2024年3月6日，新加坡永續發展與環境部兼交通部高級政務次長馬炎慶接受楊厝港單選區議員葉漢榮關於建設項目噪音處罰問題的質詢。
以下內容為新加坡眼根據國會英文資料翻譯整理：
南北交通廊道建設項目與噪音相關違規行為的罰款和處理措施
葉漢榮（楊厝港單選區議員）向可持續發展與環境部部長詢問了有關宏茂橋第6大道南北交通廊道建設項目的問題：
(a) 2023年有多少違規的承包商因噪音相關違規行為被罰款？
(b) 對於固執不改的違規者有哪些處罰措施？
(c) 部門採取了哪些措施來減少項目中與噪音相關的問題？
（左圖：楊厝港單選區議員葉漢榮 右圖：永續發展與環境部兼交通部高級政務次長馬炎慶
馬炎慶(永續發展與環境部兼交通部高級政務次長)：
在2023年，新加坡國家環境局（NEA）針對位於宏茂橋第6大道的南北交通廊道（NSC）建設工地，針對一名承包商進行了執法行動，因其與噪音相關的違規行為。根據安全原因，承包商被允許在夜間和/或周末進行安全關鍵工作，因此這些工作必須出於安全考量連續進行。然而，這些承包商仍須實施一切可行的降噪措施，以最小化噪音。對於這項建設項目，NEA要求承包商進行噪音影響評估，並實施噪音管理計劃以減少噪音。為了減少對利益相關者的不便，陸路交通管理局（LTA）及其承包商部署了噪音屏障、噪音圍欄，並為機械裝配了消音器以降低噪音水平。LTA還進行局部利益相關者參與，並與基層領導合作，向公眾提供項目特定信息的通知和更新。
議長：葉漢榮先生。
葉漢榮（楊厝港單選區議員）：感謝部長的回答。除了罰款之外，是否採取了其他措施，比如暫停項目或列入黑名單，來對造成噪音違規行為的重複違規者進行懲罰？我提出這個國會議題是因為許多宏茂橋居民受到了南北交通廊道建設所產生的噪音污染的影響。部委是否進行了研究，評估噪音污染對居民的潛在健康影響，特別是對老年人或兒童等易受影響的人群？部委是否還探索了能夠幫助減少項目中部分噪音污染的替代建設方法或技術？
馬炎慶先生：國家環境局對建築工地和其他影響周圍居民以及其他利益相關者舒適和福祉的區域的噪音有嚴格的規定。
除了罰款外，如果承包商多次超過噪音限制，國家環境局將發出通知限制該活動的工作時間，以防止承包商再次違規。
對於違反星期天禁止工作條規限制，這意味著有一些時段不得進行工作或不得進行嘈雜的工作，如果違反規定，國家環境局將要求建築工地的業主或占用者安裝電子視頻監控設備。國家環境局將有權訪問監控系統，監視這些工地的活動，並對進一步的違規行為採取必要的嚴格執法措施。
但事實上，這是一個艱難的平衡，因為我們需要允許承包商能夠加快工作進ya ，否則項目將被延長，這將導致居民長時間的不便。因此，我要感謝該地區的居民，以及所有受到工程影響的地區，感謝他們的理解和耐心，因為我們正在努力完成工程。
第6大道周圍的工程是一項道路隧道工程，預計將於2029年完成。但工程的進展將分為不同的階段，並不是所有的工作都會像現在這樣嘈雜。我們也感謝議員葉漢榮先生一直為他的居民發聲，他已經與LTA、NEA和建設局（BCA）等當局舉行了許多會議，探討減少不便的方法。因此，我們感謝他，也感謝居民們的理解。
當工程完成時，居民可以期待第6大道的地面層，優先考慮步行、騎行、公共運輸和社區空間等不同用途。我們期待與居民合作，探討如何重新規劃由南北交通廊道創造的新空間。
議長：問答時間結束。政府法案介紹。
以下是英文質詢內容：
FINES AND ACTIONS AGAINST ERRANT CONTRACTORS FOR NOISE-RELATED INFRACTIONSRELATED TO NORTH-SOUTH CORRIDOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment for the North-South Corridor construction project alongAng Mo Kio Avenue 6
(a) how many errant contractors were fined in 2023 for noise related infractions;
(b) what are the penalties forrecalcitrant offenders;
and (c) what measures is the Ministry taking to minimise noise related issues from the project.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (Mr Baey Yam Keng) (for theMinister for Sustainability and the Environment):
In 2023, the National Environment Agency (NEA) took one enforcement actionagainst the contractor of the North-South Corridor (NSC) construction site, located along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, for noise relatedinfractions.Contractors are permitted to carry out safety critical work at night and/or on weekends, as such works need to be conductedcontinuously for safety reasons. However, these contractors must still implement all practicable noise mitigation measures to minimisenoise.For this construction project, NEA required the contractor to conduct a noise impact assessment and implement a noise managementplan to mitigate noise.To minimise inconveniences to stakeholders, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and its contractors deploy noise barriers, noiseenclosures and fit mufflers on machinery to reduce noise levels. LTA also conducts localised stakeholder engagement and works withgrassroots leaders, to inform and update the public on project-specific information.
Mr Speaker: Mr Yip Hon Weng.
Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his response. Besides fines, are there othermeasures, such as project suspension or blacklisting, taken against repeat offenders causing noise infractions? I ask thisParliamentary Question, because many of my residents in Yio Chu Kang are affected by the noise pollution from the NSC construction.Has the Ministry conducted any studies to assess the potential health impact of noise pollution on residents, particularly vulnerablepopulations, like elderly or children? And has the Ministry also explored alternative construction methods or technologies that couldhelp minimise some of this noise pollution from the project?
Mr Baey Yam Keng: Sir, NEA has strict regulations on noise from construction sites and other areas that affect the comfort and wellbeing of residents and other stakeholders around the construction site.
So, besides fines, if there are contractors who are caught for repeated exceedances of noise limits, NEA will issue a notice to restrictthe working hours for the activity, to prevent the contractors from re-offending.
And for violations of the no-work rule, that means there are periods where no work or no noisy work should be conducted and if thereare violations, NEA will require the owner or the occupier of the construction sites that have violated this no-work rule, to install anelectronic video surveillance at their construction site. And NEA will have access to the surveillance system to monitor the activities atthese sites and take necessary strict enforcement for further violation.
I would like to mention that these particular works at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 is a very special one. It is part of the NSC, which theMember would be familiar with that it is a major land transport construction project, spanning 21.5 kilometres. It is special, not justbecause of the scale, but because of its proximity to many residential areas, as well as the very challenging soil conditions that thecontractors must work within. Therefore, the authorities have been taking many measures on the contractors, NEA has beenmonitoring very closely the disturbances and the inconveniences impacting the residents around the area. We will take all necessarymeasures and impose on the contractors to put in necessary measures to mitigate the noise.
But really, this is a difficult balance because we need to allow the contractors to be able to have expedited progress in its works,otherwise, the project will be prolonged and extended, and that will even cause residents an extended period of inconveniences. So, Ido thank the residents of the area, and all areas affected by the works, for their understanding and patience as we work towards itscompletion.
The works around Avenue 6 is a road tunnel and that is expected to be completed in 2029. But the level of work will be in differentphases and not all works will be as noisy as it is. And we also appreciate the Member, Mr Yip Hon Weng, for always speaking up forhis residents, and he has held many meetings with authorities, like LTA, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and NEA, tolook at ways to minimise the inconveniences. So, we thank him and thank his residents for their understanding.
