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    • Pets and Animals
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      • Breeding Permits
      • Dangerous and Prohibited Animals
      • Dogs in Public Places
      • Impounded Animals
      • Lost and Found
      • Microchipping
      • Pet Pals Program
      • Registration
      • Requirements for Animal Owners
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      • Advanced Water Meters
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      • Illegal Dumping
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  • Explore
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        BackEvents
      • Gladstone Regional Events Strategy
    • Parks and Recreation
        BackParks and Recreation
      • Parks
      • Book a Park
      • Camping and Beaches
      • Cycling and Walking
      • Facilities
      • Pools and Aquatic Centres
      • Skate Parks
    • Tondoon Botanic Gardens
        BackTondoon Botanic Gardens
      • What's On
      • Education
      • Facilities
      • Need to Know
      • Our Strategy
      • Plan Your Visit
      • Subscribe
      • Tours
      • Venue Hire
      • Volunteering
    • Gladstone Regional Libraries
    • Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum
        BackGladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum
      • Local Heritage Register
      • Sister City Program
    • Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre
    • Tourism
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      • RV Friendly Information
  • Business
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    • Doing Business with Us
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      • Development Application Tracking
      • Development Statistics
      • Planning Schemes
    • Economy
        BackEconomy
      • Demographics
      • Economic Development
      • Economic Transition
      • Investment and Liveability
      • Major Projects
      • Small Business Friendly Council
    • Food Licensing
        BackFood Licensing
      • Who needs a food licence
      • Apply, Amend or Cancel
      • Food Safety
    • Local Business
        BackLocal Business
      • Backflow Prevention
      • Commercial Activities on Council Land
      • Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds
      • Environmentally Relevant Activities
      • Standpipes
      • Trade Waste
      • Tattooing and Piercing
      • Water Carriers
    • Standards
        BackStandards
      • Asset Strategies and Studies
      • Naming Roads and Assets
      • Standards and As Constructed Requirements
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Living Here
  1. Home
  2. Living Here
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  4. Environmental and Noise Complaints
Back

Living Here

  • Pets and Animals
      BackPets and Animals
    • Breeding Permits
    • Dangerous and Prohibited Animals
    • Dogs in Public Places
    • Impounded Animals
    • Lost and Found
    • Microchipping
    • Pet Pals Program
    • Registration
    • Requirements for Animal Owners
  • Residents
      BackResidents
    • Advanced Water Meters
    • Bin Collection Day
    • Buying Building Renovation
    • Glad to be in Gladstone
    • EzyBill
    • Pay, Apply and Report
    • Mapping
    • Rates
        BackRates
      • About You
      • Financial Hardship
      • Forms and Policies
      • My Rate Notice
      • Objection to Rating Category
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      • Pension Concession
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      • Substituted Service
      • Utility Charges
      • FAQs
    • Regulated Parking
    • Update Your Details
    • Waste and Recycling
        BackWaste and Recycling
      • Landfill Bin and Waste Disposal
      • Recycling Bin and Specialised Services
      • Recycle Mate
      • Waste Education
      • Waste Levy
    • Water Meters
    • Water Wise
  • Report
      BackReport
    • Abandoned Vehicles
    • Claims against Council
    • Environmental and Noise Complaints
    • Illegal Dumping
    • Overgrown and Unsightly Premises
    • Problem Animals
    • Signs and Abandoned Goods Register
    • Straying Livestock
  • Environment
      BackEnvironment
    • Air Quality
    • Biodiversity
    • Biosecurity
    • Blue-green algae blooms
    • Bushfire Mitigation
    • Coasts and Coastal Vegetation
    • CoastSnap
    • Conservation Programs and Initiatives
    • Erosion and Sediment Control
    • Feral Animals
    • First Nations Fire and Land Officer
    • Landfill Gas Abatement
    • Mosquitoes
    • Pests and Weeds
    • Weed Spray Equipment Hire
    • Wildlife
  • Community Development
      BackCommunity Development
    • Access and Inclusion
    • Citizenship
    • Community Engagement
    • Connecting Council with Curriculum
    • Community Safety
    • Community Services Directory
    • Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct
    • Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Sport and Recreation
    • Volunteering
    • Welcoming Cities
    • Youth Services
  • Community Investment
      BackCommunity Investment
    • Grant Funding Finder
    • Other Funding Sources
  • Services
      BackServices
    • Bridges
    • Cemeteries
    • Immunisations
    • Public Notices and Outages
    • Roads
    • Sewerage
    • Transfer Stations and Landfills
    • Water
  • Emergencies
      BackEmergencies
    • RegionWatch
    • Disaster Information
    • Before a Disaster
    • During a Disaster
    • After a Disaster

Environmental and Noise Complaints

Complaints dealt with by Council
Complaints not dealt with by Council
Noise nuisance
Nuisance fact sheets
Dispute Resolution Centre

Council receives numerous enquiries regarding nuisance complaints and restrictions within the Council area. 

Local Government powers under Environmental Protection Regulations are restricted to a nuisance which come from a residential or commercial property unless the property or activity is licensed by another government agency. For example, an environmentally relevant activity that holds a licence with the Department of Environment & Resource Management (DERM), is regulated by them.

On receipt of a complaint, Council will write to both parties and inform them of the relevant provisions of the legislation. Fact sheets relevant to nuisance are also provided. If further complaints on the issue are received, officers will inspect and investigate the validity of the complaint.

Complaints dealt with by Council

For council to respond to an environmental nuisance complaint, it must relate to an emission from residential or commercial land not covered by other government agencies. Generally, the complaint can be about any emission, including ash, dust, fumes, noise, odour or smoke.

Gladstone Regional Council has powers under Local Law No. 3 (Community and Environmental Management) 2011 and the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) to regulate fires within the Gladstone Regional Council local government area.

In accordance with Local Law No. 3, the lighting of fires is prohibited within the Gladstone Regional Council local government area unless the fire is lit within a fireplace, barbeque or incinerator and meets the following conditions:

  • The fire must not exceed 2 metres in all directions; and
  • The fire is lit in an enclosed, properly constructed fireplace that prevents the escape of fire or any burning material from the fire (a fireplace that is constructed of stone, metal, concrete or any other non-flammable material that contains the fire perimeter).

In addition to the requirements under Local Law 3, under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld), residents must ensure that any fire lit within a barbeque or fireplace does not cause a smoke nuisance. Accordingly, Gladstone Regional Council does not endorse backyard burning of green waste, household waste or other significant smoke generating waste in incinerators, barbeques or fireplaces (or by any other prohibited means), as this is likely to create an environmental smoke nuisance.

Household waste should be disposed of through rubbish collection or at your local transfer station or landfill facility. Domestic green organic waste should not be burnt or disposed of through your household kerbside collection.

You should be aware that lighting fires for any purpose (even if it meets the above requirements) is not permitted during any declared fire ban or state of fire emergency.

Council will investigate complaints of smoke nuisances and fires not meeting the requirements outlined above and may issue infringement notices/fines.  

Complaints not dealt with by Council

  • Noise from loud music, which remains a Police issue.
  • Noise from loud parties, which remains a Police issue.
  • Noise from vehicles, which remains a Police issue.
  • Noise from boats and jet skis are the responsibility of the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI).

Making a minor complaint about a neighbour to a State or Local Government agency can often do more harm than good. A little tolerance goes a long way so if possible, discuss your mutual concerns. With all the goodwill in the world, it is acknowledged that there are times when assistance from a third party is necessary.

Noise nusiance 

Noise is unwanted sound - barking dogs, loud music, passing traffic. Everyone reacts differently to noise. What can be unbearable for one person may pass almost unnoticed by another. How annoyed we become depends on the loudness, time, place and frequency of the noise.

Noise nuisance guidelines

What if there's a noise nuisance in my neighbourhood?

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 recommend you try this approach first.

Another option is to print out the Noise Nuisance Neighbourhood handout, 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.

How Council deals with noise nuisance

The Environmental Protection Act 1994 introduced by the State Government includes guidelines for noise nuisances. Council is legally required to enforce these limits when the noise is emitted from premises.

There are factors which will be considered when determining whether a noise nuisance is being caused which include:

  • The day of the week and time at which the noise is occurring
  • The amount of noise being emitted
  • The duration and rate of emission and the noise characteristics, and qualities
  • The sensitivity of the environment into which the noise is being emitted and the impact that it has or may have
  • Views of any other neighbours or complainants.

Council will investigate a noise nuisance upon receiving a customer request. If the noise is found to be a nuisance, Council may issue the person or business causing the noise with a ‘direction notice' or an on-the-spot fine.

A direction notice details what offence has taken place, and the time frame that the offender has to rectify the problem. If a direction notice is not complied with, Council may then issue an on-the-spot fine. It is important to note that achieving compliance under this process can take in excess of six weeks.

Nuisance factsheets

Environmental

Backyard Burning Dust nuisance Light nuisance Odour nuisance Spray drift 

Noise

Building work and regulated devices Amplifier devices Refrigeration equipment Power boat engine at premises

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.

Courts Precinct - 46 East Street
(PO Box 542) Rockhampton  Qld  4700
Phone:  (07) 4938 4249    Fax:  (07) 4938 4294 
Website: www.justice.qld.gov.au

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Living Here

SELECT
  • Pets and Animals
      BackPets and Animals
    • Breeding Permits
    • Dangerous and Prohibited Animals
    • Dogs in Public Places
    • Impounded Animals
    • Lost and Found
    • Microchipping
    • Pet Pals Program
    • Registration
    • Requirements for Animal Owners
  • Residents
      BackResidents
    • Advanced Water Meters
    • Bin Collection Day
    • Buying Building Renovation
    • Glad to be in Gladstone
    • EzyBill
    • Pay, Apply and Report
    • Mapping
    • Rates
        BackRates
      • About You
      • Financial Hardship
      • Forms and Policies
      • My Rate Notice
      • Objection to Rating Category
      • Outstanding Rates
      • Payment Options
      • Pension Concession
      • Rates Explained
      • Substituted Service
      • Utility Charges
      • FAQs
    • Regulated Parking
    • Update Your Details
    • Waste and Recycling
        BackWaste and Recycling
      • Landfill Bin and Waste Disposal
      • Recycling Bin and Specialised Services
      • Recycle Mate
      • Waste Education
      • Waste Levy
    • Water Meters
    • Water Wise
  • Report
      BackReport
    • Abandoned Vehicles
    • Claims against Council
    • Environmental and Noise Complaints
    • Illegal Dumping
    • Overgrown and Unsightly Premises
    • Problem Animals
    • Signs and Abandoned Goods Register
    • Straying Livestock
  • Environment
      BackEnvironment
    • Air Quality
    • Biodiversity
    • Biosecurity
    • Blue-green algae blooms
    • Bushfire Mitigation
    • Coasts and Coastal Vegetation
    • CoastSnap
    • Conservation Programs and Initiatives
    • Erosion and Sediment Control
    • Feral Animals
    • First Nations Fire and Land Officer
    • Landfill Gas Abatement
    • Mosquitoes
    • Pests and Weeds
    • Weed Spray Equipment Hire
    • Wildlife
  • Community Development
      BackCommunity Development
    • Access and Inclusion
    • Citizenship
    • Community Engagement
    • Connecting Council with Curriculum
    • Community Safety
    • Community Services Directory
    • Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct
    • Reconciliation Action Plan
    • Sport and Recreation
    • Volunteering
    • Welcoming Cities
    • Youth Services
  • Community Investment
      BackCommunity Investment
    • Grant Funding Finder
    • Other Funding Sources
  • Services
      BackServices
    • Bridges
    • Cemeteries
    • Immunisations
    • Public Notices and Outages
    • Roads
    • Sewerage
    • Transfer Stations and Landfills
    • Water
  • Emergencies
      BackEmergencies
    • RegionWatch
    • Disaster Information
    • Before a Disaster
    • During a Disaster
    • After a Disaster

Gladstone Regional Council

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Get in Touch

Phone

(07) 4970 0700

Opening Hours

8.30am - 5pm Monday to Friday

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Postal Address

PO Box 29, Gladstone Qld 4680

Council Offices

101 Goondoon Street, Gladstone Qld 4680
3 Don Cameron Drive, Calliope Qld 4680
41 Blomfield Street, Miriam Vale Qld 4677
Cnr Wyndham & Hayes Avenues, Boyne Island Qld 4680

Rural Transaction Centres

71 Springs Road, Agnes Water Qld 4677
47 Raglan Street, Mount Larcom Qld 4695

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Gladstone Regional Council Logor Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre Logo Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum Logo Gladstone Regional Libraries Logo Gladstone Tondoon Botanic Gardens Logo Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct

Footer Acknowledgement

Gladstone Regional Council would like to acknowledge the Bailai, the Gurang, the Gooreng Gooreng and the Taribelang Bunda people who are the traditional custodians of this land. Gladstone Regional Council would also like to pay respect to Elders both past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Learn more about Council's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

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