Environmental noise

Noise can disturb our work, concentration, relaxation, and sleep and interfere with normal daily activities. Everyone has a different tolerance to noise. What can be unbearable for one person may pass almost unnoticed by another. How annoyed we become depends on the loudness, time, place and frequency of the noise. Noise can even impact on people's health. It can cause stress and create or worsen physical problems such as high blood pressure, chronic exhaustion and heart disease.

Should you have a problem with noise, always attempt to discuss the issue directly with the person responsible for the nuisance in order to try and achieve a solution. Agree on a definite time frame to do something about the problem. If the situation hasn't changed after that time, it may then be necessary to contact the appropriate authority.

Council only has jurisdiction to act on certain noise pollution issues and shares the responsibility of noise control with other government bodies. Please refer to the information below which outlines authorities for various noise types.

Who do I contact?

Aircraft noise

  • All - Contact your local office of Air Services Australia

Air conditioners

Amplified and people noise

  • Musical noise (eg. stereo, instrument) - Contact your local office of the Police Service
  • Parties, rowdy behaviour - Contact your local office of the Police Service
  • Burglar alarms (eg. house, car) - Contact your local office of the Police Service
  • Concerts and events - Contact Council
  • Megaphones or public address systems -Contact Council

Building work

Liquor licensed premises (eg. pub, club) 

  • All - Contact your local office of the Liquor Licensing Division

Power boats

  • On water 
  • On land

For the above Contact Council

Regulated devices (eg. power tools, mowers)

Swimming pool and spa pumps

Vehicle noise

  • On private land (eg. trail bikes) - Contact your local office of the Police Service
  • Noisy vehicle - Contact your local office of Queensland Transport
  • "Hoons" - Contact your local office of the Police Service

For the following - Contact Council

  • Traffic noise on major arterial roads - Contact your local office of the Department of Main Roads
  • On Council land (eg. trail bikes)
  • On race tracks
  • Traffic noise on minor roads
  • After hours deliveries, refrigerated vehicles

Noise Diary(PDF, 11KB) (PDF, 11 KB)

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