ROAD TO NOISY HELL
VIETNAM War vet Bill Ward cannot have a barbecue on a windy day without having to raise his voice at friends.
Mr Ward bought a leafy block in Pacific Pines 25 years ago when few others lived there. He said the M1 did not even exist. It does now and it is driving him nuts – more than one kilometre away from his house.
Mr Ward says he is woken up at 4 o’clock each morning as the daily grind up the Pacific Motorway roars to life.
He wants the State Government to build a soundwall on the Gaven section of the M1 to stop the noisy vacuum of hell, but says authorities do not want to know because he is not considered a “priority”.
BILL Ward wants to build a wall. A small wall.
The Gold Coast retiree cannot have a barbecue on a windy day without having to raise his voice at friends.
Mr Ward bought a leafy block in Antipodes Close, Pacific Pines, 25 years ago when no one else lived there. He said the M1 did not even exist. It does now and it is driving him nuts — more than one kilometre away from his house.
The Vietnam veteran says he is waken at 4 o’clock each morning as the daily grind up the Pacific Motorway roars to life.
He believes the height of the M1, the concrete surfacing along the Gaven strip and the lack of sound barriers are creating a noisy vacuum of hell — and he says authorities do not want to know because he is not considered “priority”.
“When we built here in 1995, Heslop Road was the highway and was a good five metres lower than the highway that is there now.
“They have fencing along Heslop (Rd), but again because it was for the original road it is too low.
“You invite people around for a barbecue when the westerly isn’t blowing and you have to raise your voice.
“All I want is a soundwall.” He wants it built behind Bunnings which backs on to the M1.
Mr Ward said noise from the M1 was 73 decibels at the front of his house, well over the 68 decibel limit in the Transport and Main Roads Code of Practice.
“It is always screaming on a quiet day or when the easterly wind is blowing,” he said.
Mr Ward says he has approached the State’s Main Roads department numerous times, as well as local MPs and council representatives.
“I have gotten standard responses for years. The department came out to visit once but I am too low on the priority list.
“The thing that gets me is they hang their hats on the standards. I don’t give a damn about the bare minimum, I want to be able to enjoy outside.”
Mr Ward said he was also concerned about the impact the noise had on the price of his home.
“I would only be able to sell it when there is a westerly blowing,” he laughed.
Gold Coast acoustic engineer Sasho Teneikoski said: “Concrete is one of the noisier road surfaces and can increase the sound by up to five decibels.
The ATP Consulting director said. there was usually a high level of noise around Pacific Highway, particularly when portions of the road were elevated.
“We find noise barriers that have been used for more than 20 years might need an upgrade as there could be sufficient timber shrinkage, material damage or vandalism.”
State Member for Theodore Mark Boothman said he often received complaints from residents about noise from the M1.
“I can understand why people aren't happy,” he said. “We do need to see more sound walls installed along the highway.”
Transport and Main Roads did not reply to a request for comment.