Donnybrook Shire to introduce new noise management plan to manage public space cleanliness

Donnybrook residents have the opportunity to provide comment on a new noise management plan that would allow essential public area maintenance to commence as early as 6am in some residential areas during peak periods. Under the Noise Management Plan, activities such as street sweeping, leaf blowing, rubbish removal, tree pruning and pressure washing can commence one hour earlier than is currently allowed within the Donnybrook Townsite Precinct. The area described in the plan is bordered by and includes Southwestern Highway, Clifford Lane, Victory Lane, Dawson Place, Bridge Street, Collins Street and Reserve Street, containing residential housing, commercial zones and public open space. In a letter to affected residents, the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup has identified the need to commence works earlier due “increased pedestrian and vehicle traffic from 7am, making waste collection and road and pavement cleaning during the day impracticable and more hazardous to the public contractors, and Shire Staff”. “The works will be carried out with as little impact to the residential housing on the plan as possible by working in residential areas as late as practicable,” said the letter. “Any works conducted will not commence prior to 6am on any day and will not be carried out for longer than two hours at a time.” According to the Shire, the plan has been created in-line with Environmental Protection Regulations and has been designed to satisfy regulation 14A of the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 (the Regulations). It will be in place for three years from the date of approval by the chief executive, to be reviewed annually. A complete copy of the plan can we accessed on the Shire website or in hard copy via the Shire Administration Office on 1 Bentley Street in Donnybrook. Comments can be submitted online or via email and close on August 30 at 4pm.