Implementing Distinct Quantitative Noise Thresholds for Evening Period in Residential Areas
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim’s inquiry on implementing distinct quantitative noise thresholds for the evening period between 7.00 pm and 10.00 pm. Minister Desmond Lee stated that the Ministry of National Development has accepted most Community Advisory Panel recommendations but will not adopt quantitative noise thresholds. He explained that consultations with experts highlighted operational challenges, as residents have subjective perceptions of noise and respond differently based on duration. Furthermore, the Ministry noted that neighbourhoods have varying ambient noise levels depending on location, making across-the-board thresholds difficult to implement. The government will instead focus on setting behavioural norms, designating an enforcement agency, and reviewing the mediation process to manage community disputes.
Transcript
27 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for National Development as part of the review of recommendations made by the Community Advisory Panel on Neighbourhood Noise, whether the Ministry can consider implementing distinct quantitative noise thresholds for the evening period between 7.00 pm and 10.00 pm, with these limits being lower than daytime thresholds but higher than those set for quiet hours.
Mr Desmond Lee: The Ministry of National Development has accepted most of the six recommendations by the Community Advisory Panel (CAP) on Neighbourhood Noise. These include setting norms on considerate behaviours to manage neighbourhood noise, designating an agency empowered to enforce against unacceptable neighbour noise and reviewing the mediation process to better manage community disputes over neighbourhood noise.
On CAP’s recommendation to adopt a quantitative noise threshold to assess egregious cases of neighbourhood noise, the Ministry has no plans to set such thresholds during the quiet hours from 10.30 pm to 7.00 am, or during the period from 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm suggested by the Member. This is following consultations with external experts, who shared that there could be operational challenges in setting absolute, across-the-board noise thresholds, as residents would respond to noise differently and have subjective perceptions of severe noise disturbances of varying duration. Neighbourhoods could also have different perceptions of acceptable ambient noise levels, depending on location.