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Letter to the Editor of the South China Morning Post dated 30 December, 2004 - Response to complaint against piling noise
I refer to the letter published in "Talkback" on December 30 concerning the piling noise nuisance generated from a construction site on Hammer Hill Road, Diamond Hill. We have received the same complaint on December 20.
Under the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO), percussive piling conducted between 7 am and 7 pm on a weekday require a construction noise permit (CNP) issued by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). In considering such an application, EPD would assess the extent of the noise impact and issue a CNP allowing the carrying out of percussive piling for 3 hours, 5 hours or 12 hours on each working day in accordance with the Technical Memorandum on Noise from Percussive Piling. We would only issue a 3-hour permit to construction sites located in close proximity to noise sensitive receivers such as residential buildings, schools and hospitals.
According to our records, the contractor applied for a CNP to carry out percussive piling in the said construction site under the NCO. Since there are four schools, a clinic and a number of residential buildings in the vicinity, we issued a CNP permitting only 3 hours to carry out percussive piling. Having considered school hours and examination periods of the affected schools, the permit only allows percussive piling works to be carried out between 1 pm and 1.30 pm, and 4.30 pm and 7 pm on any day not being a general holiday.
In response to the complaint, we conducted a site inspection on December 22. We found that the works on-site complied with the conditions of the CNP. Nevertheless, we have advised the contractor to take appropriate noise control measures to minimise the noise nuisance. In response, the contractor has agreed to stop piling works before 6.30 pm as far as practicable. We have also informed the Architectural Services Department, the responsible department for the School Improvement Programme at the said construction site, of the complaint for any follow up action deemed necessary under the relevant contract document.
So far nearby schools and clinic are satisfied with the arrangement of the permitted piling hours and have made no complaint to us. Apart from the complaint received on December 20, we have not received any complaint from other residents living in close proximity to the said construction site.
According to the contractor, the piling works are scheduled for completion by end January 2005. We will continue to monitor the situation. Should any violations of the NCO be spotted, we will take appropriate actions.
Chiu Chi-chung
Senior Environmental Protection Officer (Regional East)
for Director of Environmental Protection
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