Noise Pollution
The Environmental Protection Act 1994 specifies a number of noise sources that local governments are responsible for administering, including:
Air-Conditioning Equipment and Refrigeration equipment
Noise should not exceed the following levels between:
- 7am to 10pm the noise is no louder than 5dB(A) above the background noise level; or
- 10pm to 7am the noise is no louder than 3dB(A) above the background noise level.
Building work
This relates to building activities that require a building approval and applies to builders, sub-contractors and other professions engaged to work for or on behalf of a builder.
This does not apply to people building minor structures such as fencing, children’s playhouses or general landscaping.
People constructing minor building structures must comply with the regulated devices’ hours of operation listed below.
A person must not carry out building work in a way that makes audible noise.
Days | Times | Noise |
---|---|---|
Monday - Saturday | 6.30am to 6.30pm | Permitted |
Monday - Saturday | 6.30pm to 6.30am | No audible noise permitted |
Sunday and Public Holidays | N/A | No audible noise permitted |
Power boats and jet skis – on land
(operating a boat engine at a premise)
This relates to the use of power boats for sporting purposes including water skiing, wake boarding or tobogganing/tube riding and use of jet skis for purposes other than fishing.
Noise should not exceed the following levels between:
Days | Times | Noise |
---|---|---|
Monday - Saturday | 7am to 7pm | Permitted |
Monday - Saturday | 7pm to 7am | No audible noise permitted |
Sunday and Public Holidays | 8am to 6.30 | Permitted |
Sunday and Public Holidays | 6.30pm to 8am | No audible noise permitted |
Pumps
Pumps can be electrical, mechanical or pneumatic devices such as swimming and spa pool pumps, air pumps or heating/cooling pumps and noise should not exceed the following levels between:
Times | Noise |
---|---|
7am to 7pm | Noise no louder than 5 decibels above background noise level |
7pm to 10pm | No more than 3 decibels above background noise level |
10pm to 7am | No audible noise permitted |
Regulated devices
Regulated devices include such items as generators, power tools, compressors, and lawnmowers.
General building work activity around the home, where the builder is not required to hold a licence or an owner builder permit, must also comply with the following
Days | Times | Noise |
---|---|---|
Monday - Saturday | 7am to 7pm | Permitted |
Monday - Saturday | 7pm to 7am | No audible noise permitted |
Sunday and Public Holidays | 8am to 7pm | Permitted |
Sunday and Public Holidays | 7pm to 8am | No audible noise permitted |
Responsible authorities
Council is not responsible for investigating all noise complaints. Other agencies such as Qld Police Service and Queensland Health investigate complaints that are outside the powers of local government.
Below is a list of common noise issues and the responsible authorities in Queensland to contact.
Table 1 - Regulated devices (such as power tools, lawn mowers, air conditioners, refrigeration units, pool and spa pumps, etc)
Noise type | Responsible Authority | Contact details |
---|---|---|
Residential land | Council |
1300 79 49 29 |
Commercial land |
Council |
1300 79 49 29 or |
Table 2 - Animal noise
Noise type | Responsible Authority | Contact details |
---|---|---|
All land - Domestic | Council | 1300 79 49 29 |
All land - Commercial boarding kennels | Council | 1300 79 49 29 |
All land - Wild or native | Department of Environment & Heritage Protection |
1300 130 372 |
Table 3 - Amplified / music noise
Noise type | Responsible authority | Contact details |
---|---|---|
Megaphones / public address system | Council | 1300 79 49 29 |
Amplified / musical noise - parties, musical noise, burglar alarms | Queensland Police Service | 131 444 www.police.qld.gov.au |
Concert / event noise | Council | 1300 79 49 29 |
Table 4 - Liquor licensed premises noise
Noise type | Responsible authority | Contact details |
---|---|---|
All noise issues involved licensed premises |
Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation |
1300 658 030
|
Table 5 - Aircraft noise
Noise type | Responsible authority | Contact details |
---|---|---|
All noise associated with aircrafts |
Air Services Australia Civil Aviation Safety Authority |
Free call: 1800 802 584 Sydney: 1300 302 240 airservicesaustralia.com 131 757 casa.gov.au |
Table 6 - Building work
Noise type | Responsible authority | Contact details |
---|---|---|
Residential land | Council | 1300 79 49 29 |
Commercial | Council | 1300 79 49 29 |
Table 7 - Vehicles / motorbike noise
Noise type | Responsible authority | Contact details |
---|---|---|
Trucks and machinery on development land | Council | 1300 79 49 29 |
Residential land - operation | Queensland Police Service | 131 444 www.police.qld.gov.au |
Residential land - repairs | Council | 1300 79 49 29 |
Race track | Council | 1300 79 49 29 |
Table 8 - Power boats
Noise type | Responsible authority | Contact details |
---|---|---|
Residential & Commercial Land (operating a boat engine at a premises) | Council | 1300 79 49 29 |
Waterways | Department of Natural Resources and Mines |
13 74 68 |
Table 9 - Road noise
Noise type | Responsible authority | Contact details |
---|---|---|
Major Arterial Roads | Department of Main Roads | (07) 3834 2011 www.mainroads.qld.gov.au |
Traffic Noise – Minor Roads | Queensland Police Service | 131 444 www.police.qld.gov.au |
Contact us
For further information, please contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on 1300 79 49 29 or email enquiry@frasercoast.qld.gov.au