The Port Community Liaison Committee is a group of 16 community, government and business representatives that meet regularly to share information, discuss and resolve concerns related to port operations at Roberts Bank. It is currently looking at the issue of port noise.
Noise is an important quality of life factor for everyone. Whether it's from a car-alarm outside your window, or a train whistle five kilometres away, the impact can be disruptive to the peacefulness we might otherwise enjoy.
Noise becomes a problem when it causes annoyance, sleeplessness or other kinds of stress. The actual loudness of a sound may be only one component of its effect; other variables include time and place, duration, weather conditions and the degree to which the listener has any control over it. Not surprisingly, people's experience of noise varies considerably.
At the Port Community Liaison Committee (PCLC), noise is one of the most frequent concerns we hear about. This is understandable, given that many of the operations at Roberts Bank are continuous, 24/7 processes. It is also the nature of port activity - characterized by signals and engine noises from a combination of ships, terminal machinery, trucks and trains.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has a Community Feedback line to receive complaints and information about port activities (604-665-9004). In addition, the PCLC encourages local residents to relay their questions or concerns, anytime, directly to the committee at PCLC@portvancouver. com.
This feedback enables the port authority, B.C. Rail, and key industrial tenants (Westshore Terminals, GCT Deltaport) to learn directly about noise issues and, wherever possible, address the concerns. This is often how business practises evolve.
One example of this is the long-term noise monitoring program that has recently been implemented by the port authority. Noise is tracked by three monitoring stations in the vicinity of Roberts Bank terminals - at Fred Gingell Park, the Deltaport Tug Basin and Tsawwassen First Nation.
The monitoring of conditions in these locations can allow the source of specific noise events - whether related to the port or as a result of normal urban activities - to be more effectively identified, along with any trends or spikes. In turn, this feedback loop can inform future port and regional planning, and contribute to potential improvements.
Community members can now view real-time information from each of these tracking stations online. To access the data, go to http://portmetrovancouver.pmv.noisesentinel.com/. Volume levels and other information are available, which may be cross-referenced with local activity to better understand the sources of noise.
If you are interested in learning more about the noise monitoring program - and would like to see how to use the online tool - the PCLC will be hosting an information session on Saturday, May 7 at 11 a.m. at the port authority's community office in Ladner's Trenant Park Square.
This will be a good opportunity to see a demonstration of the online noise monitoring tool, and to hear first-hand about noise-related concerns.
