A HUNTER mine has been slapped with a $15,000 fine for excessive noise at night two days after it raised the alarm with the watchdog.
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The NSW Environment Protection Authority said the fine, issued to Wambo Coal Pty Ltd over an alleged three-decibel breach in September last year, was a reminder to all operators to make sure they didn't disturb neighbours with noise.
EPA executive director regulatory operations Carmen Dwyer said the mine reported the exceedance.
"Follow-up monitoring two nights later showed that Wambo was continuing to exceed the noise limits set out in their environment protection licence," Ms Dwyer said.
"They did not take sufficient steps to shut down equipment to mitigate noise, which is very concerning considering their heavy machinery did not have noise reduction equipment fitted."
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Eight noise alarms were recorded between 9pm and midnight on September 10, two nights after the initial breach.
"Noise limits are set to provide protection for the community and the EPA takes any breaches of these conditions extremely seriously," Ms Dwyer said.
The mine was warned for its September 8 breach and fined over the September 10 noise levels.
An exceedance of three to five decibels is considered to have a moderate impact on residents, according to state government noise assessment criteria for state significant mining.
Independent consultants are required to monitor open cut mines in the Hunter monthly. The mines are also required to install real-time monitoring devices that warn when sound approaches the set limits.
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