In response to the Coldstream noise concerns article Feb. 5, there are new excessive noise sources from farms inflicted upon existing neighbouring residences.
For some reason, the district is trying to downplay the noise and continue its existing policy of doing nothing.
I encourage council to enact modern objective noise bylaws such as the Regional District of North Okanagan has.
A recently planted cherry orchard is not a farm as conventionally envisioned. It is industrial agriculture.
The farmer does not live adjacent to the orchard to experience the excessive noise. The product is not to feed Canada as it is all exported to Asia.
Noise from frost fans: varies 73 to 85 decibels. Fans respond to local temperature inversion and come on automatically at around 1 or 2 a.m. and run until the sun rises.
They produce a very unusual noise as they rotate 360 degree,s with pitch and volume changing depending on the combination of fan directions. No one can sleep when they come on.
These are high performance propane motor driven fans. Much quieter designs are available.
Helicopters are used to augment frost fans as well as to blow water off of cherries. The operations are always in daylight hours but this can be as early as 4:30 a.m.
The operation of these very noisy machines is within 70 meters of and 10 meters below the occupied residence.
Noise level of these older Jet Rangers is rated at 100 decibels but registers higher at the residential property likely due to the residence being above the helicopter.
The helicopters were active for more than 40 days last year, the record being one day when four helicopters operated six to seven hours each as they responded to repeated shower activity.
If helicopters are necessary there are modern aircraft that produce half the noise while consuming far less fuel.
Turbo fans produce a very high pitched scream that exceeds 100 decibels at the boundary of the orchard. There are much quieter units available that can do these functions but in all cases probably with less efficiency.
The noise levels are extreme and infringe greatly on the residential environment.
For those not familiar with decibel noise levels if these levels were in any industrial environment mandatory hearing protection would be required for all people.
In each case of excessive noise production there are conventional methods available that can be used with acceptable noise emissions.
It is Coldstream district’s responsibility to establish and enforce reasonable noise levels for residences.
Even the B.C. Farm Industry Review Board suggests local governments are the best to enforce noise thru development of farm noise bylaws.
Yes, they have to be approved by the ministry but this can be done.
It behooves all of those residents that find the noise from farms unacceptable to contact Coldstream council.
R. Learmonth
Coldstream
