Perth Airport Aircraft Noise Validation Study Terms of Reference
Change Summary Version 1: 6 April 2016 Section/ Clause Summary New Document 06/04/2016 Table of Contents 1. Purpose...3 2. Background... 3 3. Parameters of the Validation Study... 4 4. Scope of the Validation Study... 4 5. Independent Review... 5 6. Timing...5 7. Publication... 5 Version 1: 6 April 2016 Page 2 of 5
1. Purpose To outline the analysis that will be undertaken for the validation study of the Perth Airport Runway 21 departures night-time respite proposal environmental assessment. 2. Background In July 2015 an environmental assessment was completed of a proposed flight path to modify night time departures from Runway 21 that was intended to give respite to suburbs including Applecross, Ardross, Booragoon, Como, Manning, Mt Pleasant, Riverton, Rossmoyne, Salter Point, Shelley, Waterford and Wilson. The proposed flight path was designed to maximise overflight of industrial areas around Jandakot Airport and overfly suburbs including Beeliar, Canning Vale, Cockburn Central, Harrisdale, Langford, Munster, South Lake, Thornlie and Yangebup. These areas already experience overflights from operations at Jandakot airport and some of the areas are overflown by night time arrivals to Perth airport; however they are not regularly overflown by large numbers of jet departures from Perth airport at night. Aircraft noise impacts of the proposed procedure were modelled using the US Federal Aviation Administration s Integrated Noise Model (INM) based on traffic movement data from the Noise and Flight Path Monitoring System. The INM uses a number of theoretical inputs to conservatively determine the likely noise outcomes. The environmental assessment concluded the proposed flight path would result in a potential significant environmental impact on suburbs including Beeliar, Canning Vale, Cockburn Central, Coogee, Harrisdale, Langford, Munster, Southern River, South Lake, Thornlie and Yangebup. These areas were expected to experience approximately three noise events at or above 60 db(a) or one noise event at 70 db(a) per night as a result of the change. Although these numbers of overflights were expected to be low, they were expected to be noisy and occurring at a sensitive time of day and may have caused sleep disturbance. The modelled noise levels and increased numbers of noise events exceeded Airservices threshold criteria and therefore it was concluded that referral to the Federal Minister for the Environment in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (C wth) (EPBC Act) would be required. As the proposed flight path was intended to deliver a noise improvement to the Perth community, the conclusion that it was potentially environmentally significant was incongruous with this objective. Airservices, therefore, decided to not progress the proposal. The environmental assessment was independently reviewed by an external consultant and the consultant concluded that they were in general agreement with the findings and recommendations of the environment assessment. The environmental assessment became the subject of considerable scrutiny due to heightened community expectation that the proposed trial would occur. Following feedback from numerous stakeholders it was determined that a short validation study would be undertaken to supplement the modelling contained in the environmental assessment with measured noise data. Version 1: 6 April 2016 Page 3 of 5
3. Parameters of the Validation Study The parameters of the validation study were discussed with the Federal Department of the Environment to ensure that it would not trigger any concerns or obligations under the EPBC Act and this was confirmed. Dates - 15 February-6 March 2016 and 21 March-10 April 2016 (Note: during the period 7-20 March 2016 all aircraft will follow existing flight paths) Times 10:00pm-5:00am Noise monitors since 4 January 2016 there have been eight monitors installed and collecting data along the proposed flight path from a subset of the reference locations identified in the environmental assessment: Langford - St Jude s Catholic School Canning Vale - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Canning Vale College, and Ranford Primary School Cockburn Central - near Gateway Community Church Munster - near Challenger Institute of Technology Beeliar - South Coogee Primary School Beaconsfield - Christ the King School. 4. Scope of the Validation Study The validation study report will address the following issues and answer the following questions: Validation study How was the validation study conducted? Did it produce reliable and valid results? How were monitoring locations chosen? Was the noise monitoring undertaken in accordance with relevant standards? Findings What were the findings from the validation study? Were the aircraft types, tracking and altitudes; noise levels; numbers of operations; areas overflown; and hours of operation (usage 10:00pm - 5:00am, distribution throughout the night) as expected? Were the assumptions and modelling inputs (including aircraft types) appropriate? Was the environmental assessment analysis sufficient? Comparison How do the results from the validation study compare to the expected findings in the environmental assessment? If they are different, why is this so? What are the implications of any differences? Version 1: 6 April 2016 Page 4 of 5
Implications Are there any implications from the validation study? Has our conclusion regarding significance changed? What next? The validation study report will include: Aircraft types Destinations Usage 10:00pm-5:00am and distribution throughout the night Predicted versus actual noise levels Pre and post noise levels predicted change versus actual change Predicted versus actual altitudes Predicted versus actual median track Spread of flight tracks Noise level contours (60 and 70 db(a)) of modelled track versus actual median track and population count within contours where differences occur. 5. Independent Review The validation study will be subject to an independent external review at the Final Draft stage. 6. Timing The report will be completed to Final Draft stage by 6 May 2016. An independent external review will be completed by 31 May 2016. 7. Publication The report will be published in full or as a summary on Airservices website. Version 1: 6 April 2016 Page 5 of 5