Building in transport noise corridors

As Queensland’s population grows, more residential development will be located close to major transport routes. To help minimise the impacts of transport noise, the Queensland Government has streamlined the approval process for buildings constructed or renovated in transport noise corridors.

Transport noise corridors

Designated transport noise corridors are state-controlled roads, railways or local government roads that have been designated by the relevant state or local government under the Building Act 1975.

Building in transport noise corridors

New residential buildings and alterations e.g. renovations and additions to existing residential buildings in designated transport noise corridors need to comply with the Queensland Development Code (QDC) Mandatory Part (MP) 4.4 ‘Buildings in transport noise corridors’ ( 123 KB). Under the Code, buildings need to achieve certain levels of noise mitigation through the use of appropriate materials for the floor, walls, roof, windows and doors.

A free online search tool can be used to find out if a property is located in a designated transport noise corridor. The tool allows searches on a registered lot number and/or property address to determine if and how the Code applies.

Information about transport noise corridors is also available at state and local government offices, will be shown in local government planning schemes and, will be included in notices on property titles for state designated transport noise corridors.

The Code

The Code came into effect on 1 September 2010.

Previously, building approvals for the construction of residential buildings on properties near state-controlled roads generally required an acoustic assessment and a supplementary state government approval. This approval was often conditional on certain noise mitigation measures being included in the design, such as specific building materials. The Code now provides a more consistent standard across the state and reduces the time and costs involved in gaining final building approval.

Implementing the Code

The Code applies to residential building development applications on properties located in transport noise corridors including houses, townhouses, units, hotels, and motels (class 1–4 buildings). The requirements apply to new, renovated (where a building development application is required), relocated and pre-fabricated buildings. Work must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Code and Building certifiers are responsible for monitoring and certifying that the work complies.

The Code applies to relocations as far as is practical. Building certifiers will have the discretion to determine the type of works that can practically be required to bring the existing house up to the Code’s standards. This may include acoustic seals for windows and entry doors, insulation in ceilings, walls (if possible) and under floors and new entry doors and glazing.

A single property can be partially within a transport noise corridor category or lie across multiple noise categories. In these cases, the requirements will depend on where the actual building is located. If the building sits wholly within a single noise category area on the property, then that noise category’s requirements will apply, even though other parts of the property may be in a higher or lower noise category. A building that sits across multiple noise category areas will have to meet the requirements of the higher noise category.

Property owners and building designers have the choice to either adopt the Code’s acceptable solution for the relevant noise category (which will be deemed to satisfy the performance requirement), or to have an acoustic assessment completed to identify alternative options for meeting the noise-reduction targets. Acoustic assessments can also be used to identify situations where a lower noise category might apply to the property and features such as other buildings, fences or topography may affect the noise levels experienced. Acoustic assessments may also be required where data limitations do not allow an accurate assessment of the noise categories affecting a property.

The Gateway and Logan Motorways have recently been designated as transport noise corridors. Enquiries about the noise attenuation requirements for building development proposals on properties affected by traffic noise from these roads should be sent to Building Codes Queensland.

Benefits

Noise can have significant health impacts. The Code ensures that residential-type buildings in transport noise corridors reduce the effects of transport noise on building occupants.

Reducing transport noise

Measures that can be used to reduce transport noise in residential buildings include:

• Using building materials such as glazing, brick masonry walls, concrete or tile roofs, insulation and solid core doors.
• Re-assessing building design and orientation to locate noise-sensitive rooms (bedrooms and living areas) away from the noise source.
• Using site features such as noise barriers, solid fences/walls, overlapping fences and gates to reduce noise levels.

Costs

The cost to comply with the new requirements will differ depending on the noise category that applies to the property. On average, it is estimated the additional costs will be approximately four per cent.

Assisting property owners with compliance

Use the online search tool to check if a property is in a transport noise corridor and what noise category applies.

Incorrect noise category results

Searches carried out on properties in Redland City Council before Monday 4 October 2010 may have returned the incorrect noise category result. If you carried out a search on a property in Redland Shire before 4 October 2010, you should rerun your search or contact Building Codes Queensland for a detailed assessment.

Guidelines to assist property owners comply with the Code will be available shortly.

Further information

• Queensland Development Code (QDC) ( 123 KB)
• Building Act 1975
• Contact us