Whitehaven Coal : NAR- Noise Monitoring Report 2024 Q1 March

Narrabri Mine Noise Monitoring

Quarter Ending March 2024 Summary Noise Report

Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd

10 Kurrajong Creek Road,

Baan Baa NSW 2390

Prepared by:

SLR Consulting Australia

SLR Project No.: 610.018063.00167

Client Reference No.: 1

9 April 2024

Revision: v1.0

Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd
Narrabri Mine Noise Monitoring	9 April 2024
Quarter Ending March 2024	SLR Project No.: 610.018063.00167
Summary Noise Report	SLR Ref No.: 610.18063-R24-Narrabri-v1.0-20240409.docx

Revision Record

Revision	Date	Prepared By	Checked By	Authorised By
v1.0	9 April 2024	Sean O'Shea	Martin Davenport	Martin Davenport

Basis of Report

This report has been prepared by SLR Consulting Australia (SLR) with all reasonable skill, care and diligence, and taking account of the` timescale and resources allocated to it by agreement with Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd (the Client). Information reported herein is based on the interpretation of data collected, which has been accepted in good faith as being accurate and valid.

This report is for the exclusive use of the Client. No warranties or guarantees are expressed or should be inferred by any third parties. This report may not be relied upon by other parties without written consent from SLR.

SLR disclaims any responsibility to the Client and others in respect of any matters outside the agreed scope of the work.

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Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd
Narrabri Mine Noise Monitoring	9 April 2024
Quarter Ending March 2024	SLR Project No.: 610.018063.00167
Summary Noise Report	SLR Ref No.: 610.18063-R24-Narrabri-v1.0-20240409.docx
Table of Contents
Basis of Report	i
1.0	Introduction	1
2.0	Performance Assessment And Discussion	1
3.0	Noise Criteria	3
3.1	Project Approval, EPL and NMP	3
3.2	Non-compliances & Exemptions	3
3.3	Attended Monitoring	4
3.3.1 EPL Monitoring Locations	4
3.3.2 NMP Monitoring Location	4
3.3.3 EPL Monitoring Requirements	4
3.3.4 NMP Monitoring Requirements	4
4.0	Operational Noise Monitoring Methodology	5
4.1	General Requirements	5
4.2	Methodology - Operator Attended Noise Monitoring	5
5.0	Results and Discussion	7
5.1	Results of Operator Attended Monitoring	7
5.1.1 Operator Attended Noise Survey Results - EPL Monitoring Location N5	8
5.1.2 Operator Attended Noise Survey Results - EPL Monitoring Location N6	12
5.1.3 Operator Attended Noise Survey Results - EPL Monitoring Location N8	15
5.1.4 Operator Attended Noise Survey Results - EPL Monitoring Location N9	19
5.1.5 Operator Attended Noise Survey Results - NMP Monitoring Location N1 (Bow Hills) 22
6.0	Conclusion	23
Tables in Text
Table 1 Performance Assessment -Operations	2
Table 2 Project Approval and EPL Noise Criteria	3
Table 3 Noise Monitoring Locations	5
Table 4 Days of the Week Quarterly EPL Monitoring was Conducted - Q1 2024	7
Table 5 Operator Attended EPL Noise Survey Results - N5 - Oakleigh (Day 1)	8
Table 6 Operator Attended EPL Noise Survey Results - N5 - Oakleigh (Day 2)	10
Table 7 Operator Attended EPL Noise Survey Results - N5 - Oakleigh (Day 3)	11
Table 8 Operator Attended EPL Noise Survey Results - N6 - Newhaven (Day 1)	12
Table 9 Operator Attended EPL Noise Survey Results - N6 - Newhaven (Day 2)	13
Table 10 Operator Attended EPL Noise Survey Results - N6 - Newhaven (Day 3)	14
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Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd
Narrabri Mine Noise Monitoring	9 April 2024
Quarter Ending March 2024	SLR Project No.: 610.018063.00167
Summary Noise Report	SLR Ref No.: 610.18063-R24-Narrabri-v1.0-20240409.docx
Table 11	Operator Attended EPL Noise Survey Results - N8 - Haylin View (Day 1)	15
Table 12	Operator Attended EPL Noise Survey Results - N8 - Haylin View (Day 2)	17
Table 13	Operator Attended EPL Noise Survey Results - N8 - Haylin View (Day 3)	18
Table 14	Operator Attended EPL Noise Survey Results - N9 - High Range (Day 1)	19
Table 15	Operator Attended EPL Noise Survey Results - N9 - High Range (Day 2)	20
Table 16	Operator Attended EPL Noise Survey Results - N9 - High Range (Day 3)	21
Table 17	Operator Attended NMP Noise Survey Results - N1 - Bow Hills	22
Figures in Text
Figure 1	Attended Noise Monitoring Locations	6

Appendices

Appendix A Acoustic Terminology

Appendix B Calibration Certificates

iii

Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd
Narrabri Mine Noise Monitoring	9 April 2024
Quarter Ending March 2024	SLR Project No.: 610.018063.00167
Summary Noise Report	SLR Ref No.: 610.18063-R24-Narrabri-v1.0-20240409.docx

1.0 Introduction

Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd has commissioned SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd (SLR) to conduct operational noise monitoring for the Narrabri Mine located near Narrabri, New South Wales (NSW) in accordance with the approved Noise Management Plan (NMP) dated August 2023, the Narrabri Mine Project Approval (PA) 08_0144 and the Environment Protection Licence 12789 (EPL 12789).

The objectives of the noise monitoring programme for this operating period were as follows:

• Conduct operator attended noise surveys at 5 locations (as listed in Section 3.3) surrounding the mine during the day, evening and night-time periods.
• Quantify all sources of noise within each of the attended noise surveys, including their measured and/or estimated contribution and maximum level of individual noise sources.
• Assess the noise emissions of Narrabri Mine and determine compliance with respect to the limits contained in Section 2 of the NMP and the relevant approvals.

The following report uses specialist acoustic terminology. An explanation of common terms is provided in Appendix A.

2.0 Performance Assessment And Discussion

The following provides a summary of the attended noise measurements undertaken at each monitoring location. Further details are provided for each location in Section 5.0 of this report.

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Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd
Narrabri Mine Noise Monitoring	9 April 2024
Quarter Ending March 2024	SLR Project No.: 610.018063.00167
Summary Noise Report	SLR Ref No.: 610.18063-R24-Narrabri-v1.0-20240409.docx

Table 1 Performance Assessment -Operations

EPL

Location

Date

Narrabri Mine Contribution dBA

Noise

Measurement

Standard Weather

Compliant

ID

Criteria1

Periods

LAeq(15 min)

LAeq(15 min)

LAeq(15 min)

LA1(1 min)

Day

Evening

Night

Day

Evening

Night

Night

N5

Oakleigh2

11/03/2024

I/A

I/A

25

30

Day, Evening,

Day - 1.5 hrs

Y

Y

Y

Y

12/03/2024

I/A

I/A

N/M

N/M

Night -

Evening - 0.5 hrs

Y

Y

N

Y

LAeq(15min)

Night - 1hrs

13/03/2024

I/A

I/A

N/M

N/M

35 dBA

Y

N

N

Y

N6

Newhaven

11/03/20243

I/A

N/M

N/M

N/M

Night

Y

Y

N

Y

12/03/20243

30

I/A

27

33

Y

Y

N

Y

LA1(1min) -

13/03/20243

27

N/M

31

38

45 dBA

Y

N

Y

Y

N8

Haylin

12/03/2024

I/A

34

33

40

Y

N

Y

Y

View2

13/03/2024

I/A

32

33

34

Y

N

Y

Y

14/03/2024

25

I/A

31

39

Y

Y

Y

Y

N9

High

12/03/2024

I/A

I/A

I/A

I/A

Y

Y

Y

Y

Range2

13/03/2024

I/A

I/A

28

29

Y

Y

Y

Y

14/03/2024

I/A

I/A

32

36

Y

Y

N

Y

-

Bow Hills1

13/03/2024

29

I/A

33

35

Day - 15 min

Y

Y

N

Y

Evening - 15 min

Night - 15 min

I/A = Inaudible, N/M = Not Measurable

Note 1: A private agreement between NCOPL and the residents of N1 Bow Hills of 50 dBA LAeq(15minute) is in place. This new level of 50 dBA LAeq(15minute) replaces the levels identified in Conditions 1-3, Schedule 4 of PA 08_0144 Mod 2 and the identical limits contained in condition L3 of Environment Protection Licence No 12789.

Note 2: Property is owned by Narrabri Coal Operations. Noise limits contained in Conditions 1-3, Schedule 4 of PA 08_0144 Mod 2 and the identical limits contained in condition L3 of Environment Protection Licence No 12789 are not applicable.

Note 3: Evening and Night monitoring conducted on this date, Day monitoring conducted during the following day period.

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Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd
Narrabri Mine Noise Monitoring	9 April 2024
Quarter Ending March 2024	SLR Project No.: 610.018063.00167
Summary Noise Report	SLR Ref No.: 610.18063-R24-Narrabri-v1.0-20240409.docx

1. Noise Criteria
2. Project Approval, EPL and NMP

Noise monitoring at the Narrabri Mine was conducted in accordance with EPL 12789, the PA requirements and the NMP. The site specific EPL and PA noise limits are summarised in Section 2 of the NMP and are reproduced in Table 2. These criteria do not apply where the mine has an agreement with the relevant owner/s of the residence to generate higher noise levels, or where the property is mine owned.

Table 2 Project Approval and EPL Noise Criteria

Location		Day	Emergency Day

Night

LAeq(15minute) LAeq(15minute)

LAeq(15minute) LA1(1minute)

All Privately owned Residences

35

35

35

45

3.2 Non-compliances & Exemptions

In accordance with Section 11.1.3 of the NSW Industrial Noise Policy (INP) a development is deemed to be in non-compliance with a noise consent or licence condition if the monitored noise level is more than 2 dB above the statutory noise limit specified in the consent or licence. This may occur for two reasons:

• The noise from the Narrabri Mine is excessive, in which case Narrabri Mine will be not complying with its consent or licence condition.
• The noise was increased by extreme, non-standard weather effects-in which case the Narrabri Mine is not considered to be in noncompliance with its consent or licence condition.

In this latter case, further monitoring at a later date is required to determine compliance under "normal" meteorological conditions.

The INP states in Section 9.2 that "it is not practicable to meet the noise limit under all inversion events; hence exceedances under extreme temperature inversions are not considered to be a non-compliance with consent or licence conditions."

Non-standard weather effects include:

• Wind speeds greater than 3 m/s at 10m above ground level; or
• Stability category F temperature inversion conditions and wind speeds greater than 2 m/s at 10 metres above ground level; or
• Stability category G temperature inversion conditions

As stated in EPL 12789 "Data recorded by the meteorological station identified as EPA Identification Point(s) W1 must be used to determine meteorological conditions and temperature inversion conditions (stability category) are to be determined by direct measurement over a minimum 50m height interval as referred to in Part E2 of Appendix E of the "New South Wales Industrial Noise Policy" dated January 2000 ISBN 0 7313 2715 2."

Weather and Temperature inversion monitoring is undertaken continuously in accordance with EPL 12789 with monitoring locations displayed in Figure 1. Monitoring Location W1

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Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd
Narrabri Mine Noise Monitoring	9 April 2024
Quarter Ending March 2024	SLR Project No.: 610.018063.00167
Summary Noise Report	SLR Ref No.: 610.18063-R24-Narrabri-v1.0-20240409.docx

records wind speed and direction at 10m above ground level. Temperature inversion monitoring is undertaken continuously by directly measuring temperature at two elevations 50 m apart (10 m & 60 m from ground level) at monitoring location W2. All weather data reported in Table 5 to Table 17 have been recorded at these monitoring locations.

3.3 Attended Monitoring

Attended Noise monitoring is to be undertaken on a quarterly basis at residential areas. The attended monitoring will take place at the following locations:

3.3.1 EPL Monitoring Locations

• N5 Oakleigh - 16293 Kamilaroi Highway Baan Baa
• N6 Newhaven - 184 Greylands Road Turrawan
• N8 Haylin View - 791 Mayfield Road, Baan Baa
• N9 High Range - 92 Davis Road Turrawan

It is noted that the Narrabri Mine own the properties Oakleigh (N5), Haylin View (N8) and High Range (N9).

3.3.2 NMP Monitoring Location

• N1 Bow Hills - 16652 Kamilaroi Highway Baan Baa

It is noted that the Narrabri Mine has a private agreement with the landholder of Bow Hills (N1) for increased noise limits of 50 dBA LAeq(15minute). This new level replaces the levels identified in Conditions 1-3, Schedule 4 of PA 08_0144 Mod 2 and the identical limits contained in condition L3 of Environment Protection Licence No 12789.

3.3.3 EPL Monitoring Requirements

• At each one of the monitoring locations N5, N6, N8 and N9;
• Occur quarterly in a reporting period;
• Occur during each day, evening and night period as defined in the NSW Industrial Noise Policy for a minimum of:
• 1. 1.5 hours during the day;
  2. 30 minutes during the evening; and
  3. 1 hour during the night.
• Occur for three consecutive operating days.

3.3.4 NMP Monitoring Requirements

• At monitoring location N1,
• Occur quarterly in a reporting period; and
• Occur during a day, evening and night period as defined in the NSW Industrial Noise Policy for a minimum 15 minutes.

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Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd
Narrabri Mine Noise Monitoring	9 April 2024
Quarter Ending March 2024	SLR Project No.: 610.018063.00167
Summary Noise Report	SLR Ref No.: 610.18063-R24-Narrabri-v1.0-20240409.docx

1. Operational Noise Monitoring Methodology
2. General Requirements

All acoustic instrumentation employed throughout the monitoring programme has been designed to comply with the requirements of AS IEC 61672.1 - 2019 Electroacoustics- Sound level meters, AS IEC 60942 2017 Electroacoustics - Sound calibrators and carried current NATA or manufacturer calibration certificates. Instrument calibration was checked before and after each measurement survey, with the variation in calibrated levels not exceeding ±0.5 dBA. Calibration certificates for all instruments employed during the monitoring campaign are presented in Appendix B.

4.2 Methodology - Operator Attended Noise Monitoring

Operator attended noise measurements were conducted during the day, evening and nighttime periods for a minimum of 1.5 hours during the day; 30 minutes during the evening and 1 hour during the night at the three EPL nominated noise monitoring locations and for 15 minutes during the day, evening and night at each of the NMP nominated noise monitoring location representing the most affected receiver locations, listed in Table 3 and shown in Figure 1. During the operator attended noise measurements, the character and relative contribution of ambient noise sources and mine contributions were determined.

Table 3 Noise Monitoring Locations

Monitoring	Monitoring		Receiver		Address		Monitoring Location -
Location	Requirements		Type				MGA Zone 55
							Easting	Northing
							(m)	(m)
N51,2	EPL		Residence		Oakleigh - 16293 Kamilaroi		779526	6617751
					Highway Baan Baa
N61,2	EPL		Residence		Newhaven - 184 Greylands		776564	6624643
					Road Turrawan
N81	EPL		Residence		Haylin View - 791 Mayfield		777428	6617316
					Road Baan Baa
N91	EPL		Residence		High Range - 92 Davis Road		775879	6625895
					Turrawan
N12	NMP		Residence		Bow Hills - 16652 Kamilaroi		780114	6620641
					Highway Baan Baa
Note: 1. EPL monitoring locations
2. NMP monitoring locations

The objective of the operator attended noise monitoring was to measure the LA1(1minute) and the LAeq(15minute) noise level contribution from the Narrabri Mine at the nearest potentially affected receptors in order to determine the noise contribution of operational activities associated with Narrabri Mine over each 15 minute measurement period. In addition, the operator quantifies and characterises the overall levels of ambient noise in the area (i.e. LAmax, LA1, LA10, LA90, and LAeq) over the 15 minute measurement interval.

Operator attended noise measurements were conducted using one-third octave integrating Brüel & Kjær Type 2270 and 2250L sound level meters (s/n 3029485 and s/n 3005904). Attended noise measurements were undertaken by SLR staff Sean O'Shea and Adam Sirianni.

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Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd
Narrabri Mine Noise Monitoring	9 April 2024
Quarter Ending March 2024	SLR Project No.: 610.018063.00167
Summary Noise Report	SLR Ref No.: 610.18063-R24-Narrabri-v1.0-20240409.docx

Figure 1 Attended Noise Monitoring Locations

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