Tuesday, 20 September 2022

Seaford noise mitigation

The Petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that the Level Crossing Removal Authority have no plans to provide noise mitigation for the Kananook Train Storage Facility in Seaford. Noise in this 24/7 facility is continuous, close to residents and to the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Ramsar site.

Operational noise includes train safety checks such as idling for five minutes, brake and horn testings, shunting trains, horns sounding, air conditioning noise from the maintenance shed, staff amenities and administration buildings, two outside train washes, pneumatic tools, accelerating forklifts and trucks, roof mounted exhaust fans, and internal cleaning and maintenance in trains, as the 12 air conditioning units per train must run.

The World Health Organisation notes that health complications from noise in the community include sleep disturbances, learning disorders, cognitive impairment, heart disease and stroke.

The birds who migrate to reproduce in the Ramsar Wetlands also have their health affected as they are unable to hear danger from predators and the mothers of migratory birds become stressed by noise, impacting the birth weight and number of chicks born, decreasing their reproduction rate.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to direct the Level Crossing Removal Authority to mitigate the operational noise generated by the Kananook Train Storage Facility in Seaford.