|
Noise in the environment can be a risk to the health of people and communities. It can be defined as unwanted or undesirable sound and can materially affect an individual or a community's health, well-being and enjoyment of their surroundings. Prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can damage hearing.
Read the NZ Department of Labour publication on noise in the workplace.
Adverse effects of environmental noise include interference with speech communication, disturbance of rest and sleep, psycho-physiological, mental health and performance effects, effects on residential behaviour and annoyance, and interference with activities.
The Resource Management Act regulates environmental noise and it is the statutory obligation of local authorities to enforce. Community and Public Health do not undertake noise control activities, but is required by the Ministry of Health to monitor and liaise with territorial authorities on the establishment of goals, objectives, plans and priorities for environmental noise control through Council district plans and complaint procedures.
Community and Public Health will also make submissions on resource consents where there is potential for environmental noise to affect the health of people and communities. This might arise through the location of a proposed activity with inadequate separation from noise -sensitive activities, where provisions of New Zealand Standards dealing with acoustics may be inappropriately applied or, proposed noise limits are inconsistent with recommended upper limits.
Community and Public Health has access to the specialist acoustics advisor from the Ministry's Environmental Noise Analysis and Advice Service.
Documents
Downloads
Order copies from the Community Health Information Centre
Links
Noise Issues (Christchurch City Council)
Noise and Nuisance (Neighbourhood Support)
Land Transport Noise (Ministry of Transport)
|
