WHILE Ian Jessop expected traffic noise from the Bega bypass, he had no idea just how much there would be.
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Mr Jessop lives on Fairview St, one of the roads cut in half to make away for the bypass which opened in October 2013.
Mr Jessop and his wife bought the property four years ago for its lovely view over the Bega Valley and were aware the bypass would be built.
However, they did not anticipate the lack of buffering near the property and the effect the noise pollution from trucks using the bypass would have on their lives.
“Before it opened I went to go RMS [Roads and Maritime Services] and spoke with them and were told there would be buffering, however I didn’t get anything in writing,” Mr Jessop said.
“The way our section of the bypass is engineered there are drainage pipes there that won’t allow a dirt embankment there that other sections have to buffer the noise somewhat.
“Once it opened it became apparent really quickly how noisy the trucks were and I wrote to the RMS again, as well as [Member of Bega] Andrew Constance and [Member for Eden-Monaro] Peter Hendy.
“Sometimes it sounds like they are driving through my front door and it’s worse at night when there is a lot of freight movement, it’s impossible to sleep.
“The B-doubles start breaking a kilometre away and gear down as they approach the roundabout at our end of the bypass, so they are going from 100kmh to 50kmh.
“It’s been constant since the day it opened and this has ramifications for all of us on this street.
“My neighbour has written to all the same people.
“We didn’t hear anything from Hendy, but Constance referred me to the NSW Roads Minister who told us the RTA would put some noise monitoring in.
“Well, they did, but it was a joke.
“They put it on my neighbour’s property – behind a fence and under a bush and are you going to get a true recording of the noise from there?”
Mr Jessop said the monitor was removed after he videoed its location and complained to the RMS, but no new monitors have been installed.
“The roads ministry people and the RMS keep telling me they are ‘analysing the data’, but it was months ago, how long does it take to analyse?
“We’ve suggested additional buffering at the road level or the lowering of the speed zone.
“I don’t think we are being unreasonable.
“We want to work with them, we just don’t want them to come along and stick up a giant concrete wall that blocks the view for everyone in the street.
“I believe there are more constructive solutions, but they cost money and time and this is just easier for the RMS to ignore,” he said.
An RMS spokesperson told the BDN the data will be released soon, but did not comment on the location of the monitors.
The RMS also said it will continue to liaise with residents.
“Roads and Maritime Services carried out noise monitoring as part of the environmental assessment during planning for the Bega bypass,” the spokesperson said.
“Noise walls were built along sections of the bypass to minimise the impact of noise on nearby properties.
“Locations for noise monitoring were selected by a noise specialist engaged by Roads and Maritime, in accordance with relevant standards.
“Operational noise monitoring was carried out last month across the project with additional noise monitoring at both properties where concerns have been raised.
“Roads and Maritime expects to release results of the latest tests next month and will continue to liaise with both residents about their concerns.”