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The Durban Metropolitan Area (DMA) has by-laws in place
which restrict noise nuisance. The Council actively controls
noise levels through its planning function, scrutinising
development and trade applications, routine monitoring and
responding to complaints. In addition, aircraft using Durban
International Airport are required to comply with noise
abatement procedures. Durban's Environmental Policy
contains a range of policy statements aimed at minimising
noise pollution throughout the City.
City by-laws
The DMA's by-laws makes it an offence
if any person 'causes or creates a nuisance or allows a
nuisance to arise or exist in circumstances under his
control'. Such a nuisance includes 'the reproduction of noise
or vibration which arises from or is caused by the operation
or use of equipment or machinery' and also 'the production of
noise by or arising from or caused by the operation or use of
any device which produces, reproduces or amplifies sound'.
All seven councils within the
DMA apply the ''7 dBA rule' set out in the
Environmental Conservation Act 73 of 1989 which defines
disturbing noise as that which exceeds the ambient sound level
by 7 dBA or more. Typical ambient (background) noise levels
(dBA) are shown below.
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Outdoors
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Indoors, with open windows |
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Type of Area |
Daytime |
Evenings, weekends |
Night time |
Daytime |
Evenings, weekends |
Night time |
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Rural |
45 |
40 |
35 |
35 |
30 |
25 |
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Suburban with little traffic |
50 |
45 |
40 |
40 |
35 |
30 |
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Urban |
55 |
50 |
45 |
45 |
40 |
35 |
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Urban with business premises & main
roads |
60 |
55 |
50 |
50 |
45 |
40 |
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Central Business District |
65 |
60 |
55 |
55 |
50 |
45 |
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Industrial |
70 |
65 |
60 |
60 |
55 |
50 |
Scrutiny of proposed new
developments
The potential noise
impacts of new developments are scrutinised by the Council
when it receives development and trade applications. The
Council endeavours, at this early stage, to ensure that noise
conflicts are minimised, and when necessary, noise monitoring
is done.
Reaction to complaints
The DMCouncil receives approximately
400 noise complaints from the general public annually. These
are each assessed and if necessary a statutory notice is
issued requiring the noise levels to be reduced.
Airport Noise Abatement
Procedures
Durban International Airport applies
Noise Abatement Procedures which reduce the noise impacts of
aircraft using the airport. These procedures include requiring
aircraft to fly on minimum noise routes and to take off into
the prevailing wind.
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Forums addressing noise
issues
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addresses noise emanating from buses/taxis
Noise Action Task Group -
comprising a number of North/South Central Council
departmental officials, South African Police Service
and Liquor Board officials, deals with a wide variety
of noise issues
Noise Sub-committee for the Island View
Forum - deals with rail and industrial
noise around the Cutler Complex
Bluff Noise Committee - is in the
process of being set up to mitigate noise problems in
the Fynnlands/ Marlborough Park
area
It is noted that these forums
are facilitated by the Environmental Health Services of the North
and South Central Local
Councils |
Durban Metropolitan Environmental Policy
Initiative
The Environmental Policy for the
Durban Metropolitan Area identifies noise pollution as a
problem which requires more effective management strategies.
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Objective D6: To minimise noise
pollution in the DMA |
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Policy statements
- The future siting of noise
producing industry and busy roads shall be planned and
designed so as to minimise noise pollution in living
and working environments.
- Noise abatement measures shall
be implemented in areas where human health and comfort
is negatively affected by noise pollution.
- Noise levels in working environments shall conform
to occupational health and safety legislation, and
noise levels in residential areas shall conform to
relevant standards
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Possible implementation strategies
- Land-use planning instruments
e.g. a change in residential land-use along busy
freeways where appropriate.
- Noise abatement measures e.g.
plant appropriate vegetation barriers along freeways.
- Enforcement of limits to noise from taxis, radios
and workshops in residential
areas.
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In relation to transportation noise,
the Environmental Policy states 'local government shall strive
to reduce the level of air and noise pollution by working
towards an expanded, accessible, energy-efficient and less
polluting public transport system' (Objective
B5).
In addition to this,
Environmental Health Services propose the
following:
Objective
- Establishment of noise zones with
respect to typical ambient noise levels in order to
avoid the long term problems of noise control in terms
of accumulating ambient noise level.
Possible Implementation
Strategies
- Location of industrial properties
away from residentail areas (inverse square law)
- Restricting trading hours in
respect of night clubs, concerts and other forms of
entertainment which may impact on residentail
properties.
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