Bulgana Wind Farm – Draft Planning Permit Conditions
Planning Permit Application 5.2014.76.1
Bulgana Wind Farm
DRAFT PLANNING PERMIT CONDITIONS
(Excerpt covering Noise)
NOISE
Performance requirement
- The operation of the wind energy facility must comply with New Zealand Standard 6808:2010, Acoustics – Wind Farm Noise (the Standard) as modified by this condition to the satisfaction of the Responsible Authority. The following requirements apply:
(a) The owner of the wind energy facility must ensure that at any wind speed, wind farm sound levels at noise sensitive locations in existence as at 12 December 2014 (as defined in the Standard) do not exceed a noise limit when measured in accordance with the Standard, provided that where the circumstances specified in condition 14(b) apply, the noise limit of 40dB L A90 (10 min) will be modified as specified in condition 14(b).
(b) At the specified assessment positions referred to in condition 15(b), the noise limit of 40dB L A90 (10 min) referred to in condition 14(a) will be modified:
- where the background sound level is greater than 35 dB L A90 (10 min), the noise limit will be the background sound level L A90 (10 min) plus 5 dB
- where special audible characteristics, including tonality, impulsive sound or amplitude modulation occur, the noise limit will be modified by applying a penalty of up to + 6 dB L90 in accordance with section 5.4 of the Standard
Noise compliance assessment
- For the purposes of determining compliance, the following requirements apply:
(a) Acoustic compliance reports must be prepared by a suitably qualified and experienced independent acoustic engineer to demonstrate compliance with the noise limits specified in the Standard and submitted to the Responsible Authority
(b) Noise assessment positions must be located according to the Standard, and shown on a map
(c ) An initial acoustic compliance report must be prepared and submitted to the Responsible Authority six months after the commissioning of the first turbine, and at six monthly intervals thereafter until full operation (following completion of construction and commissioning)
(d) A final compliance report must be submitted to the Responsible Authority after a 12 month period following full operation of the wind energy facility
(e) Compliance reports must be publicly available
(f) Following the commissioning of all turbines, all complaints shall be managed in accordance with conditions 16 and 17.
Noise complaints evaluation
- For the purposes of complaints evaluation, the following requirements apply:
(a) Post installation sound levels shall, where practical, be measured at the same locations where the background sound levels were determined (GPS coordinates and a map showing these locations is to be provided).
(b) If a non-compliance with condition 14 is detected, or an acoustic investigation is required under the noise complaints plan endorsed under Condition 17, an independent assessment report must be prepared by a suitably qualified and experienced independent acoustic engineer to:
- identify the weather or operational conditions associated with the complaint / breach
- analyse the uncertainty and confidence levels in the monitoring, and the steps taken to reduce uncertainty
- target assessment to identify the cause and remediation actions
- submit a remediation plan to the satisfaction of the Responsible Authority outlining, the investigation process, complainant communications, actions and timelines to resolve the complaint/breach.
(c ) Following the initial post-construction reporting process, additional independent assessment may be requested by the Responsible Authority at any time, where complaints are received and are considered to reasonably warrant investigation.
(d) If investigations indicate special audible characteristics are potentially occurring, procedures outlined in Appendix B of the Standard should be applied.
Noise Complaint, Investigation and Response Plan
- Before the commencement of operation, a Noise Complaint, Investigation and Response Plan must be prepared to the satisfaction of the Responsible Authority.
The plan shall include:
(a) The processes of investigation to resolve a complaint
(b) A requirement to enter all complaints in the Incident Register established under Condition 42
(c ) A measure setting out the circumstances in which a complaint made to either the owner of the wind energy facility or the Responsible Authority triggers a requirement for an acoustic investigation under Condition 16(b).
(d) A requirement that the operational and climate information is recorded and retained by the owner of the wind energy facility to the extent necessary for a noise complaint evaluation under Condition 16.
(e) A requirement that the information recorded under Condition 15(d) is provided to the Responsible Authority at its request when such information is reasonably required for enforcement of the conditions of this permit (the provision of this information can be subject to undertakings as to confidentiality provided that the undertaking is not an obstacle to the enforcement of permit conditions).
17A. The owner of the wind energy facility must implement and comply with the approved Noise Complaint, Investigation and Response Plan for the duration of the operation of the wind energy facility to the satisfaction of the Responsible Authority