Neighbourhood noise problems are among the most frequent causes of complaints received by local councils, the police and the Environment Protection Authority. Noise annoys – particularly when we want to relax and enjoy our leisure time at home. Noise is defined under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act (POEO Act) 1997 to include both sound and vibration.

If a source of noise is a problem for you, there are several things you can do.

• Talk amicably to noisy neighbours. Often people do not realise how loud they are being and are happy to turn down or stop the noise.
• Contact a Community Justice Centre. Community Justice Centres (CJCs) are government-funded but independent centres that specialise in settling differences between neighbours through mediation. You meet with the people who are making the noise and a CJC representative to try and solve the problem. This process will not cost you any money and has a high success rate.
•  Contact your local council. Under section 96 of the POEO Act, councils can serve prevention notices on residents and business people requiring them to control offensive noise advising them of acceptable noise levels

Seek a noise abatement order

If your neighbour is continually being noisy, has a noisy animal or is using noisy appliances, and you decide to take action independently, you can seek a noise abatement order under section 268 of the POEO Act.

Council would like to remind residents of time restrictions relating to residential areas and uses. Items such as power tools and equipment, chain saws, lawn mowers, heat pumps, swimming pool or spa pumps, should not be used if they can be heard in the adjoining neighbours residence between the following hours:

Power tools and equipment (powered garden tools; e.g. lawn mowers and leaf blowers; electric or pneumatic tools, chainsaws, circular saws, gas or air compressors and swimming pool or spa pumps)

• Before 8 am and after 8 pm on Sundays and public holidays
• Before 7 am and after 8 pm on any other day

Musical instruments and electrically amplified sound equipment (e.g. radios, TVs, tape recorders, CD and DVD players, and home theatre systems)

• Before 8 am and after midnight on any Friday, Saturday or the day immediately before a public holiday
• Before 8 am and after 10 pm on any other day

Air conditioners and heat pump water heaters

• Before 8 am and after 10 pm on weekends and public holidays
• Before 7 am and after 10 pm on any other day

Motor vehicles (except when entering or leaving residential premises)

• Before 8 am and after 8 pm on weekends and public holidays
• Before 7 am and after 8 pm on any other day

Refrigeration units fitted to motor vehicles**

• Before 8 am and after 8 pm on weekends and public holidays
• Before 7 am and after 8 pm on any other day

* Habitable room means any room other than a garage, storage area, bathroom, laundry, toilet or pantry.
** This applies whether or not the vehicle is located on residential premises.