Noise levels from a controversial motorsport racetrack planned for inner-city Perth are likely to be excessive for residents of nearby apartments and guests at the adjacent Crown entertainment complex, a new report has found.
The modelling, prepared ahead of a seven-day public consultation period on the proposal which opened today, shows maximum levels of up to 91 decibels for some first-floor apartments and for Crown staff and visitors.
Acceptable noise levels mandated under the Environmental Protection Act are up to 65 dB for “noise sensitive premises” including homes and schools.
The project, officially known as the Perth Entertainment and Sporting Precinct, was an election commitment by WA Labor, with Premier Roger Cook promising a street circuit that would “put WA on the global motorsports map”.
“It would turn the roads here around Burswood Park into a racetrack, allowing around about 50,000 people, and local and interstate visitors to turn out each day for a multi-day race event,” Mr Cook said at the time.
The project was an election commitment from Roger Cook. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
But it has been vehemently opposed by residents and the opposition, who have cited concerns about public amenity and the environment, prompting the government to clarify that the motorsport track would be used for a “one-off annual event” only.
Apartments 90m from racetrack
Prepared by an independent consultancy, the modelling assumes the racetrack would allow for three-kilometre circuits, and that the V8 Supercars event would consist of races with 28 competitors doing 67 laps at an average speed of 140 kilometres per hour.
But it cautions that the actual speeds and acceleration of the cars — the main source of noise — are not known, nor is the exact nature of the sound system to be used at the event.
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The report said the closest apartments to the track are just 90 metres away, with balconies and outdoor living areas particularly exposed to the noise.
Concert noise a concern
Supercars events, including qualifiers and practice, are expected to last about 1.5 hours a day during the annual three-day racing festival, which is also likely to include sprint cars and motorcycle races, although these are not usually as loud as the V8 cars.
The report also modelled noise levels from concerts that could be held at an amphitheatre planned as part of the multi-entertainment precinct, finding that levels could be up to 80 dB at these events.
However, the report cautions that the modelling does not consider any potential noise mitigation features that might be built into the design of the new precinct, including noise walls and other shielding.
Former rubbish tip
An air quality assessment was also done, analysing emissions from the 1,046 cars expected to race during the supercars event.
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The report found while the overall air emissions were likely to be low, the biggest impact would be on the people living in the adjacent apartments.
“Although emissions from the motorsport events may appear high, the impacts are short lived and of small magnitude as the race events are scheduled for only a few days annually,” report read.
The site was originally a mudflat, before being used as Perth’s main rubbish tip for decades, with many contaminates under the surface.
Asbestos manufacturer James Hardie Industries and Swan Portland Cement also had operations at the site.
It was then remediated and turned into a now-defunct golf course.
The site of the proposed Burswood racetrack development. (ABC News: Glyn Jones)
A review of the site found limited data on exactly what contaminates are present and it’s also unclear how thick the clean layer of soil is between the ground and the landfill contaminates underneath.
It’s also unclear how contaminated the groundwater is.
Three man-made lakes, which a flora and fauna assessment found were not critical habitat for local species will need to be infilled for the project.
Several protests against the proposal have taken place since this one in April. (ABC News: Phoebe Pin)
It recommended installing fauna proof fences to make sure animals would not cross the road, and suggested avoiding waterbird breeding season when draining the lakes.
The state Environmental Protection Authority has opened a seven-day period for public comment as it decides whether to conduct a further assessment of the project.
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