Noise Pollution

There are laws that tell us what levels of noise are acceptable. Yet, how we respond to particular noises depends on the type of noise and how we feel about it. The impacts of noise depend on the noise level, its characteristics and how it is perceived by the person affected. What is fine one day can drive us to distraction the next, and noise that is acceptable to one person may be unacceptable to another.

Short-term effects of noise can be annoying, as it can

interfere with speech
disturb sleep
interrupt work

Prolonged exposure to loud noise can result in

anxiety
other health effects

Why is Noise a Problem?

Noise can be classed as offensive if it is disturbing other people. Under the Protection of the Environment Operations (POEO) Act 1997, offensive noise is defined as:

that, by reason of its level, nature, character or quality, or the time at which it is made, or any other circumstances:
is harmful to (or is likely to be harmful to) a person who is outside the premises from which it is emitted, or
interferes unreasonably with (or is likely to interfere unreasonably with the comfort or repose of a person who is outside the premises from which it is emitted, or
that is of as level, nature, character or quality prescribed by the regulations or that is made at a time, or in other circumstances, prescribed by the regulations.

Types of Noise

Neighbourhood noise
Vehicle noise
Transport noise
Industrial noise

Table 1: Residential Noise – When it’s not allowed, and who to contact

Noise Source	When Noise Should Not Be Heard by A Neighbour in a ‘Habitable Room’*	Contact
Power tools and equipment (e.g. powered garden tools such as 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 Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays Before 7 am and after 8 pm on any other day	Council or NSW Police Assistance Line, phone 131 444
Musical instruments and electrically amplified sound equipment (e.g. radios, TVs, CD and DVD players, and home theatre systems)	Before 8 am and after midnight on any Friday, or Saturday or the day immediately before a public holiday Before 8 am and after 10 pm on any other day	Council or NSW Police Assistance Line, phone 131 444
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	Council or NSW Police Assistance Line, phone 131 444
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	Council or NSW Police Assistance Line, phone 131 444
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	Council or NSW Police Assistance Line, phone 131 444

Notes

*During these hours, noise from residential premises should not be heard in a ‘habitable room’ in a neighbour’s residence. A ‘habitable room’ means any room other than a garage, storage area, bathroom, laundry, toilet or pantry.

**This applies whether or not the vehicle is on residential premises

Table 2: Non-residential noise – Who to contact

Noise Type	Noise Source	Contact
Industrial/commercial noise	Large industrial complexes	EPA Environment Line, phone 131 555
	Smaller factories, backyard workshops and commercial premises (e.g. air conditioning and refrigeration)	Council
Transport noise	Commercial airports and aircraft in flight	Airservices Australia, Noise Complaints and Information Service, phone 1800 802 584
	Aircraft on ground at private and council-controlled airports	Council
	Noisy motor vehicles (e.g. trail bikes) in a public place, such as roads, verges, car parks or off road (including parks and reserves)	• EPA Environment Line, phone 131 555 • NSW Police Assistance Line, phone 131 444 • Council
Noisy motor vehicles (e.g. trail bikes) on private property	• NSW Police Assistance Line, phone 131 444 • Council
	Road traffic: • local roads • freeways, tollways and main roads	• Council • Transport for NSW, phone 131 782
	Rail noise	• EPA Environment Line, phone 131 555 • Rail Greenline, phone 1300 656 999
	Recreational boating and jet skis	Transport for NSW, phone 131 782
	Amplified music from vessels	• Transport for NSW, phone 131 782 • Water Police, phone 9320 7499 • Council
Construction noise	Road construction: freeways and tollways, main roads and other roads	• EPA Environment Line, phone 131 555 • Transport for NSW, phone 131 782 • Council
	Building construction	Council
	Major public infrastructure construction	EPA Environment Line, phone 131 555
Public sporting and entertainment venues	Motor sports and gun/rifle/pistol clubs and sporting facilities (other than vessels)	Council
	Open water activities	Transport for NSW, phone 131 782
	Concert facilities	Council
	Pubs and clubs	Liquor & Gaming NSW, phone 1300 024 720
Neighbourhood noise	Noise in public places, barking dogs and other animal noise	• Council • NSW Police Assistance Line, phone 131 444
	Intruder alarms for buildings and vehicles	• Council • NSW Police Assistance Line, phone 131 444
Noise in a strata scheme (e.g. a block of home units)	Noise that breaches a by-law (a rule) of the strata scheme	• Owners corporation • Strata manager

What to do If Noise is a Problem for You?

Talk to the person/s responsible for the noise. Try to solve the problem amicably. Often people do not realise that they are being noisy and are happy to work with you to solve the problem.

It is strongly recommended that you attempt to resolve the problem prior to engaging Council.

Contact a Community Justice Centre. If the noise continues, you can contact a Community Justice Centre (CJC). These centres are government funded but independent centres that specialise in settling differences between neighbours without complicated legal processes.

For further information on a CJC, visit www.cjc.nsw.gov.au or phone 1800 990 777.

Contact Council or the Police Assistance Line. Council and Police have the authority to issue various notices on persons occupying homes and businesses under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, requiring them to control offensive noise and advising them of what noise levels are acceptable.

Making a Complaint

Please contact Council’s Environment Department on (02) 6354 9999 or via Council’s website.

Please note:

All complaints are dealt with confidentially. Council requires that you provide contact information so that we may follow up during the resolution process. It is Council’s Policy that anonymous complaints are not investigated. Complainants should be aware that, in some circumstances, should a matter subsequently involve legal action, a written statement and/or court appearance by the complainant may be required.