Noise

Council has powers to investigate offensive noise, however before submitting your concern to Council, try to solve the problem by talking to the person causing the noise. In most cases property owners/occupiers are simply unaware that their activities are causing offensive noise and may adjust their activities accordingly. You can also contact the Community Justice Centre (CJC). These are government funded independent centres that specialise in settling differences between neighbours without entering into a complicated legal process.

When will Council investigate noise related enquiries?

Council will respond to noise from residential, commercial or industrial premises, where the noise is from:

•    musical instruments and electrically amplified sound equipment
•    power tools and equipment
•    air-conditioners, cooling towers and warm water systems
•    motor vehicles, except when entering or leaving residential premises
•    animals, such as roosters

Council will not investigate matters where the incident is irregular or considered a one-off event.

To have your noise complaint investigated by Council you will be required to complete the Noise Nuisance Record Log over a 14-day period. Once the Noise Nuisance Record Log is received and adequate evidence can be substantiated, Council will undertake an investigation and, if appropriate, will commence enforcement action in accordance with Council’s Regulatory Policy.

Noise Nuisance Record Logs can be submitted to Council using our online customer portal.

What is offensive noise?

Offensive noise is defined under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 as:

(a) that, by reason of its level, nature, character or quality, or at the time at which it is made, or any other circumstances:
•    is harmful to (or is likely to be harmful to) a person who is outside the premises from which it is emitted, or
•    interferes unreasonably with (or is likely to interfere unreasonably with) the comfort or repose of a person who is outside the premises from which it is emitted, or
(b) that is of a level, nature, character or quality prescribed by the regulations or that is made at a time, or in other circumstances, prescribed by the regulations.

When carrying out an offensive noise assessment what will Council consider?

•    How loud the noise is relative to other noise within the area.
•    If the noise includes characteristics that make it irritating.
•    The times the noise occurs.
•    If the noise is atypical for the area.
•    How often the noise occurs.
•    The number of people affected by the noise.
•    Whether the premises for the noise source are operating within their approval or have an approval to operate.
•    Whether the noise is “unreasonable” for the area.

For more information regarding neighbourhood noise, visit the Environmental Protection Authority website.
 

Water pollution

Council and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) investigate water pollution incidents under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. Incidents of water pollution should be reported to Council on 02 4306 7900 or to the EPA on 131 555.

Dividing fences

Dividing fences are a civil matter between neighbours. Council suggests contacting the Community Justice Centre (CJC) when neighbours are unable to agree on fencing issues. The CJC can also be contacted on 1800 990 777.

Unauthorised building and development

Unauthorised building work takes many forms and can range from very minor technical breaches, which cause little or no environmental harm, to blatant environmental law breaches for projects that would never receive development approval.

Certain types of development which may be permissible without Council approval. Homeowners should seek independent planning advice to determine if development consent is required, prior to undertaking any works to their property.

Keeping of animals

Keeping animals can be fun. But they can impact on neighbours. Find out about the rules on where animals can be kept, how many can stay on a piece of land and your responsibilities as an animal carer.

Animals are an important part of any community. But if you plan to keep them on your land, there are issues of which you must be aware of, especially where this concerns the care, control and responsibilities that you have as an animal manager and owners. Poor management and inappropriate care can impact on amenity of your neighbours in terms of noise, odours, property damage, health and safety.

Horses and cattle

Horses and cattle must not be kept within nine metres of a dwelling, school shop, office, factory, workshop, church or other place of public worship, public hall or premises used for the manufacture, preparation or storage of food.

The floors of stables must be paved with concrete or mineral asphalt or other equally impervious material and must be properly graded to drain. Yards must be enclosed to prevent escape.

Pigs (including miniature pigs)

Swine (pigs) must not be kept (and swine’s dung must not be deposited) within 60 metres of a dwelling, shop, office, factory, church or other place of public worship, workshop, school or public place in a city, town, village or other urban part of an area.

Swine must not be kept in such a place or manner as to pollute drinking or domestic water.

Prior to constructing or installing an animal enclosure, contact one of our Duty Officers via Customer Service on 02 4306 7900.

Poultry (including chickens)

Poultry must not be kept under such conditions as to create a nuisance or to be dangerous or injurious to health.

Fowls (including chickens) must not be kept within 4.5 metres of a dwelling, public hall, school or premises used for the manufacture, preparation, sale or storage of food. Other types of poultry (such as ducks and geese) must not be kept within 30 metres of these properties.

Poultry yards must at all times be kept clean and free from offensive odours. The floors must be paved with concrete or mineral asphalt underneath the roosts or perches. If the poultry houses are not within 15.2 metres of a dwelling, public hall or school or the floor may be clean sand.

Poultry yards must be enclosed as to prevent bird escape.

The maximum number of chickens allowed and guidelines for poultry houses in line with property zoning is detailed in the Subdivision 21 (Fowl and poultry houses) in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008.

Wood fire heaters

The impacts of woodsmoke are highest in the winter months where wood-fired heating can produce air pollution. There are a number of things you can do to improve this, increase your heater’s efficiency and help us all breathe more easily:

Wood-fired heaters and woodsmoke – what you need to know.

To have your Wood fire heater concerns investigated by Council you will be required to complete the Air Pollution Record Log over a 14-day period. Once the Air Pollution Record Log is received and adequate evidence can be substantiated, Council will undertake an investigation and, if appropriate, will commence enforcement action in accordance with Council’s Regulatory Policy. Council will not investigate matters where the incident is irregular or considered a one-off event.

Air Pollution (Smoke) Record Logs can be submitted to Council using our online customer portal.

Air quality

Air pollution is caused when an impurity such as smoke, dust, gas or odour is emitted into the air. Air pollution can have a negative effect on both humans and the environment. Sources of air pollution can include smoke from wood fire heaters, dust from construction sites or odours from spray painting. Visit the NSW Environment Protection Authority for detailed information regarding residential and industrial air emission requirements or report a concern regarding air quality to Council.

Backyard burning

Burning of domestic or green waste in backyards is prohibited except with written approval from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) or a hazard reduction certificate issued by the NSW Rural Fire Service. It is acceptable to cook or barbecue in the open, or to light, maintain or use a fire for recreational purposes such as camping, picnicking, scouting or other similar activities, so long as only dry seasoned wood, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), natural gas or proprietary barbecue fuel is used. Whenever a total fire ban is in place, no burning at all is permitted.

Should you have safety concerns regarding your neighbour's backyard burning, please contact 000 for NSW Rural Fire Service or NSW Fire and Rescue Service as the responsible agency. 

Odour

If you believe that an odour in your environment is harmful or unreasonably interfering with your day-to-day activities, you may report it to Council to investigate. When investigating an odour complaint Council considers factors including the source, the amount of odour, the duration and rate of emission, the sensitivity of the surrounding environment and the impact.

To have your Odour concerns investigated by Council you will be required to complete the Air Pollution (Odour) Record Log over a 14-day period.

Once the Record Log is received and adequate evidence can be substantiated, Council will undertake an investigation and, if appropriate, will commence enforcement action in accordance with Council’s Regulatory Policy. Council will not investigate matters where the incident is irregular or considered a one-off event. 

Air Pollution (Odour) Record Logs can be submitted to Council using our online customer portal.

Overgrown land

During spring and summer excessive rainfall, combined with warm temperatures, can encourage rapid growth of vegetation across the region, leading to a rise in the number of enquiries Council receives regarding overgrown land and neighbourly disputes. 

As a first step, we encourage residents to have a simple conversation with the owner or manager of the property that is overgrown. Often people are unaware that their property maintenance is causing a problem and are usually happy to address the problem after being notified.

Unfortunately, in most cases, Council has no direct authority over how residents manage private property and are unable to act on complaints over property appearance.

Next Steps - For Council to investigate this matter, photographic evidence of the overgrown property and evidence of pests that may be impacting your property must be provided that proves the condition of a property is unsafe or unhealthy. 

Council Officers will then investigate to determine if regulatory action can be taken. Long grass alone may not give rise to unhealthy conditions. Council is unable to investigate matters where the land is considered unsightly and cannot take any action where overgrown vegetation includes native vegetation that is protected under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 or the Local Land Services Act 2013.

Photographic evidence can be submitted to Council using our online customer portal.

Should Council be provided with evidence of unhealthy conditions we may then write to the property owner to request maintenance be undertaken. 

Please note that where properties contain native vegetation or are considered natural bush blocks, Council will not take regulatory action for overgrown vegetation.