Published on Friday, 4 August 2023 at 11:00:00 AM
A message from the Shire Commissioner Gail McGowan, and CEO Benjamin (Ben) Rose, giving you an opportunity to comment on the proposed Noise Management Plan for the Townsite District of Donnybrook (2023-2026).
Read the NMP now!
The Shire takes great pride in the appearance of its townsites and surrounding environment, and ensures that there are regular clean-up activities to keep our public areas free from leaf litter, rubbish, and the like. These typically take place after 7:00am, but there are certainly a few challenges in the maintenance of the streets and gardens that can be affected by, or impact, day-to-day activities. Occasionally, there are situations that call for a Noise Management Plan (NMP), which we want your feedback and various perspectives on.
In particular, the townsite of Donnybrook sees these types of hazards gathering more often than other locations, and therefore requires more frequent maintenance to avoid slip and trip hazards in these high traffic areas. This makes waste collection, road, and pavement cleaning during the day impractical and significantly more hazardous to the public, contractors, and Shire staff. Undertaking these tasks prior to peak use periods aids in the mediation of risks such as traffic congestion and unsafe interaction with works taking place. Additionally, parked vehicles (including private contractors, delivery vans and trucks) are often found to block access to bins, in addition to sections of roads and pavement.
The Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 requires that noise emitted from premises, including public areas, must not exceed a level assigned to each premise type. However, as the Shire’s waste and street cleaning activities are essential, we acknowledge that at times these services will exceed the assigned noise levels. This causes the most impact to residential premises (classified as ‘noise-sensitive premises’).
As a result, it has been decided that waste collection, pavement cleaning, and similar essential works are not permitted in the Donnybrook Townsite prior to 7:00am without the provision of a Noise Management Plan. This is to reduce the impact of noise on the community members and residents, whilst maintaining public areas to a suitable standard.
The Shire of Donnybrook Balingup has prepared a Noise Management Plan as per the Environmental Protection Regulations, and seeks public comment regarding the draft Plan, which can be found on the Shire’s website under the ‘Services’ heading.
Comments can be lodged with the Shire in the following ways:
The Shire requests that all comments be received no later than 4:00pm on Wednesday 30 August, 2023.
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