AUSTRALIAN coal miner Mount Thorley Warkworth will be the first to trial a cutting-edge noise monitoring system that would allow effective real time noise control management.
The miner is part of the Rio Tinto Group producing both thermal and cooking coal in New South Wales for international export.
The new directional noise monitoring system will be installed in the southern area of New South Wales in the coming weeks to assist with monitoring and managing noise from the mine.
It will uses an array of 26 microphones and advanced acoustic signal processing methods to detect and assess multiple noise sources in real time with greater accuracy.
Mount Thorley Warkworth general manager operations Cam Halfpenny said: “We are continually looking to improve the way in which we manage our activities, and we’re proud to be the first mine to utilise this new technology.
“We understand noise can be an issue for some of our neighbours.
“Investing in this cutting-edge technology is another demonstration of our commitment to continuous improvement and effective noise management.
Coal & Allied NSW Environmental Services manager Andrew Speechly said: “The new monitoring system will allow Mount Thorley Warkworth to be more effective in its real time management of noise by measuring the sound energy of mining activities as they happen and respond accordingly.
“Following commissioning, noise monitoring data will be fed back to Mount Thorley Warkworth operational staff in real time.
“Noise alarms will be established to alert the operation of elevated noise levels, which will be responded to in the same way as for our existing noise monitoring network, including relocating equipment and, in some cases, shutting down equipment.
“This initiative compliments other measures applied at Coal & Allied operations to better manage impacts on the community including shutdowns and machinery modifications like the installation of ‘quackers’ that operate at a lower frequency, reducing the long distance audibility of trucks reversing.”