Transport noise & vibration

Transport projects carry some of the most demanding noise and vibration requirements in Australia. Among densifying cities and widening transport corridors, approval conditions are becoming more detailed and communities expect a say. Getting mitigation wrong costs millions, but smart choices save just as much. Resonate can help you find the right fix for your project— a noise barrier, a quiet pavement or tailored property treatments. We support road, rail and other transport projects to minimise and mitigate noise at every phase. Our team of acoustic experts will assist you form the strategic planning phase, through design and construction to post-opening compliance.

Our road & rail noise services

Roads

From intersection upgrades to citywide infrastructure programs, changes to our roads create big transport noise impacts. Our experience modelling, monitoring and mitigating road noise spans every delivery model: D&C, Alliance, ECI and client-side advisory. In South Australia we have worked on every stage of the North-South Corridor, including the South Road Superway, Northern Expressway, Northern Connector, Torrens Road to River Torrens (T2T), Regency to Pym, Darlington and currently Torrens to Darlington (T2D). Alliance work includes Fleurieu Connections and Port Wakefield to Port Augusta.

In New South Wales our work includes the Coffs Harbour Bypass, Sydney Gateway, M7/M12 Integration, Warringah Freeway Upgrade, Albion Park Rail Bypass, Rankin Park to Jesmond, and the Nowra and Grafton bridge crossings. On the Foxground and Berry Bypass, our post-construction measurements validated the as-built design against our own detailed design. Recent additions to our team bring project experience including the Western Sydney Airport ground-based noise assessment and operational noise compliance across the WestConnex program.

On the M6 Stage 1 Project, with its twin 4 km tunnels, we serve as the independent Acoustic Advisor. That appointment reflects trust in our impartiality as much as our technical work.

Rail, metro & light rail

Our rail experience covers heavy rail, metro, freight and light rail, above ground and in-tunnel projects. On Sydney Metro City and Southwest we prepared the reference design for six underground stations, delivered the Barangaroo Station detailed design, advised on tunnelling noise and vibration, and held technical reviewer roles. Other NSW projects include the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport SCAW contract, Kingsgrove to Revesby Quadruplication, Glenfield to Leppington Rail Link, North Strathfield Rail Underpass and Richmond Line Duplication. In South Australia we have worked on Flinders Link, Torrens Rail Junction, Goodwood Junction and the Oaklands crossing, along with Adelaide’s tram and O-Bahn projects.

Our team’s specialist capabilities are tailored for rail transport noise and include ground-borne noise and vibration prediction and control. For the Epping to Chatswood rail link, we delivered in-car noise and rail damper design. Our staff are experienced on projects across Australia, providing vibration propagation measurement for the Perth Airport Link. We design base building vibration isolation near rail corridors. In Victoria, we were the peer reviewers for the Level Crossing Removal Authority during development of their operational noise guidelines.

Property acoustic treatments

Sometimes, large scale treatments like a noise barrier are not reasonable or practicable. In most Australian jurisdictions, individual property treatments programs are the next step for mitigating noise from transport projects.

Treatment programs bring a project into residents’ homes. Delivering them without community and political backlash takes care, sensitivity and technical precision, as well as the communication skills to transform acoustic concepts into solutions that residents understand. We manage this process end to end. Our team handles treatment planning, resident liaison, and coordinate property inspections and floor plans. We develop inspection reports and scope the required works, offering individualised, compliant treatment designs, as well as advice during implementation. For the Department for Infrastructure and Transport in South Australia, we have also held project management and contract administration (PMCA) roles. We deliver treatment programs, not just design them.

This experience spans many hundreds of properties, on programs ranging from a handful of homes to several hundred. Current and recent programs include Torrens to Darlington, Torrens Road to River Torrens, the Darlington Upgrade and several Adelaide intersection upgrades. In New South Wales, we assessed, inspected and scoped treatments on the Albion Park Rail Bypass, Sydney Gateway Project, Westlink M7-M12 Integration Project and Mount Ousley Interchange.

Our cloud-based noise treatment implementation tool keeps inspections, scopes and resident communications consistent across large programs. The Association of Australasian Acoustical Consultants recognised it with a national innovation award in 2018, a first of its kind nationally.

Expert evidence, independent advisory & peer review

For transport noise regulations, policy or disputes, you need reliable, impartial acoustic advice that withstands rigorous review for years after. At Resonate, our consultants have a diverse background, augmenting their expert knowledge with software development, GIS and structural dynamics acumen. We offer experienced insights to major decision-makers, as expert witnesses, independent advisors, technical leads and peer reviewers.

Our consultants helped shape the South Australian Road Traffic Noise Guidelines and NSW guidance for transport corridors development. Many of our team hold or have held independent Acoustic Advisor, Independent Design Check (IDC), and technical reviewer positions. We are committed to ensuring quality and compliance. In this capacity, we’ve worked on the M6 Stage 1, Sydney Metro City and Southwest, Regency to Pym, Northern Connector and various level crossing removals. Our senior staff are sought after as expert witnesses, advising communities, government, and other stakeholders on noise impacts from major transport infrastructure. We’re experienced and impartial, advising on matters before the Victorian and South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunals (VCAT and SACAT), New South Wales Land and Environments Court, and other advisory bodies.

You need confidence in your acoustic advice. Call in the experts to help with your transport noise and vibration management.

Contact us

If you’re planning, bidding for, designing or delivering a transport project, we’re here to help. Contact us today to speak to an acoustic consultant. Early advice on road, rail and aircraft broadens the available options for management, simplifies approvals and improves outcomes.