Construction
Development is a fundamental part of the City of Sydney's urban environment but construction works need to be controlled so they don't become a nuisance for those who live in, work in or visit our city.
The City of Sydney manages noise created from construction works through the implementation of its Construction Hours/ Noise within the Central Business District Code of Practice 1992 (The Code). As part of the City of Sydney’s Commitment to continuous improvement, the Code is currently under review and the revised code will be published in the near future.
The current Code of Practice can be viewed at:
- Construction Hours - Noise | PDF 1.7Mb
The Code places the following restrictions and obligations on the developer and all contractors, which is designed to limit the extent of neighbourhood noise:-
- Requirements for noise attenuation measures for construction to be part of development approval and for developers to engage the advice of suitably qualified and competent acoustic consultants to act on their behalf in identifying appropriate noise compliance measures.
- Restriction of all potentially noisy construction activities to between 7.00am and 7.00pm, Mondays to Fridays and between 7.00am and 5.00pm Saturdays for projects within the Central Business District.
- All reasonable and practicable steps must be taken by contractors to prevent offensive noise.
In doing so, contractors need to work towards restricting noise levels wherever possible from construction activities to the desirable noise criteria stated within the code.
- No more that 5dB above background noise level during the first working hour;
- No more than 10dB above background noise level at all other times
- Suitable steps that should be employed include substituting noisy equipment with alternative, quieter machinery; retro fitting existing equipment with noise damping materials and mufflers, using well maintained machinery and the erection of acoustic barriers around noisy operations.
- There are occasions where sound levels from certain construction activities and the use of some equipment may not be able to meet the desirable noise criteria set within the Code. This may be for example where construction sites are in close proximity to neighbouring noise sensitive receivers and the use of highly intrusive demolition and excavation equipment or other noisy machinery is necessary.
- Where the noise criteria cannot be complied with the City can restrict the use of highly intrusive equipment and require that developers provide suitable breaks and respite periods or restrict the times that any intrusive equipment may or may not be used in order to minimise the impact on neighbouring occupiers. Respite periods can be required at both the development approval stage and during the construction operation should complaints of excessive noise be justified.
- The contractor is expected to initiate a complaint monitoring and resolution procedure so that any neighbourhood concerns can be investigated and resolved when raised. The contact details of a suitable and readily contactable representative of the contractor must be publicly displayed at the site and be made available to the occupiers of neighbouring noise sensitive properties.
Complaint logs should be kept detailing any complaints as they are received and the action taken in response to each complaint. These can be requested by the City’s Health Surveyors as an external audit should complaints be submitted to the City.
As part of the City of Sydney's commitment to continuous improvement, the Construction and Building Code of Practice is currently under review and will be published in the near future.
Why machines get noisier with use:
Worn or chipped gear teeth, bearings
Loose or worn parts – drive belts
Poor lubrication – squeals from dry bearings
Imbalance in rotating parts e.g motor shafts
Blunt blades or cutting faces – drill bits etc
Damaged silencers / mufflers
Removal of mufflers, acoustic guards etc.
Noise Management Plans
Where there is likelihood that construction works will have a significant impact on the local community, the developer will be required to formulate and submit a Noise Management Plan to the City.
Noise management plans should be completed by a suitably qualified and competent person, as part of the Development Application in accordance with the Code.
The City will expect any Noise Management plan to contain comprehensive details of the work methods that the developers will employ on site in order to fully comply with the Code.
The requirement for developers to have a construction noise management plan will be included within conditions of Development Consent for most large sites and where significant impact is considered likely.
Where unforseen problems with offensive noise occur during construction works, the City can require additional controls under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, which include the requirement for developers to amend and review Noise Management Plans and work methods when necessary.
Last Updated: Monday 14 February, 2011