Treatment plant approved with reduced noise

Gosford Council has approved its own groundwater treatment plant application for the council depot site on the corner of Gallipoli Ave and Ocean Beach Rd, Woy Woy, while reducing its noise levels to accommodate the concerns of local residents.

The maximum noise levels will now be 38Dba during the daytime, 38 Dba during the evening and 35Dba at night time.

Australian Conservation Foundation representative Mr Mark Ellis, who had chosen to speak in favour of the treatment plant, had his speech cut short due to concerns from councillors and the mayor that the ACF were speaking against the proposal.

"We support sustainable groundwater usage," Mr Ellis said.

"But we question the placement of the treatment plant.

"We think it should be placed at the abattoir or nearer the current water plant."

Mr Ellis said the ACF supported the development, provided information on its effects on the water table were made public.

"Why will they not publicly release the modeling?" Mr Ellis said.

Local resident Mr Sandy Brownley spoke at the meeting, on behalf of residents local to the proposed development, stating they he believed the application was lacking on detail for residents to seriously evaluate what was being proposed.

"The major issue for residents is the size of the development and the noise that may emanate from it," Mr Brownley said.

"The locality of adjoining residential usage should be a major factor in the approval.

"We have an area which is residential, no tin sheds, but now we have a tin shed."

Mr Brownley suggested that the 35Dba acoustics might cause some people issues with sleep.

"I would suggest strong surveys should be done, to pick realistic (sound levels)," Mr Brownley said.

Mr Brownley also stated a concern for the proposals effects on the local environment.

"This is an application for water harvesting, council should be considering the impact of the water harvesting," Mr Brownley said.

"Subsidence, dilapidation, should all be put together and put on the table.

"There is a lot at stake here."

Mr Brownley also suggested that brickwork be considered for the external finish of the main building, to make it more environmentally friendly.

Council's development assessment unit manager Mr Gary Loft said that noise levels at the current depot were 43Dba during the daytime, 39Dba in the evening and 33Dba at night.

Lyle Stone, August 8