Another Consultation Rushed Through at Xmas
Inner West Council is calling on Sydney Ports to extend the consultation on the Noise Mitigation Strategy they are proposing for residents affected by Cruise Ships berthing at White Bay.
Council has also engaged independent contractors to carry out an acoustic review of noise impacts on local residents, and review Sydney Ports proposed noise mitigation strategy.
Inner West Administrator Richard Pearson said that Council continued to be contacted by frustrated residents being kept awake or woken early by noise from the ships.
“Sydney Ports have had years to prepare this strategy, and once again we find a state government agency trying to rush through consultation during the Christmas and summer holiday period when people are out of town or focused on other things,” said Mr Pearson.
“From ships horns to backup generators and PA announcements, local residents are being forced to live with the excessive noise these ships are generating.
“Sydney Ports seem to be relying on double glazing residents into their own homes rather than pursuing a more sophisticated solution such as shore to ship power.
“Living with the impacts of the cruise ship industry is no holiday and the residents who are being directly impacted by this Terminal deserve a proper chance to make a real submission.”
Council will hold a public meeting early in the new year to let residents know the results of the review. Council is also requesting that Sydney Ports attend the meeting to answer questions from residents.
Council has engaged acoustics experts Rodney Stevens Acoustics to carrying out noise monitoring throughout the peninsula and review the strategy proposed by Sydney Ports.
The consultants are specifically investigating recommendations around certain noises from the ships and suggesting improvements to Sydney Ports’ strategy.
Areas of concern include:
- noise from ship funnels (with blasts shaking people’s homes)
- noise from generators
- noise from PA announcements
- noise from emergency drills
- noise from maintenance activities
- the huge impact on the community of noise from overnight stays of ships
- the cumulative impact of noise from multiple berths of cruise ships
- noise from very early morning arrival of ships
- noise from various ancillary services associated with the ships
- vibrations caused in the surrounding area