Investigating the impacts of wind turbine noise on quality of life in the Australian context: A case study approach

The WHO considers noise pollution to be of sufficient threat to public health to justify the publication of guidelines on noise effects and mitigation. ‘Community noise’ has largely been studied in the context of transportation and general neighbourhood noise, with exposure to wind turbine noise relatively understudied for historical, methodological, and political reasons. There also appears to be a general uncoupling of wind turbine noise from the other sources, which endows upon it an exclusivity that excuses it from the methods, guidelines, and critique used for other noise sources. This study aimed to advance understanding of wind turbine noise impacts by adopting a case study approach based on detailed information from 25 individuals, Australian adults residing rurally and within 1000-3500m of three or more wind turbines. Participants were selected on the basis of health concerns evidenced through statutory declarations or submissions to hearings. The 25 respondents compeleted a face-to-face survey measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaire as developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the ‘WHOQOL-BREF’. The results were compared to normative population data and showed clinically significant reduction in HRQOL.