Hansard debates

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (17:18): Last week I was pleased to present this petition on behalf of local residents in The Heights estate at Fyansford about the traffic noise on the Geelong Ring Road. The residents are fed up with the unbearable traffic noise levels on the estate. Their quality of life is hugely affected and they are angry that to date all parties have been evasive about where responsibility for solving the problem lies.

The petitioners note that while VicRoads 2005 traffic noise reduction guidelines state the noise level objective for residential dwellings to be 63 decibels measured between 6.00 am and midnight, their own recent readings indicate levels averaging above 70 decibels and peaking at above 90. Clauses 63 and 64 of the planning permit for The Heights development require an acoustic report prior to the issuing of any statement of compliance. It appears that the most recent report was conducted in 2014, that it only just met the acceptable level, that the noise level has increased substantially in the time since and that there is no current plan to revisit the testing or propose any solution. I understand there may be no simple answer here, but I am committed to working with the residents to get the best result we possibly can. They seek an extension of the existing road noise barrier to cover the areas of new development.

This is an issue which has come up before. The nearby Wandana Heights and Bell Post Hill areas have in the past mounted successful if lengthy campaigns. It seems to me and to those supporting this petition that the combination of the new housing development needed to accommodate population growth in Geelong and the increased traffic usage of the ring road require comprehensive and universal standards to be adopted. As the volume of traffic increases, so does the blight on the lives of the lives of those who live near these busy roads. It is time for a future-proofed universal standard of noise mitigation to be adopted and absolutely required in every instance to avoid each and every new community needing to fight this same battle as Geelong’s growth continues. Nonetheless, we understand that for the residents of The Heights this would come too late. So the first step in finding a solution for them is to get a full understanding of what has happened to date and the agreements, permits and compliance certification involved.

To date I have written to Regional Roads Victoria and the City of Greater Geelong council, and I look forward to working with them and the developer involved. I have also contacted all state government MPs to seek their positive action on behalf of their constituents. I have been pleased to work with local councillor Eddie Kontelj and council candidate and former mayor of the City of Greater Geelong Stretch Kontelj, who joined my well-attended Zoom meeting the week before last. I thank all those who were involved in that session. It was important to understand their concerns, and I will do my best to ensure their voice is more widely heard.

I welcome this petition, which if acted upon would provide valuable material for the campaign to come. The petitioners request

… that the Legislative Council call on the government to release all Acoustic Reports completed for The Heights estate in Fyansford, conduct a new Acoustic Report as a matter of priority and provide all landowners at The Heights estate a copy of the Report, and urgently assess the required noise walls and relevant infrastructure on the Geelong Ring Road above The Heights estate and—

finally—

conduct an inquiry into regulated noise levels along the entire Geelong Ring Road bypass.

I was pleased to support their requests, to present the petition and to pledge my continued assistance to the residents of The Heights.