Tuesday, 3 May 2022

Seaford noise mitigation

The Petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Assembly that LXRA have no plans to provide mitigation for noise, for the Ultimate Kananook Train Stabling Facility in Seaford. Noise in this 24/7 facility will be continuous and close to residents and the Seaford/Edithvale Ramsar Listed Wetlands. Operational noise includes: The Safety Check (idling train for 5 minutes, test brakes and horn) shunting trains, horns sounding, air conditioning for maintenance shed, staff amenities and administration buildings, two outside train washes, pneumatic tools, forklifts and accelerating trucks, roof mounted exhaust fans, internal cleaning and maintenance in trains as the air conditioning—2 units per train—must run. Health complications of noise for the community as noted by the World Health Organisation: sleep disturbances, learning disorder and cognitive impairment, heart disease and stroke. Health affects for the birds who migrate to reproduce in the RAMSAR listed wetlands nearby: Birds unable to detect danger from predators as they use their hearing, The mothers of the migratory birds become stressed by noise which affects the chicks birth weight and the number of chicks the bird will have, thus their reproduction rate decreases.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative the Assembly of Victoria direct LXRA to provide mitigation for the noise generated by the operational procedures at the Kananook Train Stabling Facility in Seaford.

By Mr BURGESS (Hastings) (42 signatures).