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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 2 Hansard (29 February) . . Page.. 492 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: I could not quite hear you. Did you refer to motorbikes at Fairbairn Park?

Mr Moore: No, at EPIC.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I do not recall having received notice about this question but - - -

Mr Moore: Your office is breaking down.

MR HUMPHRIES: If Mr Moore says that he gave me the request I will take him at his word, but I cannot recall having received it.

Mr Moore: Mr Speaker, perhaps I could clarify this for the Minister. I informed his office, before the meeting took place so that they would be able to monitor it, that I would be asking this question. The meeting took place on 4 February. I informed his office on 2 February that I would be asking a question of this nature.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, as it happens, there is an answer in here on that question. It must have worked.

Mr Moore: Your office has been efficient. You just did not read it.

MR HUMPHRIES: The system must work. Obviously they are more efficient than I am.

Mr Moore: That comes as no surprise to anybody.

MR HUMPHRIES: Thank you.

MR SPEAKER: You might like to monitor the noise levels in here sometimes too, Minister.

MR HUMPHRIES: I think we might have to, Mr Speaker. These files are not normally very useful. I am quite pleased to find that there is something in here that does help me today.

The Noise Control Act includes a provision to grant exemptions from the general requirement for noise to be kept to background plus five decibels at the nearest affected residence so that occasional events such as the Longtrack Speedway, outdoor concerts for charity, et cetera, can be held. It also provides for appeals from people, including local residents, directly affected by the decision.

The Longtrack Speedway event was granted an exemption of background plus 15 decibels at the nearest affected residence. To put this in context, the noise level emitted by a lawn-mower next-door will normally be approximately plus 20 decibels above background noise. A busy office would have a noise level similar to that emitted by the bikes and measured at the nearest affected residence. I dare say that this Assembly

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