Project 2-Zero – Noise Management

 

Nelson Airport is seeking changes to the “noise contours” that currently apply to land surrounding the airport.

Noise contours give an indication of the level of noise nearby properties can expect to experience in the future as a result of aircraft operations, and also put controls on how much noise the airport is permitted to generate.

Noise contours are important to allow Council planners to identify suitable areas for housing, recreational and other land uses, while also protecting current operations and future airport needs.

 

Proposed Airport Noise Contours

 

The existing contours were based on a different fleet of aircraft and level of activity than exists today. Updated contours would more accurately reflect the expected future level of noise generated by the airport out to 2050, as well as provide for the noise generated by aircraft using an extended runway.

There will be no immediate changes in the noise generated at the airport. The planning changes we have requested are to ensure we adequately plan for the management and mitigation of future airport noise. In reality, any increase in noise will be gradual over time as additional services are added to meet demand.

 

Search for a property

 

The interactive map below shows both the current and proposed noise contours. You can look up an address using the search bar to see which contour line that property sits in. Click on the coloured line for information about what the noise contour means for properties within its boundary. The two arrows at the top left of the map control the map legend - click the arrows to view or hide the legend.

Please note, if you have used this interactive tool prior to 13 March  2023, you may notice slight differences in the line positions.  These differences are due to our formal application making use of updated noise modelling compared to the software being used during 2022.

 

 

Mitigation Package

The type of mitigation qualifying properties will be eligible for depends on where they are located within the noise contours.

Mitigation offers will be made to qualifying individual property owners of existing dwellings in the residential zone when the annual assessment of noise from aircraft operations shows a 60dB Ldn threshold has reached their dwelling.

The following table summarises the mitigation to be offered:

 

Within the 60 – 64dB Ldn noise contours

 

Within the 65 dB Ldn noise contour

 

·      Mechanical ventilation to habitable spaces to maintain indoor air quality with windows closed.

·      Acoustic insulation treatment to achieve 40dB Ldn in habitable spaces and mechanical ventilation to maintain indoor air quality with windows closed.

 

Planning controls

Properties within airport noise contours are subject to Council planning controls intended to reduce the potential for reverse sensitivity effects associated with noise sensitive activities (like residential housing) near the airport and to ensure healthy living environments for our communities.

The following table summarises the controls that would apply to residential properties within Nelson Airport’s updated noise contours. Depending on where your home is located, your property may already be subject to these controls under existing planning rules.

 

Between the 55 – 65dB Ldn contours

Within the 65dB Ldn contour

·      No restrictions or requirements on existing, lawfully established residential homes.

·      Replacement or substantial alteration of an existing home will require the inclusion of acoustic insulation and mechanical ventilation.

·      Building a new home will require resource consent. 

·      Resource consent required in some zones for adding any new dwellings at a density of more than one house per 600m2.

·      No restrictions or requirements on existing, lawfully residential homes.

·      Replacement or substantial alteration of an existing home will require the inclusion of acoustic insulation and mechanical ventilation.

·      Construction of new homes will be prohibited (ie resource consent cannot be sought).

 

Measuring noise

National standards provide guidance to local authorities on implementing appropriate land use controls and noise rules to manage the effects of aircraft noise. The NZ Standard for Airport Noise Management and Land Use Planning uses a noise metric called “Ldn” to define the amount of noise generated by aircraft.

Ldn is a measure of noise exposure and uses the cumulative “noise energy” received from all aircraft movements over a 24-hour period, with a 10dB penalty applied to night flights.

This is the metric used to assess whether the airport is meeting the limits imposed by its noise contours.