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Home>General Local Law protects residents from out-of-hours noise
| Recent publicity relating to guidelines about noise in Brimbank’s General Local Law 2004 has highlighted that people using noisy vacuum cleaners early in the morning or late at night may be subjected to on-the-spot fines.
The media concentration on noisy vacuum cleaners has tended to trivialise a Local Law which is designed to protect residents from a wide range of noise-producing items used after prescribed hours.
This includes motor vehicles, lawnmowers, electric power tools and other electrical equipment, hammers, grinding equipment, air conditioners, swimming pool pumps and filters, musical instruments, television and hi-fi equipment and public address systems.
Brimbank’s Manager Community Regulations, Joe Watkins said Council had adopted the Environment Protection Authority’s noise control guidelines in its General Local Law to discourage unacceptable noise outside prescribed hours.
“Contrary to what has been portrayed in some reports, people using conventional vacuum cleaners are not being specifically targeted by the Local Law,” Mr Watkins said.
“Out-of-hours noise is much more likely to be generated by stereo equipment, a lawnmower, a TV or electrical equipment.
“However, it is possible that vacuum cleaner noise late at night or early in the morning – perhaps from a powerful wall-mounted unit with ducts to various rooms of a house, or an industrial strength cleaner – could lead to a complaint by a neighbour, and that is why vacuum cleaners have been included in the list of potentially noisy equipment.
“But to suggest that Council is specifically pursuing residents with noisy vacuum cleaners is inaccurate and misleading, and has caused unnecessary concern in our community.”
Over the past year, Council has received 153 noise complaints and 226 barking dog complaints. In almost all cases, the complaints were resolved amicably through consultation between complainants,
Council officers and the persons responsible for the source of the noise, without Council needing to resort to imposing a fine.
Residents with queries about the use of noise-producing equipment are invited to view Brimbank’s General Local Law 2004 on Council’s website by clicking here.
Alternatively, residents are welcome to contact Council’s Community Regulations Department on 9249 4000 for more information.
This chart sets out the times various items may be used in Brimbank.
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| Group |
Items |
Prohibited Times |
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| 1 |
A motor vehicle (except a vehicle moving in or out of premises), lawn mower or other grass cutting device and any equipment or appliance not falling within Group 2 having an internal combustion engine. |
Monday to Friday: before 7am and after 8pm.Weekends and public holidays: before 9am and after 8pm. |
| 2 |
An electric power tool, chain or circular saw, gas or air compressor, pneumatic power tool, hammer and any other impacting tool, grinding equipment. |
Monday to Friday: before 7am and after 8pm.Weekends and public holidays: before 9am and after 8pm. |
| 3 |
A domestic air conditioner, swimming pool pump, spa pump, domestic heating equipment (including central heating and hot water systems) and a domestic vacuum cleaner. |
Monday to Friday: before 7am and after 10pm. Weekends and public holidays: before 9am and after 10pm. |
| 4 |
A musical instrument and any electrical amplified sound reproducing equipment including a stereogram, radio, television and public address system. |
Monday to Thursday: before 7am and after 10pm. Friday: before 7am and after 11pm. Saturday and public holidays: before 9am and after 11pm. Sunday: before 9am and after 10pm |
| 5 |
Any electric equipment or appliance not falling within Group 2, Group 3, or Group 4, including electric gardening equipment. |
Monday to Friday: before 7am and after 8pm. Weekends and public holidays: before 9am and after 8pm. |
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