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Sound Walls

Sound walls provide noise mitigation to properties abutting main roads and freeways.

VicRoads investigates traffic noise levels during road planning, and considers nearby homes, hospitals, motels, schools and libraries. If the limits of VicRoads’ Traffic Noise Reduction Policy are exceeded, noise reduction measures may be needed including low noise road surface, earth mounds or sound walls.

Who is responsible for delivering sound walls?

When a new residential area abutting an existing freeway or main road is developed, it is usually the developer’s responsibility to construct a sound wall if one is needed
When a freeway abutting a residential area is constructed or upgraded, it is usually the State Government’s responsibility to construct a sound wall if one is needed

Silverdale Estate sound wall

Background
Council issued a planning permit for the Silverdale Estate development in 2001. In response to residents’ concerns, Council engaged a consultant in 2018 to carry out a noise assessment which found that the sound wall was likely to cost about $2 million. Council committed to design the Silverdale Estate sound wall project in the 19/20 Council Budget process and allocated $100,000 of Council funds to undertake design and consultation. A further $2.1 million was allocated towards constructing the sound wall in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years. This allocation was to fully fund the project based on project estimates and soundwall construction requirements at the time. Further scoping found that the project would cost an estimated $6.3 million to comply with Department of Transport and Planning standards for soundwalls within freeway corridors.

At its meeting on Monday 20 June 2022, Council decided to remove funding from its budget toward constructing a sound wall between the Western Highway and Silverdale Estate. In 2018, when Council made a decision to allocate $2.1 million towards the project, it did not foresee changes to Department of Transport and Planning requirements to build a sound wall which would increase the cost to approximately $6.3 million. Council is not the responsible authority for building sound walls along freeways. Council is committed to advocating for government investment for soundwalls along freeway corridors in the City of Melton. Residents were advised of Council's decision regarding the Silverdale sound wall via direct mail in August 2022.