SOUNDS LIKE TROUBLE

App used to combat noisy neighbours as complaints boom

NOISY neighbours are getting on our nerves, with almost 850 complaints made by Geelong and Surf Coast residents in the past two years.

Examples of nuisance noise include commercial noise, loud love making, live music and loud residential music.

Surf Coast Shire residents can now make formal noise complaints to council by downloading a free app.

The Noise App records samples of noise as well as the date and time to help any council investigation.

NOISY neighbours are getting on our nerves with nearly 850 complaints made by Geelong and Surf Coast residents in the past two years.

Examples of noise annoying residents include commercial noise, loud love making, live music, and loud residential music.

Surf Coast Shire residents can now make formal noise complaints to council by downloading a free Apple or Android app.

The Noise App records samples of noise as well as the date and time to assist any council investigation and determine the degree of interference, duration, and intensity.

Unwelcome residential noise is usually most disturbing when it is loud, continues for long periods, or occurs at inappropriate times, says Environment Protection Authority Victoria.

The EPA says that over time, excessive noise can cause significant impacts on health and wellbeing, especially when it disturbs sleep.

The City of Greater Geelong received 399 residential noise complaints in 2018-19 — more than one a day — compared with 358 in 2017-18.

Director of planning, design and development Gareth Smith said noise issues were often resolved through negotiation.

“As part of our investigation we gather evidence, including noise logs, and attend the property during times that the alleged noise has occurred,” he said.

“We then determine if any nuisance-related action should be pursued.”

Meanwhile, Surf Coast Shire Council says it has received 92 noise complaints over the past two years. This includes a combination of commercial and residential noise.

Ransce Salan, council’s general manager of planning and environment, said the Noise App had been introduced three months ago to help residents better log and register noise complaints.

“The Noise App can be downloaded for free and allows users to record samples of noise and to create a log of the time and duration of incidences of nuisance noise,” Mr Salan said.

“The app is one of a number of ways people can lodge a complaint about noise.”

Section 48A (5) of Victoria’s Environment Protection Act defines noise as being unreasonable if certain items of equipment are audible in a habitable room of a neighbour’s house outside of prescribed hours.

Prescribed hours are usually Monday to Friday between 7am and 8pm or between 9am and 8pm on weekends and public holidays.