Noise
The Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced 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.
How do the laws work?
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.
Once a complaint is made, it will be investigated and appropriate action taken.
Penalties
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 for dust, ash, fumes, light, odour and smoke.
Abatement notices are issued to the person causing the nuisance and can require the person to stop their activities, or to reduce the nuisance to an acceptable level. People issued with fines and abatement notices can appeal against the decision.
Which Authority do I Contact ?
The following matrix deals with indoor venues as well as other noise related matters but should give all interested parties a guide as to which Authority is responsible for the type of noise being experienced.
| Source of Noise | Responsible Authority |
| Road traffic on State-controlled roads |
Queensland Department of Main Roads |
| Road traffic on Council-controlled roads |
Local Government |
| Individualnoisy vehicles or individual vehicle behaviour |
Queensland Department of Transport |
| Rail noise |
Queensland Rail |
| Air traffic |
Air Services Australia |
| Commercial and industrial activities (eg. auto mechanics, smash repairers), defined in the Environmental Protection Regulation as 'Environmentally Relevant Activities' under the control of the local government |
Local Government |
| Lawn mowers, power tools andhammers on residential land |
Local Government |
| Lawn mowers, power tools and hammers on non-residentail land |
Environmental Protection Agency |
| Pool filters and spa pumps, airconditioners and refrigerators on residential land |
Local Government |
| Pool filters and spa pumps, airconditioners and refrigerators on non-residential land |
Environmental Protection Agency |
| Animals - domestic (including barking dogs) |
Local Government |
| Domestic construction of residential buildings less than 10 storeys |
Local Government |
| Large construction activities - residential buildings greater than 10 storeys, commercial and industrial buildings |
Environmental Protection Agency |
| Liquor licensed premises |
Queensland Department of Tourism and Racing - Liquor Licensing Division |
| Waterways - leisure boats, jetskis and other vessels |
Environmental Protection Agency |
| Commercial and industrial activities not under the control of local government, eg. foundries, quarries and oil refineries |
Environmental Protection Agency |
| Amplified noise |
Queensland Police Service |
| Alarm systems |
Queensland Police Service |
| Musical instruments, parties and rowdy crowd behaviour |
Queensland Police Service |
Specific conditions for nuisance laws
The following table outlines the specific conditions for some of the issues covered by the nuisance laws.
| Source of Noise | Conditions |
| Barking dogs (or other domestic animal noise) |
- 7am-10pm - no more than six minutes of noise in any hour
- 10pm-7am - no more than three minutes of noise in any 30 minute period
|
| Swimming pool and spa pumps |
- 7am - 7pm - noiseno louder than 50 decibels
- 7pm - 10pm - no more than 5 decibels above background noise level
- 10pm - 7am - no audible noise permitted
|
| Regulated devices (including power tools and lawn mowers) |
Monday to Saturday
- 7am - 7pm - regulated devices can be used
- 7pm - 7am - no audible noise permitted
Sundays and Public Holidays
- 8am - 7pm - regulated devices can be used
- 7pm - 8am - no audible noise permitted
|
| Building works |
Monday to Saturday
- 6:30am - 6:30pm - noise permitted
- 6:30pm - 6:30am - no audible noise permitted
Sundays and Public Holidays
- No audible noise permitted
|
| Airconditioning equipment |
- 7am - 10pm (any day) - noise no louder than 50 decibels
- 10pm - 7am - either 40 decibels or 5 decibels above background noise levels
|
If people do not comply with abatement notices, they can be fined $300.00 on-the-spot for individuals or $600.00 on-the-spot for companies or corporations.
If you require any further information regarding this subject, please contact Council during business hours on (07) 3810 6666 or email council@ipswich.qld.gov.au
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