Loud Noises

‘Loud noises’ is a line yelled by dim witted weatherman, Brick Tamland, in one of my all-time favourite movies, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy – a comedic take on the male-dominated world of broadcasting in San Diego in the 1970s.

In one particular scene, where everyone else is yelling, Brick – wanting to be part of the action – firstly screams, ‘I don’t know what we’re yelling about’ and then shortly after yells, ‘loud noises’!

The reason I bring this up is because, as I sit here typing away, Schoolies Week 2020 has just begun and, with Rainbow hosting a lot more school leavers than in previous years – due to the cancellation of the normal Gold Coast celebrations – there are hordes of kids around making ‘loud noises’.

The more they drink, the louder they get.  If you’ve got a houseful of them staying close to you, you’ll know exactly what I mean!

The schoolies, however, are not the only ones around town making ‘loud noises’ – with local police getting called to a number of other noisy parties that same weekend.  This trend is only set to increase as we move into the ‘silly season’.

I personally attended two of these gatherings and, after speaking to several intoxicated revellers, concluded there is widespread misunderstanding about parties, noise and what is permissible. So, let me try to set you straight…

Excessive noise from amplified music, motors, generators and guests is the number one reason why police are called to a party.  Excessive noise from your party can be reported to police 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – that’s right, it doesn’t have to be after 10pm (which is the most common misconception).

Once a noise complaint is made it will be investigated. If the police are reasonably satisfied the noise is excessive in the circumstances, we have the power to enter the premises, without warrant, and give the person responsible for the noise a noise abatement direction – this direction requires the person/s to stop making the excessive noise and refrain from doing so for the next 96 hours.

If the excessive noise continues within the noise abatement period, the person responsible is facing a fine or court appearance. Police also have the power to seize, remove, lock away or render inoperable the property that is being used to produce the noise. Yep, we can take your sound system, etc., for the duration of the noise abatement period.

If you’re being subjected to environmental nuisance from a noisy party, the Queensland Police website has a link where you can register a noise complaint online and – for you party hosts – it has a number of ‘handy hints’ to reduce the likelihood of a complaint being made about your gathering.

Three of the most useful hints I can give you from my experience are:

• Let your neighbours know about your party in advance.
• Keep music indoors and move guests inside later in the night – the more people drink the louder they get!
• Turn down the bass on your sound system. It is often the bass noise that bothers neighbours.

So, do the right thing.  Respect your neighbours – if you’re hosting a party in town make sure you limit the ‘loud noises’.