The distance was debated in council at its ordinary meeting, but remained unchanged.

Instead a resolution was passed that council advise all orchardists and growers to which the NMP applies that regular non compliance with the NMP will result in enforcement of the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 as per Section 12 of the Noise Management Plan.

The NMP for the use of gas guns in areas surrounding town sites within the shire was first adopted in October 2010.

Surveys were sent out to residents and orchardists in Westwood Estate, Meldene Estate, Argyle/Irishtown and Balingup recently as part of the first annual review to evaluate the NMP’s effectiveness and to determine if any changes were required.

Eighteen surveys were received back.

Based on the responses, the 300-metre minimum distance between a gas gun and a place of residence emerged as the main point of contention.

Over half of the orchardists and residents who responded did not think the distance was adequate to minimise noise impacts.

Seventy-five per cent of orchardists indicated they thought the NMP had been effective in 2010-11, in terms of achieving a balance between the use of gas guns by growers to control crop damage and minimising noise impacts to the community.

Sixty-four per cent of residents indicated the use of gas guns generally impacted on their amenity.

More than half of residents indicated they did not think the NMP had been effective in 2010-11, in terms of achieving a balance between the use of gas guns by growers to control crop damage and minimising noise impacts to the community.

The meeting minutes noted a total of 31 complaints regarding the use of gas guns were received by the shire in the 2010-11 year, with 90 per cent of these complaints relating to the use of gas guns not in compliance with the NMP from one orchardist.

Council voted not to increase the as of right distance in a straight line between a gas gun and a residential building on another property from 300-500 metres or greater in the NMP; meeting minutes noted a distance of 500 metres was in the original draft of the NMP, based on technical advice from the DEC Noise Management branch in regards to achieving sound attenuation.

However, the 500-metre distance was not originally adopted because of concerns it would reduce the available locations for the placement of gas guns on a property if they are surrounded by residences.