21 A ugust 2008 C hapter 22- N oise These adverse effects of noise could include: • Sleep disturbance; • Stress; • Disturbance and stress related health problems; • Disruption of speech and hearing; • Interference with concentration; • Disturbance with relaxation; and • Reduction of amenity values. 22.3 Objectives and Policies Objective 1 To avoid, remedy and mitigate the adverse effects of unreasonable noise, while allowing for reasonable noise associated with port activities. Policy 1.1 Avoid, remedy and mitigate community disturbance, disruption or interference by noise within coastal, rural, and urban areas. Policy 1.2 Include techniques to avoid the emission of excessive or unreasonable noises within the design of any proposal for the development or use of resources. Policy 1.3 Accommodate inherently noisy activities and processes which are ancillary to normal activities within industrial, port and rural areas. Policy 1.4 Accommodate defined transport corridors by requiring methods to mitigate the adverse effects of noise caused by vehicle movement. Policy 1.5 Recognise that residential activity adjoining port and rail facilities can be subject to higher noise levels than would normally be experienced, and that resulting effects may be justified in certain circumstances. Policy 1.6 At Picton and Havelock, recognise that the residential settlement is built up around existing port and rail facilities, whose effective and efficient operations need to be provided for by allowing for noise limits at existing levels of noise. Residential areas have noise levels that create an amenity value conducive to rest, relaxation and sleep. Commercial and industrial areas have amenity values which are noisier than residential areas but still require limitations on unreasonable noise. The noise from some processes in industrial areas cannot be avoided. At Havelock and Picton, the port areas have played an integral part in the development of the towns. This historic close association between place of work and living has led to the current land use pattern where residential properties are often very close to port areas. Port areas are vital for the economic wellbeing of the community, and residential activities adjoining the port may have amenity values compromised by noise arising from these existing activities. 22- 3