Noise and Nuisance

[Glenefer Gardens]

The Queensland govt has nuisance laws to help make Queensland a more liveable place. The laws aim to strike a balance between protecting our quality of life and the reasonable pursuit of activities that have the potential to annoy others.
The nuisance laws are complaint driven – that means a complaint must be made before a problem will be investigated. Anonymous complaints will not be accepted, but complaints will be kept confidential. Investigating officers have the power to issue warning notices, on-the-spot fines, or abatement notices. A warning notice may be issued first, with information on the laws and how to comply with the requirements.
Fines can be issued for common noise offences, usually after a warning notice has been issued. The minimum fine is $150 and the maximum is $600 for corporations not complying with abatement notices. Abatement notices can be issued for a number of offences relating to noise levels and emissions or fumes, light, odour and smoke. Abatement notices are issued to the person causing the nuisance and can require the person to stop the activities, or to reduce the nuisance to an acceptable level. People issued with fines and abatement notices can appeal against the decision. The Ipswich City Council website has a really useful resource for people who are concerned with noise coming from neighbours. (www.ipswich.qld.gov.au)

[Glenefer Gardens]

Who do I contact for further information?

Aircraft noise
•   All - Contact your local office of Air Services Australia

Air conditioners
•   Operated on residential land and some commercial land - Contact Council for further clarification

Amplified and people noise
•   Musical noise (eg. stereo, instrument) - Contact your local office of the Police Service
•   Parties, rowdy behaviour - Contact your local office of the Police Service
•   Burglar alarms (eg. house, car) - Contact your local office of the Police Service
•   Concerts and events - Contact Council for further clarification
•   Megaphones or public address systems - Contact Council for further clarification

Building work
•   Residential & commercial - Contact Council for further clarification

Regulated devices (eg. power tools, mowers)
•   Operated on residential land and some commercial land - Contact Council for further clarification

Vehicle noise
•   On private land (eg. trail bikes) - Contact your local office of the Police Service
•   On Council land (eg. trail bikes) - Contact Council for further clarification
•   On race tracks - Contact Council for further clarification
•   Noisy vehicle - Contact your local office of Queensland Transport
•   "Hoons" - Contact your local office of the Police Service
•   Traffic noise on major arterial roads - Contact your local office of the Department of Main Roads
•   Traffic noise on minor roads - Contact Council for further clarification
•   After hours deliveries, refrigerated vehicles - Contact Council for further clarification

For further reading visit http://www.bodycorporatematters.com.au/latest-info/27-noise-and-nuisance