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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (4 December) . . Page.. 4550 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

What we are talking about here is a question of fairness. In the Government's regulation, motor sport would run between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm, during daylight hours. I think it is conceded by Mr Moore and Ms Horodny that it is only a weekend activity. Under the Government amendment it would not be any more than 10 decibels above ambient background noise at the nearest affected residence measured on the Ridgeway, and that would apply for any residences in the area. I do not think anything could be fairer than that. Certainly, events are restricted to no more than 10 decibels above ambient background noise. That is a significant concession by the motor sport community. They have to go to quite a lot of trouble to meet that. They have made many improvements in recent years to do that.

Mr Speaker, I am now going to stop talking for a second. I have a noise meter on my desk and I would appreciate it if all members would be silent for 10 seconds. I thank members. The meter, which is set on 50 decibels, registered between 46 and 47. There is an airconditioning unit on. I do not know whether people were moving, but I thank members for not talking. The meter is pointed to my right of Ms Reilly's chair. Now that I am talking, it is well and truly over 60 decibels. I am fairly close to it. When Mr Corbell adjourned debate on one of the Bills, it ranged from 50 to 60 when someone over the other side said a few words. That is a nice little test. That gives you some idea of what ambient background noise is. That 46 would be slightly higher than what Mr Moore is proposing. You heard what it was like in here when we all did not say anything.

Mr Speaker, I think it is terribly important for governments to balance the rights of everyone. We did not go ahead with the main track at Sutton Park. There was not the money for it. Now I feel that there is just a handful of people who unreasonably and selfishly complain about noise that, in my opinion, is largely not a problem. We have come up with a regime for motor sport which is difficult but which they can live with and which is fair to the residents of the Ridgeway and Oaks Estate and anyone else in the region. It is a stricter standard than applies at Fraser Park, which is very close to the new suburb of Jerrabomberra, and at Wakefield Park.

Mr Mike Attwell, who writes for the Chronicle on motor sport, is very critical of Mr Moore's move. He writes:

The proposal brought by members of the ACT Legislative Assembly is to support the demands of a minority group of people from New South Wales.

The attempt to stop the activities of thousands of groups and individuals in the ACT region and interstate flies in the face of a majority of ACT constituents and their families.

The ironic part of this proposed legislation is the 5 db limit which would be implemented by the ACT Standing Committee is not in line with the NSW requirement of 10 db at existing NSW circuits.

A frightening precedent would be established with this legislation.

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