NEW ZEALAND: Noise reduction measures taken in dairy factory

Action taken to quieten down the noise produced by the huge Te Rapa dairy factory, situated north of Hamilton, should be completed by the end of September. CEO of Waikato District Council, Mark Buttimore, explained that the council had been working on noise dampening measures with the company, owned by the New Zealand Dairy Group, for about a year following complaints from residents living on the nearby Horsham Downs.The plant in question supplies power and steam to the dairy factory, and owners Contract Energy have undertaken 15 measures in a bid to aid noise reduction, including installing a silencer in the gas turbine exhaust chimney of the factory.