Special Audible Characteristics

Attended listening observations, objective assessment requirements and the Stage 1 and Stage 2 documentary chronology for the Lal Lal Wind Farm record.

Record pathway

How to read this page

This page should be read after the Start Here, Glossary, Understanding the Record, Framework and Verification pages.

It applies the record method to one issue: the relationship between the approved Noise Compliance Testing Plan, Special Audible Characteristics, attended listening observations, disclosed appendices and the documentary chronology. It must be read in conjunction with the governing framework, NZS 6808:2010, the NCTP page and the primary source documents linked throughout.

Plain English

What SAC means

Special Audible Characteristics, often shortened to SACs, are distinctive features of wind farm sound, such as tonality, impulsiveness or modulation, that may make a sound more noticeable or intrusive than ordinary broadband sound.

This page does not determine whether SACs were or were not present. It explains the approved observation procedure and reproduces the documentary record showing how attended listening observations were reported.

Fact

The approved NCTP required attended observations by a qualified acoustic engineer experienced in wind farm sound.

Why it matters

SAC identification was not only a meter-based exercise. The NCTP required listening observations and reporting of those observations.

Evidence

The key record is found in the approved NCTP, Stage 1 Elaine report, Stage 2 report and disclosed attended-observation appendices.

Plain English guide NCTP page

Public explanation and documentary pathway

Why subjective attended listening matters

During the Lal Lal Wind Farm Public Information Session, Gustaf Reuterswärd explained why attended listening — described as subjective evaluation — forms the gateway to further objective assessment of potential Special Audible Characteristics.

This explanation is reproduced as part of the documentary record. It must be read in conjunction with the approved Noise Compliance Testing Plan (NCTP), the Planning Permit and governing framework, NZS 6808:2010, and the Stage 1 Elaine Appendix D records reproduced later on this page.

Gustaf described attended listening or subjective evaluation as “a Gateway” and “a check … of noise emissions”.

Gustaf stated that “your ears and your brain are remarkable acoustic instruments” and, “in many ways far more sophisticated than the best equipment that we can get”.

Gustaf explained that, where the character of audible wind farm noise warrants further investigation, identification “subjectively through these listening tests” leads to objective screening.

Gustaf then explained a limitation of objective screening: even sophisticated methods “aren’t able to differentiate” between “the wind turbine making a tone” and another noise source that may also produce a positive result.

Gustaf concluded that there are “limitations of the objective” and that this is “perhaps partly why there’s … a subjective screening process”.

Gustaf Reuterswärd during the SLR Public Information Session: the role of ears and the brain, the gateway from subjective listening to objective screening, and the limitations of objective methods in distinguishing wind turbine sound from other sources.

Reading the explanation against the record

The significance of the explanation becomes clear only when it is read with the governing methodology and the records of the observations actually undertaken. The documentary sequence below enables readers to compare:

1. Gustaf Reuterswärd’s explanationThe stated reason subjective listening precedes and triggers further objective assessment.

2. Approved NCTPThe mandatory attended-observation procedure, including timing, operating and reporting requirements.

3. Elaine Stage 1 Appendix DThe dates, times, locations and observations recorded for the Stage 1 attended surveys.

The Stage 1 Appendix D records show that the attended surveys for K15aa, H18aa and L18aa were recorded on four dates and principally during late-morning or early-afternoon periods, with the separate Location 4 survey recorded in the early morning. Continue to the Elaine Stage 1 Appendix D record.

Documentary use: The highlighted wording is drawn from the public-session transcript and is presented with the video excerpt so the explanation can be heard in context. This section does not replace or modify the NCTP. The NCTP and the underlying compliance reports remain the primary documentary sources.

Approved methodology

What the approved NCTP required

The endorsed Noise Compliance Testing Plan identifies when attended listening observations are required, where they are to be undertaken and how they form part of the mandatory methodology for assessing Special Audible Characteristics.

The approved Noise Compliance Test Plan set out how SACs were to be identified and reported. The extracts below are included so readers can compare the approved procedure with the observations reproduced in later compliance reports.

SAC identification based on attended observations.
Observations by a qualified acoustic engineer experienced in wind farm sound.
Three sets of attended observations during each stage of monitoring.
Wind farm operating at the time of observations.
At least one set of attended observations during the night.
Informative observations near turbines during at least one set.
Near-turbine observations typically 100 m to 300 m from nearest turbines.
Compliance reports to include full details of attended observations and supplementary procedures.

1. NCTP SAC identification procedure

The NCTP records the attended-observation procedure for identifying Special Audible Characteristics, including night-time observations and informative observations near the turbines.

Open NCTP PDF

NCTP extract showing SAC identification and attended observation procedure — NCTP extract: SAC identification based on attended observations, including night observations and informative near-turbine observations.

Public explanation

How Gustaf Reuterswärd explained the attended-observation methodology

The following video excerpt is included as part of the documentary record. During the public information session, Gustaf described attended listening at different times of day and under different conditions, including listening closer to turbines, and explained that subjective listening was used as the gateway to further objective analysis where a particular sound character was heard.

Gustaf also stated that some surveys had been conducted but were not documented in the report because, after reviewing the operational record, SLR determined that the wind farm was not producing electricity and elected not to count those surveys.

The explanation is reproduced because it forms part of the documentary record. Elsewhere on this page, the Stage 1 Appendix D records attended listening observations dated 10 March 2021 and 31 March 2021, while Gustaf’s later public explanation discusses SLR’s decision not to include other attended surveys after reviewing the operational record and concluding that the wind farm was not producing electricity. The documents and public explanation are presented together so readers may compare the approved methodology, the observations reproduced in the Stage 1 report, and Gustaf Reuterswärd’s explanation of how attended surveys were selected for inclusion in that report.

Gustaf Reuterswärd during the SLR Public Information Session: attended observations, near-turbine listening, operational status and the observations included in the Stage 1 report. The still image shown in the video was recorded from the roadside looking towards J14aa.

Documentary use: The recording is presented as Gustaf Reuterswärd’s public explanation of the attended-observation methodology and the preparation of the Stage 1 report. The still image shown in the video was recorded from the roadside looking towards J14aa. The recording is reproduced so it can be read alongside the approved NCTP and the attended observation records reproduced later on this page. The purpose is to enable readers to compare the approved methodology, the observations included in the Stage 1 report and Gustaf Reuterswärd’s explanation of the basis upon which some attended surveys were included or omitted.

2. NCTP reporting requirements

The NCTP required compliance reports to include full details of attended observations conducted for the purpose of identifying where SACs were potentially present in the sound of the wind farm.

Open NCTP PDF

NCTP extract showing operational noise reporting requirements for attended observations — NCTP extract: reporting requirements for attended observations. Read in conjunction with Gustaf Reuterswärd's explanation that some attended surveys were not included in the final report.

Location context

Attended listening observation locations

The map below is reproduced from Lal Lal Wind Farm documentation and annotated for explanatory purposes. It is not redrawn. The annotations assist readers to understand the relationship between the attended listening observations, compliance monitoring locations and nearest turbines.

Green arrows identify the nearest turbines associated with each compliance monitoring location and Location 4. The orange arrow illustrates the approximate distance between H18aa and the Midland Highway, where one attended observation was recorded as “H18aa – Midland Hwy”.

3. Attended listening observation locations map

This annotated map identifies the attended listening observation locations, nearest turbines and the approximate geographical relationship between H18aa and the Midland Highway reference used in Appendix D.

Annotated map showing attended listening observation locations, nearest turbines and H18aa to Midland Highway reference — Figure 3 — Attended listening observation locations map. The orange arrow shows the approximate geographical relationship between H18aa and the Midland Highway reference used in the Appendix D observation record.

Earlier peer-review methodology

Targeted SAC assessment, transparency and independent verification

An earlier noise-compliance peer review dated 10 April 2014, prepared by an acoustician, records methodological observations concerning subjective evaluation of Special Audible Characteristics. The document is included as earlier professional context and is not presented as a determination of the later Lal Lal Wind Farm assessments.

Target conditions

The peer review states that suitable subjective evaluations should include both typical operating conditions and targeted conditions when SACs are more likely to occur, including night-time, high wind shear and consideration of the complaints register.

Transparency

After considering a methodology comprising five attended observations of approximately ten minutes each, the peer review records that the methodology was unlikely to adequately evaluate or quantify SACs and that it lacked transparency.

Independent verification

The peer review concludes that, without the relevant supporting information, the veracity of the SAC conclusion could not be independently verified.

Documentary use: This earlier peer-review material records methodological principles expressed in the earlier peer review before the later Lal Lal Wind Farm work. Readers may compare those principles with the approved NCTP and the Stage 1 and Stage 2 documentary chronology reproduced on this page. No conclusion beyond that documentary comparison is made here.

4. Earlier peer-review extract — 10 April 2014

The extract identifies targeted conditions when SACs are more likely to occur, comments on the limited attended-observation methodology, and records concerns about transparency and independent verification.

Open earlier peer review PDF

Peer-review extract concerning targeted SAC assessment conditions, transparency and independent verification — Earlier peer-review extract, 10 April 2014: targeted conditions for subjective SAC evaluations, transparency of methodology and independent verification of conclusions.

Stage 1 chronology

Stage 1 documentary record — Elaine

The Stage 1 Elaine report records unattended compliance monitoring at K15aa, H18aa and L18aa between 9 March 2021 and 13 May 2021. For those three Elaine compliance monitoring locations, Appendix D records attended listening surveys dated only 9 March 2021, 10 March 2021, 31 March 2021 and 11 June 2021. These are the only attended listening surveys for K15aa, H18aa and L18aa recorded in the Stage 1 report. The 11 June 2021 survey occurred after unattended compliance monitoring had concluded on 13 May 2021; accordingly, no operational monitoring data from the Stage 1 monitoring period is available for comparison with those observations.

Within the Elaine section, Appendix D also records an attended survey at Location 4 — Horsehill Road, which is separately reproduced below. Appendix D additionally includes attended listening surveys from the separate Yendon section of the wind farm. Those Yendon observations are not observations at the Elaine compliance monitoring locations, and the Stage 1 Elaine report contains no corresponding Yendon unattended monitoring data against which they can be compared.

9 Mar 2021Monitoring begins / daytime observations

10 Mar 2021Attended observations

31 Mar 2021Further attended observations

13 May 2021Monitoring period concludes

11 Jun 2021Appendix D observations / no corresponding Stage 1 monitoring data

Stage 1 timing note

The reproduced Stage 1 Appendix D records for the Elaine compliance monitoring locations comprise attended listening surveys dated 9 March 2021, 10 March 2021, 31 March 2021 and 11 June 2021. No additional attended listening surveys for K15aa, H18aa or L18aa are recorded in the Stage 1 report.

The records reproduced on this page do not show an attended listening survey dated during April or May 2021, and do not show a night-time attended observation set for the Elaine compliance monitoring locations. The 11 June 2021 observations occurred after unattended compliance monitoring concluded on 13 May 2021, and therefore have no corresponding operational monitoring data from that monitoring period.

Appendix D separately records an attended survey at Location 4 — Horsehill Road and also includes attended listening surveys from the Yendon section. The Yendon surveys concern locations outside the Elaine compliance monitoring locations, and the Stage 1 Elaine report does not include corresponding Yendon unattended monitoring data. They are therefore identified as part of the contents of Appendix D but are not treated on this page as Elaine compliance monitoring observations. This page records the documentary chronology and compares the mandatory NCTP procedure with the observations reported for the Elaine compliance monitoring locations.

Analytical figure provenance

Development of the AEMO analytical figures

The annotated AEMO figures reproduced on this page were developed progressively during the Trustee’s documentary reconciliation. The initial analytical figures compared the attended observation times recorded in Appendix D with the publicly available AEMO wind energy production record and identified the periods during which the wind farm was not shown as producing electricity.

Following the Lal Lal Wind Farm Public Information Session, Gustaf Reuterswärd explained that the attended survey times should also be considered in light of the one-hour difference between Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time (AEDT), under which the surveys were undertaken, and Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), which he believed was used by the AEMO operational record.

The analytical figures were subsequently revised to identify both the recorded survey times and the corresponding one-hour daylight saving adjustment discussed during the information session. The underlying AEMO production traces were not altered. The additional annotations are included solely to assist readers in comparing the source records and the later public explanation.

5. Stage 1 monitoring period

Table 3 of the Stage 1 report records the monitoring period for K15aa, H18aa and L18aa as 9 March 2021 to 13 May 2021, with approximately 54 days of monitoring.

Stage 1 report Table 3 showing monitoring period from 9 March 2021 to 13 May 2021 — Stage 1 report extract: Table 3 measurement details for each location.

6. Location 4 — Horsehill Road and 10 March 2021 timing

Appendix D records an attended listening survey at Location 4 — Horsehill Road on 10 March 2021 between approximately 5:30 am and 7:00 am. Within the Elaine section of Appendix D, Location 4 is the only attended survey location reproduced in addition to the three compliance monitoring locations K15aa, H18aa and L18aa.

The annotated figure below places the Location 4 survey record beside the publicly available AEMO wind energy production trace for 10 March 2021. The earlier analytical version identified the recorded survey times against the periods when the wind farm was not shown as producing electricity. Following the Public Information Session, the figure was revised to also mark the one-hour relationship between Australian Eastern Standard Time and Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time discussed by Gustaf Reuterswärd. The underlying AEMO production trace is unchanged.

Public explanation of the 10 March 2021 survey

During the Public Information Session, Gustaf Reuterswärd addressed the attended survey undertaken on 10 March 2021 and its relationship to the operational record. The following excerpt is reproduced as part of the documentary record so it can be considered together with the Appendix D survey entry and the annotated AEMO comparison below.

Gustaf Reuterswärd during the SLR Public Information Session: public explanation relating to the 10 March 2021 attended survey and its relationship to the operational record.

Documentary use: This recording is included because it relates specifically to the 10 March 2021 attended survey reproduced in Appendix D. It is presented alongside the survey record and analytical comparison so readers can compare Gustaf Reuterswärd’s public explanation with the underlying documentary material.

Annotated comparison of the Location 4 Horsehill Road attended survey and AEMO wind energy production on 10 March 2021, including AEST and daylight saving time references — Documentary analytical reconstruction: Location 4 — Horsehill Road survey record and AEMO wind energy production for 10 March 2021. Following the Public Information Session, the figure was revised to add the corresponding Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time positions discussed by Gustaf Reuterswärd; the underlying AEMO production trace is unchanged.

7. H18aa – Midland Highway observation

Appendix D includes an observation recorded as “H18aa – Midland Hwy” on 10 March 2021. Figure 3 — Attended listening observation locations map, reproduced above, identifies H18aa and illustrates its approximate geographical relationship to the Midland Highway reference used in that observation record.

Stage 1 Appendix D extract showing H18aa Midland Hwy attended listening observation — Stage 1 Appendix D extract: H18aa – Midland Hwy observation.

8. Appendix D grouped observations for K15aa, H18aa and L18aa

The extracts below reproduce the grouped Stage 1 Appendix D attended observations for K15aa, H18aa and L18aa. They show daytime observation groupings on 9 March, 10 March and 31 March 2021.

Stage 1 Appendix D extract showing K15aa attended listening observations in March 2021 — Stage 1 Appendix D extract: K15aa observations dated 9 March, 10 March and 31 March 2021.

Stage 1 Appendix D extract showing H18aa attended listening observations in March 2021 — Stage 1 Appendix D extract: H18aa observations dated 9 March, 10 March and 31 March 2021.

Stage 1 Appendix D extract showing L18aa attended listening observations in March 2021 — Stage 1 Appendix D extract: L18aa observations dated 9 March, 10 March and 31 March 2021.

9. Appendix D observations dated 11 June 2021

Appendix D also includes attended observations dated 11 June 2021. Those observations occurred after the Stage 1 unattended compliance monitoring period recorded in Table 3 had concluded on 13 May 2021. Accordingly, no operational monitoring data from the Stage 1 monitoring period is available for comparison with the 11 June 2021 observations. This page records that documentary chronology and does not infer the reason for the later survey date.

Stage 1 Appendix D extract showing attended listening observations dated 11 June 2021 — Stage 1 Appendix D extract: observations dated 11 June 2021.

Public explanation

Gustaf Reuterswärd’s explanation of attended observation timing

Public Information Session

Q&A – Part B of Question 1 (commencing at 52:40)

During the SLR Public Information Session, Gustaf Reuterswärd responded to a question concerning the attended observations undertaken on 10 March 2021 and 31 March 2021 and their relationship to the AEMO operational record.

Gustaf explained that the 10 March 2021 attended observations occurred during a period of low cut-in wind speed, with contemporaneous survey notes recording slow turbine rotation and a faint audible hum.
Gustaf stated that the 31 March 2021 attended observations also occurred during a low wind speed period.
Gustaf explained there was likely a one-hour discrepancy between the survey times and the AEMO operational data because the survey was undertaken during Australian Daylight Saving Time, whereas the AEMO data was believed to be displayed in Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Gustaf stated that it was likely the turbines were operating, albeit at a low level, during the relevant attended observations.

Record note: This explanation should be read together with the record's analytical reconstruction and the underlying documentary material. It provides Gustaf Reuterswärd’s public explanation of the timing relationship discussed during the information session.

Gustaf Reuterswärd during the SLR Public Information Session: explanation of the 31 March 2021 attended observations, timing and operational data.

Read Transcript

10. Record analytical reconstruction — 31 March 2021

This annotated figure compares the attended listening times reproduced in the Stage 1 post-construction report with the publicly available wind energy production record for 31 March 2021. The earlier analytical version identified the recorded survey times against the periods when the wind farm was not shown as producing electricity. Following the Public Information Session, the figure was revised to also illustrate the corresponding one-hour daylight saving adjustment discussed by Gustaf Reuterswärd. The underlying AEMO production trace is unchanged.

Annotated wind energy production graph for 31 March 2021 comparing AEMO operational data with attended listening times at K15aa, H18aa and L18aa — Documentary analytical reconstruction: attended listening times compared with the AEMO wind energy production record for 31 March 2021. Following the Public Information Session, the figure was revised to add the corresponding daylight saving time positions discussed by Gustaf Reuterswärd; the underlying AEMO production trace is unchanged.

Stage 2 chronology

Stage 2 documentary record

The Stage 2 material records extended monitoring at some locations into January 2024 and includes additional locations not used as the original Elaine compliance monitoring locations, including J14aa, L14aa and Elaine Intermediate. This page records those locations as they appear in the disclosed documentary material.

11. Stage 2 monitoring periods

Table 6 records monitoring periods for locations including N31ab and M29aa extending into January 2024, while other Elaine locations are recorded for March to May / June 2023 periods.

Stage 2 Table 6 showing measurement details and monitoring periods — Stage 2 extract: Table 6 measurement details for each location.

12. Stage 2 attended observation record

The image below reproduces the final page of the disclosed Stage 2 attended-observation appendix. The final attended observations reproduced in the appendix are dated 1 June 2023. This image is included to identify the documentary endpoint of the disclosed attended observation record.

Documentary chronology: Table 6 above records monitoring continuing beyond 1 June 2023 for some locations, including the extended monitoring periods highlighted for N31ab and M29aa. The disclosed attended-observation appendix reproduced in the report concludes with observations dated 1 June 2023. This page records that documentary chronology only.

Final page of Stage 2 attended observation appendix showing observations dated 1 June 2023 — Stage 2 Appendix extract: final page of the disclosed attended observation record, with final observations dated 1 June 2023.

Stage 2 chronology

28 March 2023 — recorded observations and contemporaneous occupier record

The disclosed Stage 2 attended-observation appendix records the following sequence on 28 March 2023:

Location	Recorded commencement	Recorded conclusion	Recorded observer
H18aa	11:30 am	11:40 am	MB
L18aa	11:55 am	12:15 pm	MB
K15aa	12:30 pm	1:00 pm	MB
Elaine Intermediate	2:00 pm	2:20 pm	Not identified in the reproduced row

Separately, the occupier of L18aa retained a screenshot of a text message and photograph timestamped 12:45 pm on Tuesday, 28 March. The message records the occupier's concern that a person had entered the property without consent or notification. The photograph shows a vehicle within the property as recorded by the occupier.

The 12:45 pm timestamp falls within the period recorded in the Stage 2 appendix for the K15aa attended observation, from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm. The screenshot and appendix extract are reproduced together so readers can compare the two contemporaneous records.

Documentary use: The screenshot records the occupier's contemporaneous communication and is presented as supplied. The image does not, by itself, identify the driver or establish who entered the property. This section does not determine whether the attended observations were undertaken as recorded and makes no finding concerning access authority, compliance or professional conduct.

13. Stage 2 attended-observation sequence — 28 March 2023

The appendix extract records observations at H18aa, L18aa, K15aa and Elaine Intermediate. It records L18aa from 11:55 am to 12:15 pm and K15aa from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm.

Stage 2 attended-observation extract showing recorded observations at H18aa, L18aa, K15aa and Elaine Intermediate on 28 March 2023 — Stage 2 attended-observation extract: recorded sequence on 28 March 2023.

14. Contemporaneous occupier message and photograph — 12:45 pm

The supplied screenshot records a text message and photograph timestamped 12:45 pm on 28 March 2023. The message records the occupier's concern about entry onto the property without consent or notification.

Screenshot of a contemporaneous occupier text message and photograph timestamped 12:45 pm on 28 March 2023 — Contemporaneous occupier record supplied for documentary comparison with the Stage 2 observation chronology.

Stage 2 chronology

Recorded observation sequence and mapped travel times

The disclosed Stage 2 attended-observation record documents the following sequence of observations undertaken on 4 April 2023 by the Senior Acoustician identified in the appendix as GR.

Location	Recorded commencement	Recorded conclusion	Interval before next observation
K15aa	5:40 am	5:55 am	10 minutes before L18aa commenced
L18aa	6:05 am	6:20 am	10 minutes before L28aa commenced
L28aa	6:30 am	6:45 am	—

The accompanying mapping extracts indicate approximate driving times of 6 minutes between K15aa and L18aa and 14 minutes between L18aa and L28aa.

The recorded chronology therefore allows 10 minutes between the conclusion of the L18aa observation at 6:20 am and the commencement of the L28aa observation at 6:30 am. That interval would also encompass activities ordinarily associated with completing one attended observation and commencing another, including concluding the listening assessment, recording field notes, returning to the vehicle, travelling between locations, parking and commencing the subsequent observation.

Documentary use: The figures below reproduce the recorded observation times and publicly available mapped travel times so readers can compare the documented sequence. This section does not determine whether the observations were or were not undertaken as recorded, and does not make a finding concerning compliance, professional conduct or the accuracy of the report.

15. Stage 2 attended-observation times — 4 April 2023

The appendix extract records observations at K15aa from 5:40 am to 5:55 am, L18aa from 6:05 am to 6:20 am, and L28aa from 6:30 am to 6:45 am.

Stage 2 attended-observation extract showing recorded times at K15aa, L18aa and L28aa on 4 April 2023 — Stage 2 attended-observation extract: recorded times at K15aa, L18aa and L28aa on 4 April 2023.

16. K15aa to L18aa

The mapping extract records an approximate driving time of 6 minutes between the two locations.

Mapped driving route between K15aa and L18aa showing an approximate travel time of 6 minutes — Public mapping extract: approximate driving time from K15aa to L18aa — 6 minutes.

17. L18aa to L28aa

The mapping extract records an approximate driving time of 14 minutes between the two locations.

Mapped driving route between L18aa and L28aa showing an approximate travel time of 14 minutes — Public mapping extract: approximate driving time from L18aa to L28aa — 14 minutes.

18. Elaine Intermediate — two attended-observation references to a logger

The Stage 2 attended-observation appendix contains two separate entries for Elaine Intermediate that refer to a logger at that location.

For 28 March 2023, the appendix records an attended observation from 2:00 pm to 2:20 pm and states that some wind turbines were in hunting mode and were inaudible at the logger location.

For 12 May 2023, the appendix records an attended observation from 11:00 am to 11:25 am, identifies MB as the observer, and includes the note: “Found a frog on the logger when arrived.”

The two entries are reproduced together below so readers can see the separate dated references to a logger at Elaine Intermediate. The Stage 2 Elaine map reproduced in the report does not identify the location named “Elaine Intermediate”. For that reason, the approximate location is shown using the later On / Off Testing report solely as a map reference for the named location. The On / Off report is not otherwise relied upon in this section.

Stage 2 extracts showing two separate Elaine Intermediate attended observations referring to a logger on 28 March and 12 May 2023 — Stage 2 Appendix extracts: Elaine Intermediate observations dated 28 March 2023 and 12 May 2023, each referring to a logger at the location.

On Off report map showing approximate Elaine Intermediate location — Map reference only: later On / Off Testing report showing the approximate Elaine Intermediate location. This later map is used because the Stage 2 Elaine map does not identify the location named “Elaine Intermediate”.

Supplementary pathway

Supplementary procedures and regulatory context

NCTP reporting of supplementary procedures

The NCTP required compliance reports to include full details of any supplementary procedures adopted as part of conducting the compliance assessment.

EPA Regulations context

The Environment Protection Amendment (Wind Turbine Noise) Regulations 2022 distinguish alternative monitoring points from post-construction noise assessments. This extract is included only to orient readers to the regulatory wording.

19. NCTP supplementary-procedure reporting requirement

The NCTP required compliance reports to include full details of any supplementary procedures adopted as part of conducting the compliance assessment.

NCTP extract showing requirement to report supplementary procedures — NCTP extract: reporting of supplementary procedures adopted as part of the compliance assessment.

20. EPA Regulations — alternative monitoring point context

This extract identifies the regulatory wording concerning alternative monitoring points and post-construction noise assessments.

EPA Regulations extract relating to alternative monitoring points and post-construction noise assessment — EPA Regulations extract: alternative monitoring point provision and post-construction noise assessment wording.

Verification comparison

Documentary comparison

Verification question: Does the disclosed documentary record enable readers to verify that the mandatory Special Audible Characteristic assessment requirements of the Noise Compliance Testing Plan were undertaken and documented in accordance with the endorsed methodology?

Issue	Stage 1 Elaine report	Stage 2 report
Monitoring period	Recorded for K15aa, H18aa and L18aa from 9 March 2021 to 13 May 2021.	Recorded for multiple locations, including N31ab and M29aa extending into January 2024.
Attended observations	Appendix D records attended surveys at K15aa, H18aa and L18aa on the four dates identified above, together with Location 4 — Horsehill Road and other named locations. It does not report an attended observation near the turbines.	Appendix material reproduces selected attended observations including M29aa, H18aa, Elaine Intermediate and K15aa.
Additional / intermediate locations	Within the Elaine section, Location 4 — Horsehill Road is the only additional attended survey location recorded apart from K15aa, H18aa and L18aa. Appendix D also includes observations associated with Yendon.	Introduces additional locations including J14aa, L14aa and Elaine Intermediate.
Geographical context	Annotated material assists readers to understand the Location 4 and H18aa — Midland Highway references, the 10 March AEMO timing comparison and the relationship to the nearest turbines.	Later On / Off report map is used solely to identify the approximate Elaine Intermediate location.

Evidentiary limit: This page records what appears in the disclosed documents. It does not determine compliance, non-compliance, causation, liability or regulatory findings.

Purpose

Why this page exists

This page reproduces and explains the documentary record relating to Special Audible Characteristics. It assists readers in understanding the approved Noise Compliance Test Plan, the attended listening observations reproduced within the disclosed reports, and the chronology of those documents.

The page is intended as an explanatory guide to the documentary record. It does not seek to draw conclusions beyond the documents reproduced and described.

Source documents

Primary documents and further reading

This page is a guide. The detailed record remains in the executed documents and source material.

Why attended observations matter

Listening forms part of the methodology

Unlike sound level measurements alone, the assessment of Special Audible Characteristics requires attended observations because some sound characteristics are initially identified through listening before any further objective assessment is undertaken where necessary.

Related technical pathway

Pre-construction assessment and SAC

The pre-construction assessment and earlier peer-review record provides context for how Special Audible Characteristics were considered before later operational observations and objective analysis.

Open pre-construction pathway

Subsequent procedural record

26 July 2026 professional clarification opportunity

Special Audible Characteristics, attended observations, monitoring locations and statements concerning what occurred during assessment activities were among the matters included in the Trustee's later procedural-fairness Notice to the SLR Technical Director. The response status is recorded in Operational Correspondence.

Open procedural record

Government and regulatory record

Agency Records

The record includes a public gateway to the documentary records of EPA Victoria, the Department of Transport and Planning, Moorabool Shire Council and the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner. Agency pages present the correspondence, Freedom of Information material and source documents currently available within the record.

Open Agency Records