Environmental Nuisance
Environmental Nuisance is defined in the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (the Act) and includes:
- Aerosols
- Fumes
- Light
- Noise
- Odour
- Particles
- Smoke
- Or any unhealthy, offensive or unsightly condition because of contamination
Council receives and investigates complaints in relation to these environmental nuisances under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 or the Public Health Act 2005 depending on the complaint. Part of the investigation includes communicating with both parties to inform them of the relevant provisions of the legislation.
Air pollution can impact your neighbours and interfere with their daily activities. If severe enough, it can affect health and the environment. Council investigates complaints about air pollutants such as smoke, dust and dirt, light, odour and spray drift. Find out more about air pollutants, and regulation.
Odour can come from many sources including spear pumps, septic tanks, compost heaps, rotting vegetation, fertilisers and rubbish. Sometimes odour can affect neighbours and interfere with their normal activities. If severe enough, it can impact on people's health.
Neighbourhood noise can be a nuisance and, if loud enough, affect people’s health. Find out about acceptable noise levels, and how to reduce noise.
- Indoor Venues
- Open Air Events
- Construction Works
- Air Conditioning Equipment
- Refrigeration Equipment
- Amplifiers Devices
- Regulated Devices
- Pool Pumps and Spa Blowers
- Power Boats on Land
- Waste Receptacles
Water is a scarce and essential natural resource therefore conserving and maintaining water quality is important. Preventing or reducing water pollution protects our water quality and is essential to maintaining the health of our environment and our own quality of life.
Prescribed water contaminants include pollutants such as chemicals, oil, paint, animal matter, plant matter, rubbish, sewage and wastewater from outdoor cleaning processes. These pollutants are then washed or blown into stormwater drains and local waterways, causing harm to natural ecosystems and reducing the quality of the water essential for use by people and industry. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 it is an offence (whether wilfully or unwilfully) to:
- deposit a prescribed water contaminant into stormwater drains, roadside gutters or waterways
- deposit a prescribed water contaminant in a place where it could potentially wash, blow, fall or move into stormwater drains, roadside gutters or waterways
- release stormwater run-off which results in the build-up of earth in stormwater drains, roadside gutters or waterways.