Abstract
In 1985, the road construction authority of Victoria commenced a $7 million program of retrofitting noise barriers to its older freeways, that is those constituted prior to mid 1979. To date, some $ 2.25 million has been spent on the project, with timber barriers being erected since installation, noise has been reduced by as little as 208 (A) in some cases but up to 808 (A) in other cases. In order to ascertain resident perceptions of the noise attenuation barriers and the resultant change in noise levels, a survey was conducted of residents who live adjacent to the barriers and who live beyond the immediate area of influence.