Nuisances
Neighbourhood nuisances can impact on a person's health and wellbeing.
Council regulates some nuisances as defined under the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 and through council's local laws.
Noise
Unwanted noise can negatively affect a person's health and well being. Not only can it cause hearing loss, but it may affect people through annoyance, sleep interference, stress, loss of productivity and a general reduction in the quality of life.
The actual loudness, including the frequency, tone and vibrations of a sound may only be one component of the effect on people. Other considerations for time and place, duration, source of the sound and whether the listener has any control over it, should be made.
The most common noise nuisances are:
- Pool pumps and spas
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Regulated devices around the home such as lawn mowers
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Air-conditioning
For more information, check council's fact sheets on:
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General Noise (PDF 1.1mb)
- Pool Pumps and Spas (PDF 1.8mb)
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Regulated Devices (PDF 83 kb)
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Air Conditioning (PDF 1.0mb)
- Building Noise (PDF 368.2 kb)
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Smoke (PDF 207.7 kb)
Music or party noise
Music and/or party noise is regulated by the local police and should be contacted in either instance.
Untidy Property
An untidy property can include any vacant land, residential, or commercial property determined by a council officer as untidy or unsightly.
An untidy property may have building materials, waste materials, debris, scrap, rubbish, or other materials or objects that have been allowed to accumulate in an unsightly manner.
For further information, check council's fact sheet on Untidy Property (PDF 108 kb).
Overgrown Property
An overgrown property may be vacant, residential or commercial land which in the opinion of an authorised council officer may be:
- Likely to be a breeding place or harbouring of vermin because of grass, weeds, plants or other vegetable growth in large quantities
- A fire hazard
For further information, download council's fact sheet on Overgrown Property (PDF 140 kb).
Insects
Mosquitoes and sand flies are considered a nuisance in the Mackay region. Information about these insects and Council's aerial larviciding can be viewed below:
- Mosquitoes
- Sand flies (biting midges)
For further information on nuisances, contact council.