scope:

GENERAL

This Standard recommends noise criteria to be applied to road-traffi c noise from new or altered roads received at the assessment position(s) of protected premises and facilities (PPFs). This Standard does not apply to existing roads.

The noise criteria are intended to address the adverse effects of road-traffi c noise on people. Land-use planning is the preferred method of avoiding these effects. Where this is impracticable the Standard sets out procedures and methods for the prediction, measurement and assessment, and guidelines for mitigation of road-traffi c noise in accordance with the duty to adopt the best practicable option.

This Standard is intended to be used primarily by local authorities, and road controlling authorities, as well as developers who are constructing or altering roads as part of a subdivision or land-use development. The Environment Court and Boards of Inquiry may also take the Standard into account when considering applications and notices or requirement for major transport projects. The Standard seeks to promote consistent decision-making on road-traffi c noise in the design of new and altered roads.

This Standard is intended to be suitable for citing in planning and policy documents prepared under the Resource Management Act (RMA) as the basis for measurement, prediction, assessment, and mitigation of noise from new and altered roads and for the guidelines within the Standard to be applied in the formulation of RMA plan content, and conditions of designations and resource consents.

The criteria in this Standard are intended to aid in the design of new and altered roads by setting reasonable criteria for the road-traffi c noise from new or altered roads taking into account health issues associated with noise, the effects of relative changes in noise levels on people and communities, and the potential benefi ts of new and altered roads to people and communities.