Operational wind farm noise monitoring at an Alternative Monitoring Location

in to rated power for the site. Data will be excluded from the analysis where it was influenced by: • rainfall noise • other extraneous noise that is not a normal part of the environment at the residence.

As part of the Pre-Construction Noise Assessment and in accordance with Condition 18 of the Planning Permit, separate analysis was carried out for: • all-time periods • night-time period (10 pm to 7 am) • evening period (High Amenity only, 6 pm to 10 pm) • 45-degree wide wind direction sectors.

From the Pre-Construction Noise Assessment, specific time periods and wind direction sectors were identified for Noise-Sensitive Locations that required consideration as part of the Post-Construction Noise Assessment Report. This includes: • separate all-time and night-time noise limits • separate evening noise limits for High Amenity areas • subject to Section 7.5, a separate noise limit for monitoring location K27 - a under winds from 0 to 90º which corresponds to periods where that location is downwind of the site and where a marked change in background noise levels was observed relative to other wind directions.

The Independent Test Authority shall perform a regression analysis to describe the relationship between the monitored post-construction noise levels (Overall Measured Noise Level) and the wind speed for the time and wind direction subsets detailed in Table 4.2. Additionally, the Independent Test Authority shall inspect the relationship between wind speed and noise level to determine if there are separate relationships with different wind directions and/or times of day. If there are markedly different relationships, as determined by the Independent Test Authority in accordance with NZS 6808:2010, then the Overall Measured Noise Level shall be separately assessed for those subsets.

The Overall Measured Noise Level for each subset, adjusted for any special audible characteristic penalties in accordance with Section 5.7, shall be compared to the wind farm noise limits to determine if compliance has been achieved. If the Overall Measured Noise Level achieves compliance with the noise limits, then the Project is compliant with the Planning Permit requirements.

If the Overall Measured Noise Level exceeds the noise limit for one or more subsets, then the Independent Test Authority shall correct the Overall Measured Noise Level by the measured background noise level for the corresponding subset in accordance with NZS 6808:2010. This will determine the Measured Wind Farm Noise Level. If the Measured Wind Farm Noise Level, adjusted for any Special Audible Characteristics, achieves compliance with the noise limits, then the Project is compliant with the Planning Permit requirements.

In the event that the Measured Wind Farm Noise Level, including any special audible characteristic penalties, is above the noise limit, and the Independent Test Authority has not identified any other potential sources of noise or background noise changes that may have contributed to this, then the Project is non-compliant with the Planning Permit requirements and Section 9 shall apply.

Operational wind farm noise monitoring at an Alternative Monitoring Location

In some cases, it may not be practical or possible to assess compliance at a Noise-Sensitive Location. This may occur due to: • lack of accurate information about the background noise levels at the location, e.g. due to no previous background noise monitoring occurring • an opinion by the Independent Test Authority or another suitably qualified acoustic consultant that the background noise environment at a location may have increased sufficiently for a compliance assessment at that location to no longer be practical