Land use planning for traffic noise

This paper investigates the steps that town planners can take to minimise the impacts of traffic noise in the urban environment. Traffic noise has emerged as a significant urban environmental issue. In Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne there has been serious community reaction to road proposals because of the effects of the traffic noise. The paper introduces the technical aspects of traffic noise for planners, briefly explaining traffic noise measurement, calculation and description. It uses these descriptions to indicate common traffic noise levels in Australian cities. The paper then introduces land use planning as one of a range of techniques that can be used for overcoming traffic noise and its impacts, and identifies the different circumstances that may be faced by the planner. These include responding to traffic noise in a built-up area, or planning greenfield areas around major road routes. Techniques that can be used by the planner to minimise the effects of traffic noise are then reviewed. These include land use zoning, subdivision design and control over building design and construction. The paper concentrates on residential development but provides guidelines that are applicable to any noise sensitive land use.