i'm not really sure what a "sound wall" is exactly. but the mining operators like to spit out that phrase as though it's the solution to the noise problem when i'm not really sure how effective those things are. i guess each situation has to be evaluated on a case by case basis to see if the sound level is acceptable for people that live nearby. but to me, any noise at all that can still be heard decreases the quality of life of those residents and i am sure they feel the same way. unless you can eliminate 100% of the noise then it's still going to bother some people.
Fairly effective. Construction sites often erect a sound wall to reduce the noise, trains often have a sound wall to reduce the noise from train tracks, etc. Depending on the distances, it should reduce or eliminate the noise. It's kind of like a noise dampener. People do still live near airports or industrial areas so I don't think noise complaints is an entirely new issue.
I would go beyond 'fairly' to 'very' yes it's subjective but done properly they could probably take something like a mining farm and cut the noise level down to where you don't even know it there. Trains / roadways / other loud things have been using them for years.
Probably does not matter in the long run. If they didn't put one in to start I can't see them spending the $ to put in a properly engineered one. And since they live in an area that obviously does not care about protecting the people that live there I can't see them being forced to.
But, as I said above, we are only hearing about it because it's
BTC Had it been The DaveF & ranochigo Jet Engine Repair Company, it probably would not have even made the news.
-Dave