Following report done for NASA,
30 years ago, in 1980, by FRANKA.SPENCER
Associate Professor Northwestern University, has a chapter on Singapore with regards to airplane noise, page 155 to 164
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19810009101_1981009101.pdfExtracts:
Page 155
Although the elements of limited land and
dense population are present at Singapore, a different culture and the
realization by the inhabitants that their welfare depends upon the
maximum freedom being given to commerce has led to Singapore's almost
complete freedom from limitations on aircraft noise as well as to the
absence of compensation for those affected by noise.
Page 158
2. Government Structure and Aircraft Noise
The overall responsibility for air transport is with the Minister
of Communications. For administration there is a Department of Civil
Aviation (DCA) under a Director of Civil Aviation and two deputies.
No structured anti-noise programs exist. In fact noise is treated in
a very relaxed almost joking way. It was pointed out that 76% of the
people are Chinese, that the Chinese are noisy and like noise to the
extent that noise is an accepted part of life. This is similar to
the official comments made in Hong Kong.
Page 159
4. Noise at the Source Control
Since the government is primarily interested in increasing com-
merce, it takes a very relaxed and informal posture concerning noise
at the source
Page 160
b) Curfew. There is no curfew at Singapore and none is planned
for either Paya Lebar or the new Changi facility. According to the
Department of Civil Aviation, the inhabitants themselves consider free
entry of commerce so important that they would object should a curfew
be suggested.
Page 161
5. Land-Use Planning.
a) Zoning. The kernels of land-use planning at Singapore are
little more than germinating seeds in comparison with the rather full
flowered growth elsewhere. Noise contours in terms of EPNdB for
the two airports have been drawn up by the DCA and forwarded to the
town planning authorities for recommended zoning purposes. The
procedure is very informal and, according to the DCA, all concerned
"would like to keep it this way".
Page 164
Laissez-faire best describes the attitude of the government and the inhabitants
toward aircraft noise.
In view of the general laissez-faire attitude, it is not surpris-
ing to find an absence of subsidies for noise insulation, for reloca-
tion expenses, and for loss in property values.
Page 165
Since the goal of this prosperous city-state is to
thrive on international commerce, and since the population perceives
aircraft noise to be consistent with the goal, the likelihood of the
imposition of restrictions on aircraft noise is remote.
