Dzhankeldy Wind Power Project

Table 7-58 Residual Significance of Proliferation
R
ECEPTOR
 
V
ALUE
/
 
S
ENSITIVITY
 
M
AGNITUDE
 
R
ESIDUAL
 
Endangered Birds
Very High 
Negligible 
Minor 
Threatened Birds
High 
Negligible 
Minor 

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R
ECEPTOR
 
V
ALUE
/
 
S
ENSITIVITY
 
M
AGNITUDE
 
R
ESIDUAL
 
Nationally Threatened Birds
Medium 
Negligible 
Negligible to 
minor 
Non-threatened Birds 
Medium 
Negligible 
Negligible to 
minor 
Threatened Mammals
High 
Negligible 
Minor 
Nationally Threatened Mammals
Medium 
Negligible 
Negligible to 
minor 
Non-threatened Mammals (Carnivores) 
Low / Lower 
Negligible 
Negligible to 
minor 
Non-threatened Mammals (Non-
carnivores) 
Low / Lower 
Negligible 
Negligible to 
minor 
Southern Even-fingered Gecko 
Very High 
Negligible 
Minor 
Threatened Herptiles
High 
Negligible 
Minor 
Nationally Important Herptiles
Medium 
Negligible 
Negligible to 
minor 
Non-threatened Herptiles & 
Invertebrates 
Low / Lower 
Negligible 
Negligible to 
minor 
7.3.2.4
Environmental Quality 
N
OISE 
 
Operational noise created by the rotation of the turbines and power generator can cause 
acoustic masking, disturbance and displacement, and general reduction in survivorship and 
reproductive success in a variety of fauna. Most impacted are typically acoustic 
communicators such as bird and bat species. 
The noise studies undertaken for the project site found that existing ambient noise in the overall 
project location is mostly driven by wind.
 
At daytime wind speeds of 2 m/s, the typical ambient background noise is 
measured at <20 dB, whilst at wind speeds of 10 m/s the typical levels were 
approximately 40 dB.
 
At night-time wind speeds of 2 m/s the typical ambient background noise was 
measured >20 dB, whilst at wind speeds of 10 m/s the typical levels were 
approximately 30 dB or lower.
Noise modelling assessment results indicate that modelled receptors, the closest of which is 
located 500m away from the nearest turbine, will be exposed to an increase in noise as follows: 
 
Day/night average existing baseline levels of 
37/22 may increase to 
37.5 dB when 
turbines are spinning at 5 m/s. 
 
Day/night average existing baseline levels of 
37/22 may increase to 
47.9 dB when 
turbines are spinning at 10 m/s. 

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Although the increase in ambient noise is major with higher wind speeds, the resultant effects 
on wildlife may be less pronounced. For one, the characteristic of the noise is not intermittent, 
as it will gradually build up and decrease depending on wind speed, rather than cause short, 
sporadic sounds. Wildlife have been known to habituate to stable conditions, which can 
include high ambient operational noise.
Studies show that wildlife behaviour is impacted at dB levels of 40, but this is in contrast to lower 
background levels. As higher wind speeds are correlated with naturally occurring noise levels 
of 40 dB and higher, it is not anticipated that the addition of operational turbine noise will be 
significant on biodiversity.
The magnitude and unmitigated significance calculations are presented in the table below.