Noise at Childcare Centres

An issue that is not often raised in planning applications for child care centres is noise from children. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal discussed this issue in the recent case of Strath CCC v Greater Bendigo CC and assessed the issue as follows (paras. 59-61):

There are currently no guidelines or policies in Victoria for the assessment of noise emissions associated with outdoor play areas of childcare centres. Darren Tardio [acoustic expert] therefore put that in lieu of no such guidelines or policies, it is appropriate to consider the Association of Australasian Acoustical Consultants Guideline for Childcare Acoustic Assessment (AAAC Guideline), which is broadly referred to in many VCAT decisions. The AAAC Guideline provides two targets being background noise plus 5dB for outdoor play use of more than four hours per day and background noise plus 10dB for outdoor play use of up to four hours per day. Darren Tardio explained in his evidence, that this would mean the noise target would be 51dB(A) in this case.

Darren Tardio undertook acoustic modelling assuming all 104 children in total could be located in the outdoor play area at the same time, and he submitted, this builds in some inherent conservatism in the modelling. Darren Tardio has included acoustic fences noted on the amended plans noting the fence heights result in inherent noise controls consistent with other approved childcare centres with noise minimisation strategies. He made the observation that the ground elevations are relatively complex on the site with a general decrease in elevation from Smith Street to Grattan Street. His results for the sensitive adjoining properties are:

Residential Dwelling Outdoor Play Noise Level LAeq 8 Smith Street 49dB(A) 9 Smith Street 36dB(A) 12 Smith Street 51dB(A) 5 Grattan Street 47dB(A) 6 Grattan Street 33dB(A) 9 Grattan Street (Ground) 49dB(A) 9 Grattan Street (Upper) 50dB(A) The results of the noise modelling indicate that noise emissions from outdoor play would be reasonable and generally less than the noise target of ‘background plus 10dB’.