Road traffic noise – new and altered roads – new draft Standard available for public comment

A new draft New Zealand Standard for addressing road traffic noise associated with new and altered roads will soon be available for public comment. Road traffic noise can have significant adverse effects on the health and amenity of people and communities near busy roads. The comment period is expected to be open until June 2009.

Development of the Standard is part of a package of work approved by the Government in 2006 that is intended to address land transport noise in a more integrated manner. Completion of the Standard is identified as a key action in the New Zealand Transport Strategy 2008.

A Standards New Zealand committee has been working on the Standard over the last two years. The committee is made up of representatives from a wide range of organisations such as Local Government NZ, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transport, NZ Transport Agency (formerly Transit NZ and Land Transport NZ), Road Controlling Authorities Forum NZ, NZ Acoustical Society, NZ Institute of Environmental Health, Roading New Zealand, Ingenium, Resource Management Law Association, New Zealand Planning Institute, and the Department of Building and Housing.

Wind farm noise – revised draft Standard available for public comment until 30 April 2009

Standards New Zealand has released for public comment a draft Standard DZ 6808 Acoustics – Wind farm noise. The purpose of this Standard is to provide suitable methods for the prediction, measurement, and assessment of sound from wind turbines for use in both wind farm development and local authority planning procedures. This Standard also provides guidance on the limits of acceptability for sound received at noise sensitive locations emitted from wind farms containing one or more wind turbines. DZ 6808 is a revision of NZS 6808:1998 Acoustics – The assessment and measurement of sound from wind turbine generators.

Standards New Zealand invites comments on the draft Standard up to 30 April 2009. The technical committee that prepared the draft Standard will then consider each public comment received and reach consensus on any changes that may be necessary. The revised Standard is expected to be published in October 2009.

→ Download copies of the draft, and explanatory notes for providing comments.

Land development and subdivision engineering

Standards New Zealand is about to commence work on revising and amending Land development and subdivision engineering, NZS 4404:2004.

Standards New Zealand has received nominations for the committee to undertake this work, and the first meeting of the committee will take place in April 2009.

For more information, email Bruce Taylor bruce.taylor@standards.co.nz, Senior Project Manager at Standards New Zealand.

UPDATE ON STANDARDS IN DEVELOPMENT

Pool water quality

Committee: P5826
Project manager: Nelson Procter
Estimated publication date: February 2010
Comments: Committee creation under action.