Neighbourly love

Major ports all over the world face a similar problem – how to get on with the neighbours. Dave MacIntyre investigates
Major ports all over the world face a similar problem – how to get on with the neighbours. The answer, judging by Australasian port examples, is to bring the residents on board with consultation in solving issues such as noise.


And as far as future planning issues are concerned, the sooner the residents are involved, the more harmonious the relationship.


The core problem is historical. Ports were the gateway to newly-developed towns and cities, which sprouted around navigable waterways and safe harbours. The trouble is that now, the surrounding land is often the most valuable real estate in the city and residents with water views don’t like the noise and disturbance associated with a working port.


Moreover, the community is now more informed, with access to the Internet and social media, and has high expectations regarding information transparency.


Sydney Ports’ general manager Safety Security & Environment, Shane Hobday, speaking to the International Association of Ports and Harbours conference in Auckland recently, summarised Sydney’s situation by saying that traditionally, the port was the centre of the city. That role has now reversed with container and car trades moved out to distant terminals.


But communities have also spread further, and followed the ports to outlying suburbs.


Sydney is an example of how a port has taken community liaison to a high level, with at least seven consultative groups, including ones for Port Botany and the Enfield inland freight hub. These meet on a regular basis to discuss items pertaining to sustainable development, community amenities, neighbourhood and traffic matters.


Consultation has led to some major initiatives. For example, Sydney Ports is in the final stages of constructing the site for the new A$1bn (US$1.1bn) Third Terminal at Port Botany which involves 60 hectares of reclaimed land and the provision of an additional five deep water shipping berths.


Construction of the terminal began in July 2008 and Sydney Ports established a Community Consultative Committee in September 2006 to deal with construction-related matters that could potentially impact on the environment and the local community.


Out of this came a $30m Community Enhancement Package which included the construction of a new four-lane boat ramp, pedestrian overpass, look out, pathways and other facilities.


Throughout Australasia, several ports have had to make the port-city relationship a central plank of their strategy. In Brisbane for example, the port at Fisherman Islands is located at the mouth of Brisbane River, five kilometres from its nearest residential neighbours.


Its Community Consultative Committee is supported by initiatives such as sponsorships, providing financial support for a range of educational and environmental undertakings, further binding the port and community together.


Port of Melbourne Corporation head of corporate relations Peter Harry says that as Australia's largest container port operating in an urban environment, Melbourne has established Community Relations Team to handle resident enquiries and complaints, including an out-of-hours service.


“Noise complaints are rare, but they can be complex. As a strategic port manager rather than a port operator, our approach is to raise the matter with the port service provider or tenant and to encourage a resolution of the issue directly with the complainant,” he says.


“PoMC also places a great deal of emphasis on working to a 'no surprises' approach with local community stakeholders to inform them of progress on infrastructure projects, planning, port development, road closures, and access. Community liaison and prior notification of works is an important component of our project planning and delivery.”


This 'prior notification' approach is particularly important for public interface areas including Melbourne's cruise ship terminal, given that the historic pier is necessarily closed to the public on days when a cruise ship calls.


On the other side of the Tasman, Ports of Auckland established a 24/7 feedback line so anyone with a view on port activities can call.


“It gets logged and notified and we have some KPIs for responses. Through that process the traditionally-dominant feedback relates to noise emanating from the port,” says acting senior communications manager Craig Dowling.


Follow-ups to complaints have produced innovative solutions.


“One of the areas identified was noise emanating from 4,100-teu container vessels, for which the complaints were addressed in a number of ways. We did our own measuring of the noise and we determined one way to mitigate it was to berth the vessels bow-south. But that was only able to be done dependent on tide and other safety issues … we also worked with the shipping companies about it,” says Mr Dowling.


“Another type of noise comes about through the use of alarms on our straddle carriers and cranes. The ambient noise from the streets dies down at that time, so the apparent noise from the port operations is heard more even though it is not any louder. It was established the alarm noise could be turned down at night and still be within health and safety standards.”


Port Otago is also close to the town and has a Port Environment and Liaison Committee, including representatives from the community and a director from Port Otago, meeting every six weeks.


Like Nelson (see panel) Otago works to noise provisions under the district plan, which requires the port to carry out acoustic treatment for properties that are adversely affected by noise from port operations. The properties are split into three zones - those receiving 65 dBA on a five-day rolling average basis, then 60-65 dBA and 55-60 dBA.


Also like Nelson, Otago has spent about NZ$1m (US$782,000) over about four or five years.


Chief executive Geoff Plunket says that while agreement with the neighbours is not always possible, the port must understand what they are thinking — “If we are irritating the local community we need to understand how and why we are doing it and look seriously at finding ways of mitigating that.”


The Port of Napier too works to strict requirements identified by the Napier City Council District Plan. Commercial manager Chris Bain says the port recently implemented real-time noise-monitoring equipment.


“As our operations increase, we have to continually look at what noise is being emitted and make necessary changes - it could be as simple as having no reversing beepers on vehicles. When buying new equipment we increasingly look at noise suppression, such as having mufflers on tugs etc.”
(Source:http://www.portstrategy.com)