Noise
James Bay, at the edge of the tourism district, is home to the BC Legislature grounds, as well as the industrial facilities of Ogden/Camel Point, Fisherman’s Wharf, Canadian Coast Guard, Belleville Terminal ferry facility, and the HMCS Malahat. As such, it is often impacted by noise at levels which interfere with daytime activities and nighttime sleep.
James Bay, the most populous neighbourhood in Victoria, is the residential area most impacted by tourism transportation. The noise experienced varies considerably throughout the neighbourhood, with some residents in sheltered streets receiving little sound disturbances while others can, upon occasion, experience noise levels that can cause hearing damage.
Noise pollution is a Quality of Life issue. JBNA has advocated for the City to adopt the World Health Organization (WHO) Community Noise Guidelines and ensure quiet evening hours.
Cruise Associated Noise
Cruise Ship Noise
Cruise ship engines, on-board entertainment and announcements result in significant noise which can be heard over 1 km away. This noise is often reported to GVHA.
Engine noise and vibration levels are not known.
Cruise Ground Transportation Noise
JBNA advocacy has included:
- presentations at City Council and Committee meetings
- financing and commissioning a transportation-focused acoustics study in 2009, and
- partnering with GVHA to carry out a second noise study in 2011. The findings of this study were presented to City Staff in February 2012. On Dallas Road, transportation noises were found to be roughly doubled when cruise ships were in port.
Measurements showed that residential areas near Ogden Point, the primary focus of cruise tourism, experience community noise levels at, or greater than, the highest levels of acceptable community noise.
Regarding the 2009 findings, a Wakefield Acoustics’ concluding comment was:
“This substantial 3.2 dBA increase in noise levels over 24-hours corresponds, that is, would be equivalent in effect to, roughly a doubling of all transportation noises over the day….”
Further, while in 2000 the helicopter activity was the major contributing source to the high daily noise, the traffic contribution was significant at 57.6 dBA. In 2001, Dallas Road traffic was considered to be the major source contributing 62.3 dBA of the 63.4 dBA ( Ldn = average over 24 hours).
In 2019, the transportation sector is using newer buses which should mean lower noise created, however, the increase in passenger numbers since 2011 has been almost 70%, resulting in more highway bus transportation.
Aircraft Noise
Noise measurements have also been taken of both helicopter and float-plane created noise. In 2000, Wakefield Acoustics assessed helicopter noise along the west side of James Bay. In 2009, JBNA and others recorded aircraft noise created by float-plane operations.
Noise and emissions are discussed in the 2011 “Aerodrome Noise, Emissions & Safety Victoria Harbour” report prepared at the request of local Transport Canada officials and also in the July, 2019 Focus Magazine article.
The report summarizes the aerodrome noise and emissions issues of the past few decades. Extremely high single event level noise levels, noxious smells expected to be VOCs, and gaps in regulatory or oversight responsibility are the main issues.
Entertainment
James Bay has a lively Tourist District, with a comparable number of hotel rooms to downtown, as well as several popular restaurants and bars; both inevitably contribute to occasional night time noise. The Legislative Precinct is the centre for both community events and protests.
Events at GVHA’s Breakwater Barge have been modified to ensure the Barge season is respectful of residents.
City of Victoria Noise Bylaw No, 03-012
The City bylaw is limited since it refers more to intermittent noise than community noise levels and exempts transportation noise.
