When a Port Phillip resident reported unreasonable noise to the council, our Officer for the Protection of the Local Environment (OPLE) helped resolve the complaint.
The noise was coming from a large extractor fan next to the person’s apartment. The fan was part of an air circulation system in an underground car park for the commercial building next door.
"The reporter was living in a new residential apartment block built within two metres of a commercial building. Their balcony and windows were within ten metres of the noise source,” the OPLE said.
The OPLE installed a temporary noise logger on the person’s balcony for seven days. EPA analysed the data against the State Environment Protection Policy (Control of Noise from Commerce, Industry and Trade) N-1.
“The limit during the day at this location is 59 decibels,” the OPLE said. “The fan was breaching this by 9 decibels.”
The OPLE issued the commercial building’s occupier with a Pollution Abatement Notice. instructing. They had The notice instructed them to modify the air circulation system or install controls within 60 days to ensure compliance.
The occupier had to show how they were complying with the notice. This meant outlining their noise abatement measures. They also had to show evidence of noise testing at their premises.
“It’s important all businesses have the right controls in place to limit noise impacts on those around them. This includes checking all machinery and equipment often,” the OPLE said.
The OPLE revoked the notice after determining that the occupier had complied with the notice.
Find out more about how businesses can reduce commercial and industrial noise.
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Reviewed 9 April 2021
