Page 323 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 February 2010
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matters relate to installation of insulation. They do not necessarily relate to installation of insulation. I am very happy to provide further details to the member, and I stand by my previous answer.
Environment—Summernats
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the minister for environment and it concerns the Summernats festival. Minister, can you tell the Assembly what monitoring is done of noise levels produced by the festival and do the results exceed the noise limits permitted under the Environment Protection Act?
MR CORBELL: It is a condition of the approval that the Summernats organisers receive for noise that they are required to pay for an independent noise monitoring process during the event. Independent noise monitoring was undertaken by a qualified acoustic consultant throughout the duration of the Summernats event. As I have said, that is a condition of the environmental authorisation for the event.
The Environment Protection Authority has received 49 noise complaints associated with the most recent event. The complaints were mainly associated with amplified music and motor vehicle noise. This is a significant increase on the past year, which averaged around only seven noise-related complaints over the three days.
The consultant’s noise monitoring report is still being reviewed. It has been received by the EPA and is currently being reviewed. A key part of that review is to establish whether or not there has been compliance with the conditions of the authorisation and, if there has not been compliance, to make decisions about what else can be done to address exceedences of the conditions of the authorisation.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Le Couteur, a supplementary question?
MS LE COUTEUR: Are exemptions given to Summernats which allow them to exceed the EPA standard noise limits? If so, on what basis are they given and are there time or other restrictions to be applied?
MR CORBELL: You are allowed to exceed normal standards if you receive an authorisation to do so. Summernats would certainly fall into that category, as would a number of other noisy events that occur in Canberra from time to time. That is how the environment protection legislation operates.
MS HUNTER: A supplementary?
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Hunter.
MS HUNTER: Minister, what monitoring was done of air pollution levels produced by the festival, and do the results exceed the air pollution limits permitted under the Environment Protection Act?
MR CORBELL: If I recall correctly, there was air pollution monitoring undertaken. I do not have any details of that. I will take the question on notice and provide the information to the member.
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