Unwanted music from outdoor events is considered a form of noise pollution which presents a unique set of challenges for regulators when compared to other environmental noise sources. Unlike noise generated by sources such as transport or industry where lower levels are always desirable, there is a minimum level of music below which patron experience will be unacceptable. The challenge for regulators therefore lies in balancing the need for entertainment, against the impacts of outdoor music on the surrounding population. Regulators and organisers of outdoor music festivals in rural environments are generally required to comply with receiver-based noise limits in noise catchments which range from very low backgrounds to those which may have dominant natural or transportation noise. With this in mind, this paper describes the approach undertaken to develop a practical and realistic set of noise objectives for a music festival site on the north coast of NSW, Australia.
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