Council working party to look into Ruapuna noise

The Christchurch City Council has set up a working party to consider options to address noise issues around Ruapuna Park.

The Council today considered a report from Marshall Day Acoustics, commissioned by Council staff to report on the noise issues associated with motor spot activities in the Templeton area.

The Marshall Day report assessed the noise levels around Ruapuna Park, and established whether it was "reasonable" environment for nearby residents. It found that: "in the rural residential areas surrounding Ruapuna Park, daytime noise levels are generally considered to be reasonable, however, seven houses are exposed to raceway noise levels that are marginally above our reasonableness criteria."

It found that night operations at the speedway are currently considered unreasonable at 24 properties.

After considering the report, Council decided to set up a working party which will meet with Ruapuna Park leasees and local residents, and develop recommendations to the Council for noise mitigation measures including:

* Any potential for noise mitigation measures at the track.

* Land acquisition for some or all of the 24 most affected properties.

* Noise attenuation on the houses at some or all of the 24 most affected properties.

The outcomes of the working party will be fed into a City Plan change specific to Ruapuna, which will include a greater separation distance between Ruapuna Park and residential properties.

Council's City Plan Team Leader David Mountfort says Ruapuna Park users are operating within the rules of use outlined in the City Plan. However, activities at the park have increased in recent years and a number of local residents had raised concerns about the noise.