also provide a noise reduction benefit during construction. The first temporary noise barrier is currently being constructed along York Avenue, Clovelly Park. A temporary noise barrier solution to reduce construction noise could also be considered. |
Noise from construction traffic on sensitive receptors | The integration of electric vehicles into the construction haulage fleet could be considered to reduce engine and exhaust noise. |
Noise from road traffic impact on sensitive receptors | Design opportunities which can be considered during detailed design include:
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Approvals
The following table provides a summary list of the likely noise and vibration related legislation and policy including any approvals required to progress the project to delivery.
Legislation/Policy | Approval |
|---|---|
Required | |
EHTM Attachment 7D – Guideline for the Management of Noise and Vibration: Construction and Maintenance Activities (GNVCA) | The Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan and any associated Night Work Management Plans must be provided to the Departments prior to work commencing. This allows for endorsement of noise and vibration targets from the EPA. The project shall demonstrate compliance with the GNVCA. The GNVCA provides the assessment and mitigation approach for noise and vibration impacts during construction of the project. |
Not required | |
Demonstrate compliance. The project shall demonstrate compliance with the general environmental duty from the EP Act. No separate approvals, permits or licences are required. The EP Act establishes the general environmental duty to not undertake an activity that pollutes or might pollute the environment, unless all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent or minimise any resulting environmental harm have been taken. | |
Environment Protection (Commercial and Industrial Noise) Policy 2023 (EPP Noise) | Demonstrate compliance. The project shall demonstrate compliance with the EPP Noise requirements including satisfying the indicative noise factors where reasonable and practicable. The EPP Noise apply to the operation of ancillary/fixed facilities equipment. No separate approvals, permits or licences are required. The EPP Noise establishes indicative noise and mitigating factors to protect the amenity of sensitive receptors from environmental noise impact. |
EHTM Attachment 7A – Road Traffic Noise Guidelines (RTNG) | Demonstrate compliance. The project must demonstrate that noise and vibration from road traffic complies with all RTNG requirements. No separate approvals, permits or licences are required. The RTNG provides noise and vibration criteria and assessment approach for operation of the road corridor. |
EHTM Attachment 7C– Noise Treatment Implementation Guideline | Demonstrate compliance. The project must demonstrate compliance with the guideline during implementation of noise treatment. No separate approvals, permits or licences are required. The guideline provides the requirements and procedure for implementation of noise treatment determined in accordance with the RTNG. |
Next steps
The Project Assessment Report (PAR) community consultation period concluded in April 2024. We thank you for your feedback.
The valuable information and local insights received during the consultation phase of the PAR are being considered by the project team and will inform the ongoing refinement of the T2D Project.
