If you hear annoying noise, here’s who to phone

ENVIRONMENT Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria has reminded residents and businesses that excessive noise is not only annoying, it also can harm your health and the environment.

EPA Victoria chief executive officer Lee Miezis said the EPA, local councils and Victoria Police all played a role in enforcing the regulations, and it was not just about volume limits.

“Noise can cause harm when it disturbs sleep or interferes with rest and recreation,” he said. “That’s all part of the General Environmental Duty (GED), Victorian law that makes it everyone’s responsibility to take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of harm to people and the environment.”

As the GED applies to everyone, the EPA urged people to remember that you might be the noisy one if you are not being considerate.

“This summer, be kind to the environment and your community; fulfil your environmental duty, assess how your activities may impact the environment, your community and your neighbours, and take whatever action is necessary,” Mr Miezis said.

If it is appropriate and safe to do so, the EPA encourages people to first speak to those making the noise, who might not know the noise is a problem and can quickly resolve the issue.

Noise is one of the most common types of pollution reported to the EPA.

Last year, it received more than 7700 reports, nearly half of them involving shops and offices (25 per cent) and residences (18 per cent).

Industry accounted for 15 per cent of noise complaints, construction sites 13 per cent, indoor entertainment venues 8 per cent, and outdoor entertainment events and venues 4 per cent.

At the lower end of the scale, major infrastructure projects were less than 2 per cent and wind turbines less than 1 per cent of complaints.

“In the early days of COVID-19 in 2020/21, reports of noise from residences more than doubled, and reports about industrial premises dropped to less than half,” Mr Miezis said. “Clearly, more people were at home to hear, and make, unreasonable noise.”

The EPA suggests people use this guide for responding to excessive noise:

• Residential: Your local council (or Victoria Police after hours)
• Commercial/industrial: EPA Victoria by phoning 1300 372 842 or heading to portal365.epa.vic.gov.au/pollution-report-form, and
• Licensed music venue: Liquor Control Victoria by phoning 1300 182 457 if it is a licensed pub, club or bar.

For more information, head to epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/noise-pollution