XN000022-1977-06-15 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1977

EXTENSTION OF NOISE BAN *****

A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO EXTEND THE HOURS OF BAN ON CONSTRUCTION NOISE AND THE NOISE FROM RECORD SHOPS RECEIVED ITS SECOND READING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MOVING THE SUMMARY OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1977, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES SAID ONE CLAUSE OF THE BILL WAS AIMED AT CONTROLLING THE NOISE CREATED BY PROPRIETORS OF RECORD SHOPS AND HAWKERS, WHO PLAYED RECORDS AND CASSETTE TAPES AT AN UNREASONABLY HIGH VOLUME FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTRACTING CUSTOMERS, AND THUS DISTURBED PUBLIC TRANQUILITY.

MR. JONES SAID ANOTHER CLAUSE OF THE BILL DEALT WITH CONSTRUCTION NOISE, HE SAID THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CONSIDERED THAT THE EXISTING PROVISIONS ON LIMITING THIS NOISE WHICH ONLY APPLIED TO PILING WORK, WHICH WAS BANNED BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8 P.M. AND 6 A.M. AND ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.

HE SAID THE COMMITTEE HAD RECOMMENDED THAT THE RESTRICTIONS ON PILING SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO COVER THE USE OF ALL OTHER NOISY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND THAT THE RESTRICTED HOURS BE PROLONGED FROM 7 P.M. TO 7 A.M. AND ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

ONE CLAUSE OF THE BILL ALSO SOUGHT TO PLACE A BAN ON THE USE OF ALL POWERED MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF CARRYING OUT ANY WORK BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7 P.M. AND 7 A.M. AND ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, MR. JONES SAID.

THE SECRETARY NOTED THAT EXCEPTIONS TO THE GENERAL BAN, HOWEVER, WERE PROVIDED. FIRST, IT PROVIDES THAT A SINGLE ITEM OF POWERED MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT CAN BE USED IN DOMESTIC PREMISES PROVIDED THAT THE EQUIPMENT IS OF A SIMPLE HAND-HELD TYPE.

+AND SECONDLY, PROVISION IS MADE FOR THE USE OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT IN EMERGENCIES IN ORDER TO PREVENT INJURIES TO PERSONS OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, HE SAID.

MR. JONES SAID THE BILL ALSO PROVIDED THAT THE NEW CONTROLS OVER THE USE OF POWERED MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT SHOULD COME INTO OPERATION ON JULY 1, 1979, TWO YEARS AFTER ENACTMENT.

+THIS DELAY SHOULD ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ADEQUATE TIME TO COMPLETE MOST EXISTING CONTRACTS BEFORE THE MORE STRINGENT RESTRICTIONS ARE BROUGHT INTO FORCE,+ HE SAID.

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