“This is a heavy demolition and new build project, which involves extensive noisy works like piling, concrete cutting and running generators in close proximity to shops, offices and residential areas.
We have to allow the existing shopping centre to continue trading without affecting customers, tenants and their employees,” said Simon Lyster, Westfield Design and Construction’s Risk Manager for the Macquarie Centre. “So a main priority is that we don’t cause disruption, or where we have to, we work closely with those affected to minimise disruption.”
To mitigate the noise and lessen disruption, Simon took a two-pronged approach, adopting new, smarter work methods and using the echo barrier noise reduction system. Simon explains that the results have been extremely positive. “Initially, the extensive works were creating a lot of noise and disrupting day-to-day operations in the centre – for one shop in particular whose wall backed up to our work site; however, since installing the echo barriers, we haven’t received a complaint from them.
That combined with the identification and use of some different work processes has paid dividends for us.” The benefits of using a temporary noise barrier system like echo barrier are two-fold, Simon said: they offer a versatile and simple solution to protecting the surrounding community from noise disruption; and they also add another dimension to demonstrating corporate responsibility, which Simon and Westfield Design and Construction feel is very important. “I have been able to get quite a bit of use out of them because they are easy to put up and pull down as necessary,” he said. “We have used the same 40 echo barrier panels in various locations across the site, such as on hoardings and windows to decrease the effect on shops and on temporary rooftop fences where glass covered board rooms and offices are located,” he explained.
“To protect the surrounding residents from noise coming from night works, I put the barriers in a transportable horseshoe around plant and equipment every night, and it certainly helped. Without the barriers, we wouldn’t have been able complete work on the same timetable,” Simon said.
Because the barriers are quick and easy to install and remove, Simon has been able to adapt their use as project requirements change, ultimately keeping business owners, customers and surrounding residents happy. “Keeping the stakeholders happy is our lifeblood.
Relationships are massively important to us, and systems like echo barrier are imperative to be able to demonstrate our dedication to the surrounding community and our stakeholders.”