March 6, 2005: "Noise is Sydney's No.1 Enemy"
http://www.sundaytelegraph.news.com.au/ ... 78,00.html
The State Government will introduce tough regulations to reduce noise pollution after a study found it was the biggest source of stress and aggravation in our cities.
The study revealed people blamed noise for eroding the quality of urban life, placing it higher than littering, vandalism, drug abuse and youth crime as a source of concern.
In response to the findings, Cabinet last week moved to give council and Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) officers the power to disable car and house alarms that fail to shut off.
Under present laws, authorities are powerless to turn off an alarm. Instead, an on-the-spot fine is used as a deterrent.
Environment Minister Bob Debus said officers would be required to obtain a warrant to enter a home to shut down an alarm.
"Unfortunately, consideration for others is falling by the wayside for many people living within earshot of one another," Mr Debus said.
"Noise from car or home burglar alarms can cause considerable disruption in the neighbourhood."
The State-wide survey of 750 residents, commissioned by the Government, was conducted as part of a five-year review into noise regulations.
Almost half the residents who took part in the survey listed traffic noise as the biggest problem in their suburb.
Litter and rubbish followed, with barking dogs third.
Young people misbehaving was next, followed by dog droppings, graffiti and vandalism.
Almost a quarter blamed noisy neighbours for affecting their quality of life.
Motorcycles and modified cars topped the list of most annoying noises.
Noise from pubs and entertainment venues followed, with loud music, barking dogs, pool pumps and garbage-collection trucks also high on the list.
World Health Organisation research has found that noise can have serious health risks.
Noise at 70 decibels increases the risk of a heart attack by 20 per cent. Ambient noise at 80 decibels on a regular basis begins to cause permanent damage to the hearing system.
And at 90 decibels, a person can experience an adrenalin rush that triggers hostility. Hearing loss kicks in after just seven and a half minutes at 120 decibels.
The Department of Environment and Conservation's Pollution Line said it had received 2268 noise-related calls in the past six months.
More than 400 of those were about noisy air-conditioners, pool pumps, fans and compressors. And 383 - 16 per cent of the total - were complaints about noise from pubs, clubs and businesses.
Eleven per cent of the calls were about noisy neighbours, with 263 people ringing in to complain about loud voices, blaring TV sets and even energetic sex.
Residents who complain about noise can contact their local council or ring the department's Pollution Line.
Noise comes high on complaints made to local councils.
In Randwick, 381 complaints about noise were made last year - 289 of them about noisy dogs. In Fairfield, Fido was also driving the neighbours barking, with 181 of 294 noise-related complaints about loud dogs.