Acoustics Assessment for Proposed Residential Subdivision Adjacent to State Highway 1
- Client Name
- Wharewaka East Limited
- Location
- Taupō, New Zealand
Challenge
An area of land was identified by our client for a potential residential subdivision adjacent to State Highway 1 – part of the busiest road in New Zealand. For the subdivision to achieve consent, specific internal noise levels were required to be met within the dwellings, as determined by the conditions and controls set by Auckland Council, which could increase the cost and reduce the attractiveness of the development to future purchasers.
Solution
Our Auckland and Hamilton based Acoustics and Vibration team members were engaged to understand the extent to which the dwellings would be impacted by the noise levels from the road traffic and to identify potential mitigation measures. Our team measured existing traffic noise levels, undertook 3D modelling of future traffic noise and identified which lots were exposed to high levels of road traffic noise.The road noise modelling enabled the team to identify that the existing intervening bunding screening for the proposed residential subdivision site was sufficient and that noise mitigation for future developments was not required.
Impact
By providing our client with evidence to support that noise mitigation was not required for future development, we demonstrated to Council that the conditions related to noise levels as part of the consent were able to be met. This also increased the desirability of the site location for new housing and helped increase the salability of the lots.
