WEFs create sound due to the wind turbine blades interacting with the wind and from the mechanical equipment used to generate electricity in the turbines. This sound must be assessed as part of the planning and approval process for WEF developments. For information about the planning approval process refer to clause 52.32 of the Victoria Planning Provisions and the Development of Wind Energy Facilities in Victoria – Policy and Planning Guidelines ¹ (Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, July 2021). 

The Victoria Planning Provisions and the Regulations require wind turbine noise limits to be determined and assessed in accordance with the New Zealand Standard 6808:2010 Acoustics – Wind farm noise (the 2010 Standard) or New Zealand Standard NZS 6808:1998 The Assessment and Measurement of Sound from Wind Turbine Generators (the 1998 Standard), depending on the planning permit, to provide specific requirements for the prediction, measurement and assessment of sound from wind turbines.  

Part 5.3 of the Regulations sets out the requirements that apply to noise from wind turbines (Division 5), Commercial Industrial and Trade (CIT) premises (Division 3), music entertainment venues (Division 4) and residential premises (Division 2). The Regulations define a WEF as a CIT premises and therefore, the CIT premises assessment method in Division 3 of Part 5.3 of the Regulations and the Noise limit and assessment protocol for the control of noise from commercial, industrial and trade premises and entertainment venues (publication 1826) applies to a WEF site. However, regulation 117(1)(c)(xiv) excludes noise from wind turbines at WEFs (used to generate electricity by wind force) from being taken into account when assessing the level of noise emitted from CIT premises. 

This is because sound produced from wind turbines is measured and assessed differently than other sound sources. It is generally close to the prevailing background noise level and must be measured in a wide range of wind conditions. 

Wind turbine noise from a WEF is therefore subject to specific regulations under Division 5 of Part 5.3 of the EP Regulations. This guide supports understanding those regulations.

Footnotes