The most effective method to control construction noise is through proactive management. To ensure this occurs for all construction projects with a significant risk of adverse noise impact, the NZTA should include a noise management component in construction management plans or equivalent documentation. This is commonly called a Construction Noise Management Plan.

A Construction Noise Management Plan should detail consultant and contractor obligations during construction and maintenance, and will include details such as:

• applicable noise limits,
• consent/designation condition requirements,
• identification of the most affected houses and other noise sensitive locations where noise limits apply,
• description of the works, anticipated equipment/processes and durations,
• assessment of construction noise levels,
• appropriate noise mitigation measures to be implemented,
• monitoring and reporting requirements,
• staff training/awareness programme,
• procedures for maintaining contact with stakeholders and managing noise complaints,
• contact numbers for key construction staff, staff responsible for noise assessment and council officers.

A template for a Construction Noise Management Plan is provided here.

At the start of a project it might not be practical to make a detailed assessment of construction noise for all activities or locations. In that instance Construction Noise Management Schedules (sometimes referred to as “job noise analysis”) detailing the assessment for those specific activities or locations, may be added to the Construction Noise Management Plan at a later stage (but still prior to work starting). A template for a schedule is provided here.

The following figure describes the linkages between the key documents.