The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has released a proposed new Noise Policy for the State which will be made available for public comment later this year.
The final step in an earlier public consultation, the proposed new policy follows an extensive review by EPA to replace the Environment Protection (Noise) Policy 2007.
Director of Policy, Assessment and Finance at EPA, Kathryn Bellette said feedback on a discussion paper released in 2020 had contributed to the new draft policy which is being designed to protect human health from the impacts of commercial and industrial noises 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, she said, noise pollution was not visible and falls within the definition of both a ‘pollutant’ and ‘environmental nuisance’ under the Environment Protection Act.
“The existing policy has been in effect for 15 years and some improvements have been identified over that time,” Ms Bellette 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,” she said.
“Part 6 of the Noise Policy has been removed to avoid duplication of these provisions.”
Ms Bellette said the new draft policy was 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,” she said.
“A two-month consultation period will run until 23 November 2022.”
She said a virtual public information session would be held on Tuesday 8 October and an in-person session at the EPA on Thursday 13 October.
The related documents, including where to lodge comments, can be accessed on the EPA website at this PS News link.
