PROPERTY COUNCIL CAUTIOUSLY SUPPORTS NOISE REFORM
The Property Council supports the State Government’s efforts to provide more clarity and balance between the needs of different stakeholders in entertainment precincts. It is particularly important as we move to more mixed-use development in activity centres, and within individual buildings once this is facilitated by pending strata reform legislation. The needs of residents must be balanced with the needs of operating a viable business in Perth’s strategic entertainment destinations, and we believe the State Government has struck the right balance in what they propose.
By acknowledging and addressing the fact that noise emissions are a realistic part of a shift to more vibrant and active precincts, the State Government has outlined positive and pragmatic steps that will share responsibility for delivering community amenity. If a person chooses to live in an entertainment area they should expect some noise to be associated with that, and proactive developers would already be taking steps to provide appropriate noise amelioration for these dwellings. Equally, imposing noise mitigation requirements on outside living areas, as has been the case to date, is clearly unrealistic and we welcome the proposal to remove this imposition.
In terms of cost impacts, the detail will obviously depend on the level of noise attenuation required, such as double glazing and increased external wall acoustics, however in our view most developers would include such measures as good practice anyway in the locations that might be classified as Entertainment Precincts. That said, it will be critical that the State Government only creates these special control areas in locations where they are genuinely needed. We are encouraged that only Northbridge is being discussed so far, and would support in principle the measures being extended to a location such as central Fremantle, but we will be looking for a sensible approach by State Government in less strategically significant entertainment areas.
We will now engage with our members to look at the details of the proposed reforms and we will work collaboratively with Government to get the best possible outcome.
One aspect that we will be emphasising is the need for any requirements for acoustic assessments to be imposed at the building licence stage, i.e as a condition of planning approval, not as a prerequisite to gaining planning approval. It is important that proponents have the certainty of planning approval before investing in detailed studies of this nature, particularly as the associated requirement to incorporate noise amelioration only kicks in once detailed design commences.
Planning for Entertainment Noise in the Northbridge Area: Public Consultation Paper