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Noise Pollution

Neighbourhood noise, such as noise from animals, alarms, machines and parties can be very annoying. You can often stop noise that disturbs you without involving your council, the police or the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH).

If you would like further assistance, please visit the Preventing neighbourhood noise information page.

 

Time restrictions when noise from residential premises should not be heard inside a neighbour's residence.

Noise source - from residential premises

Time restrictions when noise should not be heard in a habitable* room in a neighbour's residence 

Power tools and equipment (powered garden tools; e.g. lawn mowers and leaf blowers; electric or pneumatic tools, chainsaws, circular saws, gas or air compressors and swimming pool or spa pumps)

8pm to 8am on Sundays and public holidays

8pm to 7am on weekdays and Saturdays

Musical instruments and electrically amplified sound equipment (e.g. radios, TVs, tape recorders, CD and DVD players, and home theatre systems)

Midnight to 8am on Friday, Saturday or any day preceding a public holiday

10pm to 8am on any other day

Air conditioners and heat pump water heaters

10pm to 8am on weekends and public holidays

10pm to 7am on weekdays

Motor vehicles (except when entering or leaving residential premises)

8pm to 8am on weekends and public holidays

8pm to 7am on weekdays

Refrigeration units fitted to motor vehicles**

8pm to 8am on weekends and public holidays

8pm to 7am on weekdays

* Habitable room means any room other than a garage, storage area, bathroom, laundry, toilet or pantry.

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

(Source OEH, July 2012)

 

Table of contacts for noise

Noise source Contact

Industrial /commercial noise

Large industrial complexes

OEH Environment Line, phone: 131 555

Smaller factories and backyard workshops

Armidale Regional Council

Commercial premises - ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration

Armidale Regional Council

Transport noise

Aircraft in flight

National Noise Enquiry Line: 1300 302 240

Aircraft on the ground at private and local council operated airports

Armidale Regional Council

Noisy motor vehicles (including trail bikes) in a public place, such as:

  • roads, verges and car parks
  • off road, including parks and reserves

OEH Environment Line, phone: 131 555, or 
Police Assistance Line, phone: 131 444, or
Armidale Regional Council

Noisy motor vehicles (including trail bikes) on private property

Police Assistance Line, phone: 131 444, or
Armidale Regional Council

Road traffic:

  • local roads
  • freeways, tollways, main roads

Armidale Regional Council
RMS, phone:1300 308 349

Rail noise

OEH Environment Line, phone: 131 555, or 
Your Say Line, phone: 1300 656 999

Construction noise

Road construction:

  • freeways and tollways
  • main roads 
  • other roads

OEH Environment Line, phone: 131 555
RMS, phone:1300 308 349
Armidale Regional Council

Building construction
Major public infrastructure

Armidale Regional Council
OEH Environment Line, phone: 131 555

Public sporting and entertainment venues

Motor sports and gun/rifle/pistol clubs

Armidale Regional Council

Sporting facilities

Armidale Regional Council

Concert facilities

Armidale Regional Council

Neighbourhood noise

Noise from Parties

Police Assistance Line, phone: 131 444

Noise in public places: animal noise, barking dogs

Armidale Regional Council or Police Assistance Line, phone: 131 444

Intruder alarms for buildings and vehicles

Armidale Regional Council or Police Assistance Line, phone: 131 444

NOTE that offensive noise may still be occurring at times that are in compliance with the above.

Further restrictions may be placed on the use of these articles by issuing Notices under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997

(Source OEH, July 2012)