Noise
The Council have established 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 other notices.
A warning notice may be issued first, with information on the laws and how to comply with the requirements.
Notices are issued to the person or company causing the nuisance and can require the person or company to stop their activities, or to reduce the nuisance to an acceptable level. People or companies issued with fines and 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 |
Phone Numbers |
| Road traffic on State-controlled roads |
Queensland Department of Main Roads |
1800 806 414 |
| Road traffic on Council-controlled roads |
Local Government |
(07) 3810 6666 |
| Individual noisy vehicles or individual vehicle behaviour |
Queensland Department of Transport |
13 23 80 |
| Rail noise |
Queensland Rail |
13 16 17 |
| Air traffic |
Air Services Australia |
1300 301 120 |
| 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 |
(07) 3810 6666 |
| Lawn mowers, power tools andhammers on residential land |
Local Government |
(07) 3810 6666 |
| Lawn mowers, power tools and hammers on non-residentail land |
Department of Environment and Resource Management |
1300 130 372 |
| Pool filters and spa pumps, airconditioners and refrigerators on residential land |
Local Government |
(07) 3810 6666 |
| Pool filters and spa pumps, airconditioners and refrigerators on non-residential land |
Department of Environment and Resource Management |
1300 130 372 |
| Animals - domestic (including barking dogs) |
Local Government |
(07) 3810 6666 |
| Domestic construction of residential buildings less than 10 storeys |
Local Government |
(07) 3810 6666 |
| Large construction activities - residential buildings greater than 10 storeys, commercial and industrial buildings |
Department of Environment and Resource Management |
1300 130 372 |
| Liquor licensed premises |
Queensland Government - Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation |
13 13 04 |
| Waterways - leisure boats, jetskis and other vessels |
Department of Environment and Resource Management |
1300 130 372 |
| Commercial and industrial activities not under the control of local government, eg. foundries, quarries and oil refineries |
Department of Environment and Resource Management |
1300 130 372 |
| Amplified noise |
Queensland Police Service |
Please contact your nearest Police station |
| Alarm systems |
Queensland Police Service |
Please contact your nearest Police station |
| Musical instruments, parties and rowdy crowd behaviour |
Queensland Police Service |
Please contact your nearest Police station |
| Motorbike noise |
Queensland Police Service |
Please contact your nearest Police station |
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) |
- 7.00 am -10.00 pm - no more than six minutes of noise in any hour
- 10.00 pm - 7.00 am - no more than three minutes of noise in any 30 minute period
|
| Swimming pool and spa pumps |
- 7.00 am - 7.00 pm - noise no louder than 50 decibels
- 7.00 pm - 10.00 pm - no more than 5 decibels above background noise level
- 10.00 pm - 7.00 am - no audible noise permitted
|
| Regulated devices (including power tools and lawn mowers) |
Monday to Saturday
- 7.00 am - 7.00 pm - regulated devices can be used
- 7.00 pm - 7.00 am - no audible noise permitted
Sundays and Public Holidays
- 8.00 am - 7.00 pm - regulated devices can be used
- 7.00 pm - 8.00 am - no audible noise permitted
|
| Building works |
Monday to Saturday
- 6.30 am - 6.30 pm - noise permitted
- 6.30 pm - 6.30 am - no audible noise permitted
Sundays and Public Holidays
- No audible noise permitted
|
| Airconditioning equipment |
- 7.00 am - 10.00 pm (any day) - noise no louder than 50 decibels
- 10.00 pm - 7.00 am - 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.
Additional Resources
Noise Pollution
Further Information
If you require further information, please contact Council during business hours on (07) 3810 6666 or email council@ipswich.qld.gov.au.
|
Print this page | 
Contact us | 
News Feeds
| Copyright © 2009 Ipswich City Council