WestConnex offers white noise machines to drown out tunnelling noise

RESIDENTS who are suffering sleepless nights because of noisy WestConnex tunnelling are being offered white noise machines to drown out the sound.

The tunnelling underground inside the M4 East Tunnels at Haberfield.

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RESIDENTS who are suffering sleepless nights because of noisy WestConnex tunnelling are being offered white noise machines to drown out the sound.

Up to 29 households along the M4 East site had been offered temporary relocation due to construction noise near their property, while others opted for white noise machines to be installed.

A WestConnex spokeswoman declined to say how many tunnelling noise complaints had been made.

But since January the Environmental Protection Agency said it had received 19 complaints from residents regarding tunnelling noise.

The majority of complaints came from Haberfield, followed by Ashfield, Concord and St Peters.

Exclusive first look underground inside the M4 East Tunnels at Haberfield.

Ashfield resident Andrew Wills has five tunnels being constructed underneath his home for the M4 East. He said it was driving his family crazy. “We have been living with the tunnelling since November — it ranges from faint noise to very strong noise,” Mr Wills said.

“WestConnex told us the tunnelling was finished and we thought it was over but that is only half the story as after that they start jackhammering and that is much more jarring.

“It literally sounds like someone is banging on your front door every morning.

“My wife has to work from home and is being driven crazy.

“This is psychological damage. People are exhausted by it and if WestConnex could just communicate accurately it would really help.”

A look at the construction happening around 20-30m under peoples homes.

St Peters residents have had similar experiences with the new M5 tunnelling.

One resident Peter — who did not want to be further identified — said he was offered ear plugs to cope with the noise.

“We have had about four weeks of tunnelling noise under our house, originally about 20-25m deep and down to 45m,” he said.

“We received all the usual letters saying there would be 24-hour work but there was no indication the drilling would be loud enough to keep you awake all night.

“They have insulted us by offering us ear plugs or movie tickets — the oversight of this is abysmal, there needs to be some sort of investigation into it.”

Sydney Motor Corporation said they advised residents one month before tunnelling work would begin near their property, with updates posted online weekly.

A WestConnex spokeswoman said they made every effort to reduce noise impacts where possible.

“The New M4 project team works with residents on a case-by-case basis to resolve any noise issues,” she said.

Some work going on inside the M4 East tunnel in Haberfield.

“In most cases noise on the surface generated by vibration (less than 35 dBA) will be around half the equivalent of a normal conversation (60 dBA).”

“There have been 29 offers of temporary relocation extended to residents for the New M4 for both tunnelling and surface work; not all offers are accepted.

“White noise machines are one of the mitigation options available to residents — the machines work by blending the external sounds into overall background noise.”

The EPA has been out to inspect tunnelling sites at both Concord and Haberfield following noise complaints and was satisfied at the time at works were in compliance with the environment protection licence.