TfNSW Maritime Maintenance Program – NVIA

Octave Acoustics was engaged on behalf of Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to undertake a comprehensive Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment in support of the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for TfNSW’s Maritime Maintenance Program.

The project assessed the noise and vibration impacts associated with ongoing maintenance and repair activities across more than 120 maritime infrastructure sites, including wharves, jetties, pontoons and seawalls located within some of the most acoustically sensitive urban and coastal environments in New South Wales.

Scope of Works

Our scope included:

  • Review of historical maritime noise assessments and previous REFs (2014–2021)
  • Identification of changes in land use and noise-sensitive receivers since earlier assessments
  • Development of Noise Catchment Areas (NCAs) across Sydney Harbour, Port Botany, Newcastle and Port Kembla
  • Attended background noise measurements at representative sites to establish Rating Background Levels (RBLs)
  • Assessment of construction and maintenance activities grouped by noise ranking
  • Detailed construction noise and vibration impact assessment in accordance with:
    • TfNSW Construction Noise and Vibration Guideline (CNVG)
    • NSW Interim Construction Noise Guideline (ICNG)
    • EPA Assessing Vibration: A Technical Guideline
    • BS 7385 and DIN 4150 standards
  • Prediction of noise affected distances and vibration risk zones for sensitive receivers
  • Development of standard and additional mitigation, management and community engagement measures
  • Preparation of a Transport-branded Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment report suitable for REF submission

Key Outcomes

  • Defined and applied site-specific noise management levels across 23 Noise Catchment Areas
  • Demonstrated that while many maintenance activities may exceed noise management levels at nearby receivers, impacts can be effectively managed through recommended mitigation, monitoring and stakeholder engagement measures
  • Identified vibration impacts as generally low risk for cosmetic building damage, with human comfort impacts requiring management at some locations during vibration-intensive activities
  • Delivered a defensible, regulator-aligned assessment supporting environmental approval pathways for a long-term, program-based maintenance activity

Project Significance

This project required balancing essential maritime infrastructure maintenance with community amenity across dense inner-city, suburban, regional and coastal environments. The assessment provides TfNSW with a consistent, program-wide framework for managing noise and vibration impacts while maintaining flexibility for site-specific conditions.