Noise testing in Adelaide CBD shows the loudest spots
OUTSIDE a pub? North Tce? The Mall? The Adelaide CBD’s loudest spot has been revealed in a noise survey that surprised those behind it.
THERE’S no such thing as a quiet night in Adelaide, where a noise study shows the city “doesn’t quieten down”.
And the loudest part of town on record is actually adjacent one of our most popular parks, with the Environmental Protection Authority’s research identifying King William Rd near Elder Park as the CBD’s noisiest spot.
In an EPA first, six noise-monitoring devices were installed at West Tce, North Tce (George St), King William Rd, Rundle Rd, Hindmarsh Square and Victoria Square, for a year until mid-2016.
From 7am to 7pm, noise levels caused by traffic stayed between 60-69dB on average across the six sites.
The city was found to be the quietest at 2am, when noise drops to 60dB, roughly equivalent to the sound of a human voice. A loud television puts out around 70dB.
EPA director of regulation Peter Dolan said a surprising thing about the study was that Adelaide “doesn’t quieten down”. He said even Friday and Saturday nights weren’t “dramatically different” to a Monday or Tuesday.
King William Rd near Elder Park had the highest overall noise levels — 71dB at peak hour on weekdays — which was only marginally higher than North Tce and West Tce, at 69dB.
Hindmarsh Square was the quietest of the six sites and January was the quietest month, averaging just over 66dB, as holidays reduced vehicle numbers in the city.
February, however, was the noisiest month, with averages across the six sites of higher than 67.6dB.
Noise recorded during the Fringe festival was also found to be localised and this was the noisiest period for East Tce.
“People always talk about ‘Mad March’ but March was about the same as August, April and May, which were quieter than July,” Mr Dolan said. “We didn’t find a lot of noise from music venues.
“Traffic is the major reason noise levels are where they are in the CBD. It’s not events.”
He said although it was noisy throughout the city, especially on busier streets, only a “substantial reduction” in car numbers would make a difference. Rail and air transport had little noise impact.
The report also states that as the city’s population grows and residential developments increase “acoustic amenity” could worsen, because “many new residential developments approved in the northern part of the CBD are adjacent to the major transport corridors”.
The southern part of the CBD and most of North Adelaide were deemed suitable for residential development “from a noise perspective”.
Several zones in the northern CBD would also be suitable if “acoustic treatment” is incorporated into building design.
“It’s a lot more expensive to retrofit to keep a room quiet than to build it properly in the first place,” Mr Dolan said.
“The more people that move into the city, obviously more people will start noticing noise.”
As the State Government continues to encourage South Australians to live in the city by offering financial incentives, an Adelaide City Council spokeswoman said the report would be useful in future planning policy.
Noise testing is now under way in the Port Adelaide area.
