Litter, pollution & noise
The easiest way to let us know about neighbourhood issues like illegal dumping or noise is by reporting it online.
Neighbourhood noise
What is unreasonable noise?
Most of us have been disturbed by loud noise at some stage during our lives. Some of us may have been responsible for causing noise that has affected our neighbours. With the current trend towards smaller block sizes and denser land use, the chances of producing noise that may affect others has increased.
Noise not only creates a nuisance due to its loudness, but it can also contain annoying characteristics such as being impulsive (a banging hammer, knocking), modulating (a siren, music) or tonal (whining sounds, music).
The Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 (the Noise Regulations) set limits depending on the time of day or night and/or day of the week. The Regulations do allow certain 'noisy' activities (as described below) to be carried out subject to strict conditions. Noise emitted in excess of the assigned noise levels or that is not in accordance with an exemption can be deemed to be unreasonable. As a guide, noise which is clearly audible beyond the property boundary may exceed the limits.
Home maintenance (e.g. power tools)
The Noise Regulations provide exemptions for necessary maintenance or projects around the home. Such activities may be carried out between:
- 7am - 7pm Monday to Saturday
- 9am - 7pm Sundays and Public Holidays
Equipment that requires the constant presence of an operator e.g. lawn mower and power tools, may not be used for more than 2 hours per day.
For more information please visit the Department of Water & Environmental Protection's noise publication page:
DWER noise publications
Musical instruments
The Noise Regulations provide exemptions for practice of musical instruments in a residential premises. This may be undertaken between:
- 7am - 7pm Monday to Saturday
- 9am - 7pm Sundays and Public Holidays
Musical instruments may not be used for more than 1 hour per day (this doesn't necessarily mean consecutive minutes, but they must be used in a reasonable manner i.e. cannot be played infrequently throughout a whole day despite one hour accumulative total) and the windows and doors should be closed.
For more information please visit the Department of Water & Environmental Protection's noise publication page:
DWER noise publications
Sporting equipment at home (e.g. basketballs)
Noise from using sporting equipment such as basketballs at home can sometimes result in a disturbance to neighbours, due to the thumping of the ball on the ground or from hitting the backboard.
The use of sporting equipment such as basketballs is limited by the Noise Regulations to a maximum of 2 hours per day, between the hours of:
- 7am - 7pm Monday to Saturday
- 9am - 7pm Sundays and Public Holidays
Please consider your neighbours when deciding where to place sports equipment such as basketball hoops. For example, locate freestanding hoops away from garage doors to help prevent extra noise if a missed shot hits the door.
Parties, amplified music and human behaviour
Music may likely be regarded as unreasonable by neighbours if it can be heard clearly at their boundary. Noise limits significantly reduce after 10pm Monday - Saturday and after 7pm on Sundays. Disruptive party music and/or anti-social behaviour e.g. screaming, yelling, abuse and intimidation should be referred to the Police on 131 444 (Police can attend after hours and are authorised under the Regulations to assist with these types of complaints).
Neighbours are more likely to tolerate 'one off parties' if they have been given advance warning through a letterdrop. This could include the:
- address and date of the party (neighbours may wish to make alternative arrangements and go out);
- time the music will be switched off or turned down significantly;
- party organiser's phone number who should be contactable at all times.
Neighbours are still entitled to seek Police assistance should the music/noise be unbearable. Some party organisors mistakenly believe that party music can legally be played until midnight. There are no such exemptions under the Regulations, although neighbours may be more accepting on Friday or Saturday night.
Outdoor speakers should be minimized and directed away from neighbours' homes, the bass kept low and the party moved indoors with windows and doors closed particularly after 10pm.
Commercial premises (e.g. function centres, bars)
Commercial premises are required to comply with assigned noise levels at the nearest properties. Sometimes they may have a one-off event and approval granted by the City to exceed to assigned levels. A condition of approval would be to notify anybody who is affected by the noise.
Events
Noise from public events such as concerts etc. will usually have approval from the City if they are deemed to exceed to normal assigned noise levels at the nearest house. The approval contains strict conditions such as event times and noise levels and may be monitored either by the City's Environmental Health Officers or an acoustic consultant. Notification is required to be delivered to affected residences prior to the event.
If you experience noise issues from an event the City will investigate the matter to determine if approval was issued and the event complied with the conditions of approval.
Security and car alarms
Police have powers to enter any premises where an alarm has been sounding for 30 minutes. Please call the Police on 131 444 to arrange for the alarm to be deactivated. The City cannot assist with intruder alarms or car alarms. If you are disturbed by a fire alarm you should call emergency services on 000 to investigate whether there is a fire.
For more information please visit the Department of Water & Environmental Protection's noise publication page:
DWER noise publications
Construction sites
Construction noise resulting from a construction site is only permitted from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday (excluding public holidays). Outside these hours a noise management plan is required to be submitted to the City at least 7 days prior to the intended works and approved. Please click here for the application form. Most works which are considered essential to complete early morning or late at night will be approved such as emergency power work, road/power/water repairs and maintenance (where traffic is a safety issue) and large concrete pours (which require significant time for curing).
As defined by the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997, construction work includes:
- the construction, erection, installation, alteration, repair, maintenance, cleaning, painting, renewal, removal, excavation, dismantling or demolition of, or addition to, any building or structure, or any work in connection with any of these things, that is done at or adjacent to the place where the building or structure is located
- work on which a hoisting appliance or any scaffold or shoring is used
- work in driving or extracting piles, sheet piles or trench sheet
- work in laying any pipe or work in lining pipe that is done at or adjacent to the place where the pipe is laid or to be laid
- work in sinking or lining or altering, repairing, maintaining, renewing, removing, or dismantling a well or borehole
- reclamation or site works including road works and earth works
- tunnelling
If you are affected by noise from a construction site try and have a friendly chat to a worker onsite and ask to speak to the site supervisor. If you don't feel comfortable approaching them in person, have a look for the builders details on the signage displayed at the front of the construction site and give them a call.
For more information please visit the Department of Water & Environmental Protection's noise publication page:
DWER noise publications
Essential services (e.g. waste collection)
Essential services such as road/verge cleaning, parks and gardens maintenance and waste collection are needed to keep our City clean and safe.
These activities are permitted between 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 7pm on Sundays and public holidays.
If works are completed outside these hours, please contact the City via email advising of the contractor name (e.g. for waste collection please specify whether it was a City truck or private waste contractor) to mail@vincent.wa.gov.au.
Mechanical noise (e.g. air conditioners, pool pumps)
If you are considering installing a new air conditioner system, ensure your installer is aware of the 'An Installer's Guide to Air Conditioner Noise' obtained from the Fair Air website. Regular servicing and maintenance of your existing unit to ensure wear and tear and/or aging parts are addressed will keep noise to a minimum.
Pool pumps should be operated between the hours of 7am-7pm Monday to Saturday and 9am-7pm Sundays and public holidays, when higher noise levels are allowed.
Animals (e.g. birds, roosters)
Cover or bring bird cages in at night to prevent vocal birds from waking neighbours.
Roosters are not permitted to be kept anywhere in the City due to the intrusive noise.
For dog barking issues, please refer to the Rangers webpage.
What do I do if I am affected by my neighbours noise?
We suggest in the first instance that you have a friendly chat to your neighbour - they may not even be aware of how loud they are. If you do not feel comfortable approaching them face to face, drop a polite note in their letterbox. You can print the noise information off this webpage which may assist.
This approach may have some spin-off benefits such as establishing a trusting and friendly relationship that can help you both to address common local issues eg hoon drivers, home invasions, as well as keeping an eye out for each other. If the initial approach doesn't work out, you should feel proud of yourself for at least trying!
If you have attempted to resolve the issue yourself but the problem persists then please contact the City's Health Services via the Report It form or send an email to mail@vincent.wa.gov.au.
Please note that the City will not investigate once-off noise issues like parties.
For complaint investigation you will need to complete a noise log sheet which provide us with valuable information and evidence of the noise nuisance. You must keep a record for a minimum of:
- Parties - complete for at least 4 weeks
- Mechanical noise e.g. air conditioners, pool pumps, power tools that operate more than once per week - complete for at least 2 weeks
- Construction noise - complete for at least 2 weeks
Noise investigation log sheet
Unfortunately, there are occasions when the City through warnings, education and advocacy is unable to encourage people to do the right thing. We may then need to gather evidence by taking sound level measurements from your home. Should breaches be determined, the City can issue infringement, formal directions to cease noise (penalties up to $25,000 where breached), seize equipment such as stereos and prosecute. Each case is assessed on it's merits and enforcement is graduate and proportionate to the risk caused by the situation.
Odours
If you see someone polluting our environment or waterways, contact the Department of Environment Regulation's Pollution Watch line on 1300 784 782.
The City's Environmental Health Officers can provide advice and complaint resolution services relating to noise, air and water pollution. Environmental Health Officers work in collaboration with pollution inspectors from the Department of Environment Regulation on these matters. For further advice contact the City's Health Services or the Department of Environment Regulation on 6467 5000.
Burning Off
Burning of leaf litter, rubbish or refuse on the ground or in an incinerator is not permitted within Vincent, unless prior approval has been granted by the Manager Health Services (this is extremely rare). Furthermore, fire bans exist in the summer months and are regulated by the City's Ranger Services.
Smoky Chimneys
Smoke from chimneys can interfere with both amenity and health conditions such as asthma. If you own a wood heater, please ensure it operates properly and is maintained regularly. Ensure you only burn dry, seasoned firewood.
Resources
BurnWise - Home Heating
BurnWise - Store Right Burn Bright
BurnWise - Wood Heaters
BurnWise - Your Smoky Chimney
Litter
Rangers are active in the area of litter control. As well as the more common offence of throwing cigarette butts or other litter from a vehicle, they also deal with the following contraventions:
The Litter Act was amended in 1996 to prohibit the posting of publicity material in a public place. This amendment makes the promoter of an event, as well as the person who actually affixes the advertisement, liable for the offence relating to illegal advertising material, with an associated fine of up to $10,000. The introduction of this amendment has seen a marked reduction in the number of illegal posters.
Illegal Dumping
Littering and illegal dumping can have a big impact on our environment and safety as well as being an eyesore and affecting our enjoyment of public spaces. In October 2016, the City of Vincent entered into a partnership with the Department of Environment Regulation to deter and apprehend offenders.
Illegal dumping is the unauthorised discharging or abandonment of large amounts of waste and is an offence under Section 49 of the EP Act. On conviction, the offence carries a maximum fine of $125,000 for corporations and $62,500 for individuals.
Throwing or dropping litter is an offence under the Litter Act 1979 and dumping rubbish of any kind (even small amounts) on a land not specified as a waste facility also attracts penalties under the Litter Act.
Illegal dumping and littering is an environmental, economic and social problem:
- Removal is a major cost for the City and ratepayers.
- It can be dangerous (e.g. hazardous waste).
- It it unsightly, blocks access and attracts pests.
- It is a waste of resources because most items can often be recycled or reused.
Did you know?
Your nearest recycling centres are in Balcatta and Tamala Park. They will take a number of items (many for free) including:
- electronics, TVs, computers, mobile phones
- white goods, ovens, washing machines, dishwashers, microwaves (fees apply for fridges)
- metals, aluminium, steel and copper
- household and office furniture (good condition)
- household goods, kitchen utensils, tools, sports equipment
- landscaping equipment (excludes scrap timber, green waste, soil, rubble and fibre cement)
- household Hazardous Waste including batteries, paint, gas cylinders and chemicals
Balcatta Recycling Centre
238 Balcatta Road. Open 7 days a week.
www.stirling.wa.gov.au or call 9205 8555
Tamala Park
1700 Marmion Avenue, open 7 days a week.
www.mrc.wa.gov.au or call 9306 6303
Verge Valet™ Vincent
City of Vincent has introduced a pre-booked service called Verge Valet Vincent, in place of the traditional scheduled bulk waste service.
This will reduce the waste collected, increase recycling, allow residents to choose their own pick-up time and limit the timeframe for piling junk onto the verge.
Verge Valet™ is a pre-booked, flexible collection service for residential bulk waste. Verge Valet™ replaces the traditional set-date bulk waste collections previously offered by the City.
Reporting illegal dumping
Our Ranger and Waste Management teams work hard to discourage littering and dumping, investigate offences and to clear and dispose of rubbish and dumped goods.
You can help us to keep Vincent beautiful by reporting illegal dumping to the City on 9273 6000.
Please provide as much of the following information as possible:
- Location of dumping.
- Descriptions or photographs/ footage of persons if witnessed.
- Details of vehicle make, model, colour and registration, photographs or footage if witnessed.
- Details of items being discarded.
Please also remember that leaving items outside of charity shops (unless inside an approved donation bin) is dumping, not donating.
Please note that illegal dumping on private property is the responsibility of the owner to dispose of.
Thank you for helping us to make our City a safer and better place to be.
More Information
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation - Illegal Dumping
Abandoned Trolleys
Shopping trolleys are provided for patron use by various retail establishments. Shopping trolleys that have been removed from the shopping precinct can pose a risk to both pedestrians and drivers and have a negative impact upon the visual amenity of the streetscape.
Persons found abandoning shopping trolleys in a public place will be given an Infringement Notice and are liable for a fine of $200.00.
How to report abandoned trolleys
Trolleys are the property of the store they are from and need to be reported to the correct company for collection. In order to ensure abandoned trolleys are collected as quickly as possible, the City encourages residents to report all trolley sightings directly to the respective collection service.
If the trolley is from:
Woolworths or Dan Murphy’s
Report the sighting direct to Trolley Tracker by phone on 1800 641 497 (7 days, 8am-6pm AEST), via the ‘Report a Trolley’ page on their website or through the Trolley Tracker App, available from Google Play and the App Store.
Coles
Report the sighting directly to Coles by phone on 1800 876 553, via the ‘Abandoned Trolley’ page on their website or through the Coles App, available from Google Play and the App Store.
IGA
Report the sighting directly to the nearest IGA store by phone on:
- Leederville IGA - 9444 8431
- IGA Mount Hawthorn – 9444 8072
- The Market Place Mt Lawley IGA – 9328 8761
If the contact details for the store responsible are not in the above list or a report has been lodged with the store and the trolley has not been collected after 3 days please contact the City’s Rangers on 9273 6000. You can also notify the City via Report It.
Abandoned Vehicles
Abandoned vehicles left on verges and streets make the streetscape look untidy and can be a safety hazard.
If you locate an abandoned vehicle, please contact Ranger Services on 9273 6000 or Report It online.
Every attempt to locate the owner(s) of an abandoned vehicle is made including liaison with the Police for registration details and stolen vehicle information. The City arranges for towing and impounding as a last resort.
If a vehicle has been abandoned on Vincent's streets or verges, and attempts to contact the owners are unsuccessful, the vehicle may be impounded.
Vehicles may be claimed by contacting the City of Vincent and supplying photographic identification in addition to proof of ownership. Collection will then need to be arranged from the City's storage contractor, Pickles Auctions (Cnr Phoenix Road & Sudlow Road, Bibra Lake). Fees apply and will be charged by Pickles Auctions before the vehicle is released.
Unclaimed Vehicles
If a vehicle is unregistered or the owner has not responded to any attempts of contact after two months, vehicles may be sold by tender/auction or disposed of by other means. REVs checks are performed on all vehicles before they are advertised for public tender/auction to ensure they are not encumbered. All disposals are advertised on pickles.com.au
Construction noise
Noise from a construction site is permitted between the hours of 7am and 7pm Monday to Saturday excluding public holidays in accordance with regulation 13 of the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997. There may be times where works are required to be completed outside of these hours such as along major roads with heavy day time traffic conditions. It is safer to complete the works at night in these cases.
The City may approve work outside of the allowable hours, where a noise management plan has been prepared and submitted at least seven days prior to the works, and approved. There are a number of strict requirements and the City will only approved these where adequate justification is received. The City will not approved out of hours works simply because a project is behind schedule, as it needs to consider the impact on the surrounding occupiers.
A noise management plan must contain the following:
- Brief description of the proposed works.
- Dates and times of the proposed works.
- Reasons why the construction work is proposed to be undertaken outside of 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday, or any time on a Sunday or public holiday.
- Detailed map showing the area of works including nearby streets and nearest noise receivers.
- Details and duration of activities on the construction site likely to result in noise emissions that fail to comply with the assigned levels prescribed by Regulation 7.
- List all types of equipment to be used with db(A) levels at one metre and (refer to manufacturer’s data or AS 2436-2010).
- Details of measures to be implemented to control noise (including vibration) emissions.
- Confirmation that all equipment used onsite is the quietest reasonably available, and that the construction work will be carried out in accordance with control of environmental noise practices set out in section 4 of AS 2436-2010 Guide to noise and vibration control on construction, maintenance and demolition.
- Procedure for monitoring noise (and vibration) emissions.
- The proposed notification area (all premises that will be exposed to noise in excess of the assigned levels prescribed by Regulation 7 must be notified at least 24 hours in advance of the works).
- An example of the notification letter that will be delivered to premises identified in point 8 above, including details of the proposed works, dates, start and finish times and a telephone number for the person contactable at all times during the works.
- Complaint response procedure.
Resources
- Refer to AS 2436-2010 Guide to noise and vibration control on construction, maintenance and demolition for further guidance.
- Certain works may require the submission of noise contour maps showing the noise impacts on surrounding noise sensitive premises.
- You may wish to seek the advice of an Acoustic Consultant to assist in preparation of the noise management plan, particularly where works are directly adjacent sensitive properties.
- Where noise is predicted to affect noise receivers in adjacent local government areas, you must also contact that Local Government to seek their support.
To apply for approval please download the below form.
Noise Management Plan Approval application - Regulation 13