Airside Safety
NOISE MANAGEMENT PLAN

A noise management plan (NMP) has been implemented by Wellington International Airport Limited (WIAL) to assist all interested parties in complying with the objectives and rules in the District Plan.

The NMP fleshes out the basic framework approach formed by the District Plan and is a useful tool in aiding compliance with the Plan. Importantly it is non statutory, meaning changes to it can be done by the Noise Management Committee avoiding potentially protracted formal statutory procedures such as plan changes.

The noise management plan includes:

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  • a statement of noise management objectives and policies
  • details of methods and processes for remedying and mitigating adverse effects of airport noise including but not limited to:
    • improvements to Airport layout to reduce ground noise
    • improvements to Airport equipment (including provision of engine test shielding such as an acoustic enclosure for propeller driven aircraft) to reduce ground noise
    • aircraft operating procedures in the air and on the ground
  • procedures for monitoring and ongoing review of the plan
  • dispute resolution procedures
  • a programme for immediate and ongoing refinement by way of shrinkage of the location of the Air Noise Boundary (ANB), with priority to be given to those areas which through further monitoring are found not to be exposed to forecast Ldn 65 dBA, with the intent that the programme be completed within two years
  • consideration of land use measures which may mitigate adverse effects through changes to controls
  • consideration of any need for insulation of existing houses within the ANB; the extent to which such insulation is appropriate, and the ultimate responsibility for cost
  • details of methods and process for monitoring and reporting compliance with the District Plan rules, including but not limited to:
    • airnoise boundary and activity ceilings provided in the rules
    • engine testing
    • Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) Ground Power Units (GPUs)
    • curfew
  • details for certification by WIAL of night curfew exempt aircraft.

Most of the NMP is complete, with the exception of consideration of land use changes and insulation to existing houses. A study is currently underway examining these two issues, the Land Use Management and Insulation for Airport Noise Study (LUMINS).

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LUMINS is separated into two stages. The first stage is complete and determined that:

  • noise sensitive uses within the Air Noise Boundary have the potential to significantly intensify, and
  • the extent of the effect of aircraft noise on the future population likely to be residing inside the ANB could be significant.

Consequently the Air Noise Committee decided to advance to Stage 2 of LUMINS, which is a detailed look at how these two issues can be resolved. Investigations and a conclusion is likely within the first quarter of 2008.