Pollution, Noise and Nuisances

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Different types of environmental pollution and nuisances can impact neighbours and interfere with their daily activities.

Noosa Council is responsible for investigating some noise, light, air and water complaints.

The Environmental Protection Act 1994 regulates residential, commercial and industrial noise nuisances, air pollution, light and water pollution.

Noise and Nuisance

Noise can disrupt sleep and interfere with daily activities. If loud enough, it can also have a negative impact on people’s health.

Regulations and Advice

Council is responsible for controlling certain activities that cause noise in excess of the limits prescribed by the default noise standards in the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (the Act) which have the potential to affect the health and well-being of residents.

The default noise standards establish noise limits for certain activities. Details of the noise limits and tips for managing noise from these sources are provided in the fact sheets listed below:

Complaints not handled by Council

Noosa Council does not deal with noise complaints about:

How to lodge a noise complaint

In most cases, the best way to resolve a noise issue is through polite and productive communication between yourself and the person causing the noise. If you haven't already spoken with the person about the noise, Council strongly recommends you try this approach first.

Another option is to print out the Environmental Nuisance Neighbourhood handout(PDF, 139KB) letter, fill in your details (this is optional) and place it in the persons letterbox. If you have concerns about approaching or entering communication with the person, or these measures have proven ineffective, you can report the problem to Council, with the address or the location of the property and we will begin our investigation.

If you can’t reach a solution by talking to your neighbour and your complaint is handled by Council, you will need to provide:

  • your name, address and phone number (this is kept confidential)
  • nuisance description – the date, time and source address
  • location of the source of the noise (property address).

You can lodge a complaint with Council by submitting an online enquiry or contact Council’s customer service centre on (07) 5329 6500.

Steps in the process

  1. Council will provide you with information about the matter and a nuisance diary for you to complete and return to Council to determine what action may be required in the matter. Click here to download a copy of the diary.(DOC, 134KB)
  2. Council will write to the owner of the source noise about the issue and provide copies of relevant fact sheets and supporting information.
  3. The parties are encouraged to discuss the problem and seek a possible solution.
  4. If the resident or business operator takes no action to solve the problem, and a second complaint is made, a Council officer will investigate. If an offence has occurred, a notice may be issued to remedy the matter.
  5. If the resident or business still takes no action, an infringement notice may be issued.
  6. Council officers may issue on-the-spot fines after they investigate complaints. In the case of noise complaints, they may conduct noise monitoring from the complainant's premises.

NOTE: In order to be able to take legal action in relation to noise nuisance witness testimonies, evidence and investigation must clearly identify substantial and unreasonable interference from an ongoing or repeated activity.

Dispute Resolution Centre

If you have exhausted all of the above options, you can contact the Dispute Resolution Centre. The Centre is a Government provided free mediation and facilitation service, which deals with workplace, family, neighbourhood, commercial, organisational, environmental and multi-party disputes.

Air, light and odour nuisances

Council investigates complaints about air pollutants such as smoke, dust and dirt, light, odour and spray drift. Further information is available in the fact sheets below:

How to lodge a complaint

In most cases, the best way to resolve a noise issue is through polite and productive communication between yourself and the person causing the noise. If you haven't already spoken with the person about the noise, Council strongly recommends you try this approach first.

Another option is to print out the Environmental Nuisance Neighbourhood handout(PDF, 139KB) letter, fill in your details (this is optional) and place it in the persons letterbox. If you have concerns about approaching or entering communication with the person, or these measures have proven ineffective, you can report the problem to Council, with the address or the location of the property and we will begin our investigation.

If you can’t reach a solution by talking to your neighbour and your complaint is handled by Council, you will need to provide:

  • your name, address and phone number (this is kept confidential)
  • nuisance description – the date, time and source address

You can lodge a complaint with Council by submitting an online enquiry or contact Council’s customer service centre on (07) 5329 6500.

Steps in the process

  1. Council will provide you with information about the matter and a nuisance diary for you to complete and return to Council to determine what action may be required in the matter. Download a copy of the diary.(DOC, 134KB)
  2. Council will write to the owner of the environmental nuisance source and provide copies of relevant fact sheets and supporting information.
  3. The parties are encouraged to discuss the problem and seek a possible solution.
  4. If the resident or business operator takes no action to solve the problem, and a second complaint is made, a Council officer will investigate. If an offence has occurred, a notice may be issued to remedy the matter.
  5. If the resident or business still takes no action, an infringement notice may be issued.
  6. Council officers may issue on-the-spot fines after they investigate complaints. In the case of noise complaints, they may conduct noise monitoring from the complainant's premises.

NOTE: In order to be able to take legal action in relation to an environmental nuisance witness testimonies, evidence and investigation must clearly identify substantial and unreasonable interference from an ongoing or repeated activity.

Dispute Resolution Centre

If you have exhausted all of the above options, you can contact the Dispute Resolution Centre. The Centre is a Government provided free mediation and facilitation service, which deals with workplace, family, neighbourhood, commercial, organisational, environmental and multi-party disputes.

Water pollution

Preventing or reducing water pollution protects our water quality and is essential to maintaining the health of our environment and our own quality of life. Industry is only one source of water pollution. Other sources include sewage treatment plants, households, streets and footpaths.

Individuals pollute water by littering (including cigarette butts), pouring oils down drains, washing cars, cleaning paint brushes and using chemicals on their gardens. These pollutants (prescribed water contaminants) are then washed or blown into stormwater drains and local waterways, causing harm to natural ecosystems and reducing the quality of the water essential for use by people and industry. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 it is an offence (whether wilfully or unwilfully) to:

  • deposit a prescribed water contaminant into stormwater drains, roadside gutters or waterways
  • deposit a prescribed water contaminant in a place where it could potentially wash, blow, fall or move into stormwater drains, roadside gutters or waterways
  • release stormwater run-off which results in the build-up of earth in stormwater drains, roadside gutters or waterways.

Offences may include an on-the-spot fine to the value of 15 penalty units (individual) or up to 75 penalty units (corporation) or prosecution.

Council investigates most water pollution incidents under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Council only has jurisdiction to investigate certain complaints, and shares the responsibility of investigating and enforcing water pollution issues with other government agencies.

Erosion and Sediment Control

Soil erosion from building sites and subdivisions is a major source of pollution to our stormwater and waterways. Water polluted with sediment (sand, soil, silt or mud) flows down gutters and stormwater drains, straight into our creeks, rivers and ocean.

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, builders and property owners have the legal responsibility to prevent or minimise environmental harm. You must take steps to ensure that prescribed water contaminants (such as earth, sand, soil, silt or mud) do not contaminate waters, gutters or stormwater drainage. On-the-spot fines apply for offences.

Report it: Erosion and Sediment control issues

To report an urgent water pollution event (e.g. soil being washed into a drain or waterway), or if wet weather if occurring, phone Council’s customer service centre on (07) 5329 6500 to enable a prompt response to the issue.

If the water pollution issue is not urgent, you can lodge a complaint by contacting Council using one of the methods below:

Examples of non-urgent erosion and sediment control issues within the Noosa Council area include:

  • Uncovered soil or cement left beside roadside gutters, drains or waterways (in dry weather)
  • Lack of adequate erosion and sediment controls (i.e. sediment fences) on a building or construction site.

Management and control of erosion and sediment

Soil erosion from building sites and subdivisions is a major source of pollution to our stormwater and waterways.

Further information is available in the following fact sheets:

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