Join the Discussion - 5 reasons why Noise Wall Policies Need to be Changed

[hal...@ieee.org]

1) Double standards – Tollway operators are required by the State
Government to build noise walls to a higher standard that VicRoads
imposes on itself. This is not acceptable - for residents on one
stretch of the same road to enjoy low noise levels whilst residents on
other parts of the same road face higher noise from the same traffic.

2) The EPA is currently working on a State Environment Protection
Policy for Road Traffic Noise. This will likely follow policies
already in place in other states such as NSW which require all road
projects to adhere to more stringent Noise Wall requirements.
Unfortunately the release of this policy has been delayed until early
next year, thus allowing the government to avoid building Monash Noise
Walls to these more stringent standards.

3) No commitment has been provided by the government that the Monash
extension will adhere to either the existing Noise Wall standards
expected of Tollway operators or those expected from the EPA policy.
In short, residents along the Monash corridor are being short-changed.

4) Vic Roads commissioned consultants to undertake a noise study on
the existing Monash corridor. Their report was release late 2007, and
should be released to the community for public comment. A summary of
this report provided by VicRoads is attached.

5) Although an undertaking has been now been received from VicRoads
that the north soundwall between Burke and High st rds will be built
to the 68dBA standard, VicRoads will not confirm what ‘traffic growth
factor’ will be applied to this design.