The Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 allow construction work to be carried out between 7.00am and 7.00pm on Monday to Saturday (excluding public holidays). This is provided that the equipment is in good working order and is used in the manner it was designed for.
A request to undertake construction work outside of these times can be made to the City if there are extenuating circumstances that require the work to occur. In these instances, the following would be required:
- Justification as to why the works must be undertaken outside normal construction hours
- An indication that the equipment being used is the quietest reasonably available
- An indication that the works would be carried out in accordance with AS 2436-2010 Guide to noise and vibration control on construction, maintenance and demolition sites
- The submission of a noise management plan in respect of the construction site
A noise management plan would need to address the following:
- Details of the construction work that is likely to be undertaken outside normal construction hours
- Details of activities intended to occur on the construction site, including their duration, that are likely to result in noise emissions above prescribed levels
- Predictions of noise emissions
- Details of measures to be implemented to control noise emissions (including vibration)
- Procedures to be adopted for monitoring noise emissions (including vibration)
- Complaint response procedures
- Written notification to adjoining properties who may experience significant noise
Where construction work is occurring outside of the accepted times and is causing a noise disturbance, a noise complaint can be lodged using the online form Noise – make a noise complaint.