Noise complaints in WA - Residential noise complaints

You should attempt to resolve any dispute with a neighbour by talking and trying to reach a satisfactory solution. After all, you may be living alongside each other for years to come and it is in both your interests to be on reasonable terms. The ten tips below provide some useful advice on raising issues and communicating with your neighbour.

Ten tips for discussing a problem with your neighbour. Assuming there is no threat of physical violence or verbal intimidation:

• Deal directly with the person you are in dispute with. This is usually far better than letters, messages, shouting, banging on walls, throwing things, or talking to everyone else except "that person".
• Plan a convenient, sensible time and place to talk to the other person. Bad timing can increase and escalate the dispute rather than diminish the tension.
• Think beforehand about what you want to say. It is important to be clear about what you think the problem is and how you feel about the dispute.
• Don't be too quick to lay the blame on the other person. Finger-pointing and insulting behaviour will cloud the issue and make it harder for the other side to actually take in what you are saying.
• Don't interpret your neighbour's behaviour. "You park outside our entrance deliberately to wind us up" sounds much worse than "parking outside our entrance causes a lot of inconvenience".
• Give your neighbour a chance to say their side of the story. Let them know you are listening to what they are saying even if you disagree with what they are saying.
• Let them know that you are pleased that you can get together to discuss the problem. This can help you both to feel positive and bring you closer to an agreement.
• Work on the problems co-operatively. See what you can both do to resolve the dispute. Two people working towards a mutual agreement can get a lot further than one person dictating to the other on how they should change or improve their behaviour.
• Bring all the issues out into the open. Take the time to work on all the issues involved. Make sure that the difficult ones don't get swept under the carpet.
• Look ahead. Agree to meet each other at specific future dates to check on how things are going.

When talking doesn't work...

If your neighbour is unapproachable or denies a problem exists, mediation may be the next best option. Visit the Citizens Advice Bureau's website www.cabwa.com.au for further information on mediation services available.

Alternatively, for complaints about residential, commercial and small industrial noise issues, please contact your local council/shire office. Local government Environmental Health Officers administer regulations for these types of noise.

For complaints about noise from large industries or premises licensed under the Environmental Protection Act 1986, please contact your Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) regional office.

DEC surveys Western Australia's local governments annually asking them to track noise complaints and provide details in relation to activities that cause complaints. A copy of the latest Local Government Noise Complaint Survey Report 2005-06 is available below. Previous years' surveys, going back to 1999, are available by contacting the Department of Environment and Conservation.

Downloads:

 Local Government Noise Complaints Survey Report 2007 - 2008 (160.63 kB)
- This technical bulletin forms part of a reporting series prepared by the Department of Environment and Conservation's Noise Regulation Branch.  These Environmental Noise (EN) Reports provide guidance and advice on strategic issues relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise in Western Australia.