NEIGHBOURHOOD NOISE 2004 Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) 1 survey results...

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NEIGHBOURHOOD NOISE 2004 Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW)

survey results

neighbourhood

neighbourhood

noise noise

This is an extract of a report from a community noise survey done by instinct and reason for DEC in 2004, with the aim of informing the DEC's review of noise regulations, which is conducted every five years.

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presentation overview

introduction and backgroundintroduction and background

objectives and study designobjectives and study design

nature and extent of noise nature and extent of noise

behaviours and actionsbehaviours and actions

issues and attitudesissues and attitudes

preferred solutionspreferred solutions

knowledge and legislationknowledge and legislation

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introduction

• This document covers the results of a survey designed to enhance the understanding of the issues surrounding neighbourhood noise in NSW so that good policy can be developed to enable fair neighbourhood activity without inconveniencing the community unduly

• The strategic outcomes DEC seeks is to be able to use this work to:

– Identify current attitudes, knowledge and behaviours in relation to noise issues

– Inform planning, implementation and evaluation of future legislation, programs and initiatives targeting this issue

• This survey is about understanding how the community experience, act and feel in various situations involving neighbourhood noise

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research objectives

1. Identify the nature and extent of neighbourhood noise impacts being experienced by the NSW community

2. Identify community awareness of, and attitudes to neighbourhood noise problems

3. Identify community preferences concerning potential solutions to noise problems - in particular views concerning the appropriate level of restriction on legitimate noise activity such as lawn mowing and using power tools

4. Gauge the level of public awareness and understanding of current legislation and enforcement options, including what works, what doesn’t and what's missing, and to explore aspects of current knowledge, attitudes and behaviours regarding noise

Given that the goal of this neighbourhood noise survey was to increase the amount of knowledge about how the community currently experiences noise then there were as a result, four primary research objectives set to be achieved, including…

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• The study was based on personal telephone interviews amongst community members

• Sample selection was on a quota basis using two factors: gender to ensure a broad cross section, and location. Location was based on

place of residence in either inner metro areas, outer suburban areas and in rural and small town areas of NSW. The final database was as follows

study design

Males Females

Metro inner 106 134

Metro outer suburban 137 124

Rural/small town 102 147

Total 345 405

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who did we speak to?

The study reached a wide cross section of the NSW community…

• Living in different residential circumstances

- separate housing (N=544)

- semi-detached, row or terrace, townhouse (N=75) and

- in flats units or apartments (N=121)

- owners (N=341)

- non owners (N=288) and

- renters (N=101)

• Age groups

- under 39 (N=295)

- 40-59 (N=298) and

- 60plus (N=157)

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nature nature extent extent&

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problems experienced in local area…

34

11

12

15

21

15

7

46

31

25

28

30

36

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Barking dogs

Problems with neighbours (general)

Drug abuse

People drinking

Noise from neighbours

Dumping of rubbish

Abandoned vehicles

Noise from traffic

Young people misbehaving

Vandalism

Graffiti

Dog droppings

Litter and rubbish

percentage

Q1. Which of the following, if any, do you consider to be a problem in your area that affects your quality of life at home or in your local area? Multiple response

Base: Total Sample N=750

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extent of noise heard in the home…

26

30

24

13

8

0 10 20 30 40 50

Not at all

A little

Sometimes

Quite often

Much or all thetime

Percentage

Q2. Irrespective of whether you find the noise annoying or disturbing, can you tell me what extent you can hear noise from your current neighbourhood when you are at home? Single response


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impact of neighbourhood noise on the individual…

42

27

19

9

3

0 10 20 30 40 50

Not at all

A little

Moderately

Very

Extremely

percentage

Q3. And what extent are you personally bothered, annoyed or disturbed by noise from your current neighbourhood? Single response


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type of noise experienced and its impact on the individual…

Q4a. Which of the following noises have you been aware of inside your home from your current neighbourhood? Multiple response. ASK FOR EACH NOISE AWARE OF IN Q4a Q4b. What extent are you personally bothered, annoyed or disturbed by [INSERT NOISE]? Single response

Base: N=74

Type of noise

Aware

N=750

%

Extremely

%

Very

%

A little

%

Not at all

%

Motor vehicles in general

50 10 16 56 18

Garbage collection 39 3 17 55 26

Animals (barking dog)

34 6 14 62 18

Motorcycles 30 15 20 50 15

Loud music 27 8 15 53 24

Modified vehicles 24 14 18 49 19

Powered garden tools

23 3 10 51 36

House alarms 20 2 11 66 21

Pubs/entertainment venues

9 9 27 45 19

A/C or pool pump 5 3 11 57 30

Other 22 - - - -

ImpactImpact

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noise impact matrix

Low AwarenessHigh Annoyance

Low AwarenessHigh Annoyance

High AwarenessHigh Annoyance

High AwarenessHigh Annoyance

Low AwarenessLow Annoyance

Low AwarenessLow Annoyance

High AwarenessLow Annoyance

High AwarenessLow Annoyance

Annoyance

Awareness

2

13

4

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noise impact matrixA

nn

oyan

ce (

Ext r

em

ely

/Very

)

Awareness (% of people)

Motor Cycles

House Alarms Power Garden Tools

Animals

A/C or Pool Pump

Motor Vehicles in General

Modified Vehicles

Pubs and Entertainment Venues

Garbage Collection

Loud Music

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

4 2

3 1

Pubs & entertainment venues Motorcycles

Modified vehicles

Motor vehiclesin general

Loud music

Animals Garbage collection

Power garden toolsHouse alarms

A/C or pool pump

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behavioursbehaviours actions actions&

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complaints made about noise…

7

86

8

85

15

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Don't know if complaint was madeagainst me

Not had noise complaint against me

Had noise complaint against me

Have never made noise complaint

Have made noise complaint in thepast

percentage

Q5a. Have you ever complained about a noise issue by a neighbour? Single response Q5b. Has anyone ever complained about a noise issue caused by you? Single response


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perceptions about complaints made against…

2

7

49

42

16

5

30

21

28

0 10 20 30 40 50

Made more noise

Haven't tried to stop

Taken some steps to stop

Completely stop the noise

None of the above

Noise was innappropriate or annoying, butunavoidable

Noise was inappropriate, but a rarity

Noise not bad, but bad time

Noise not bad, no idea why a problem

Percentage

Q5c. How would you describe the noise that you were making when the complaint was made? Single response Q5d. Following the complain against you, to what degree did you make efforts to change the noise? Single response

Base: Those who have had a noise complain made against them N=57

Q5dQ5d

Q5cQ5c

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where complaints are lodged…

80

2

1

2

2

10

12

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

I 've never complained

Other

MP/ Councilor

Landlord

State gov't

Local gov't

Police

Neighbour or offender

percentage

Q8. Have you ever complained about a noise issue by a neighbour to any of the following? Multiple response


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perceptions as to effectiveness of complaint…

5

33

41

22

0 10 20 30 40 50

Don't know

Not effective

Somewhateffective

Very effective

percentage

Q9. Thinking about your complaint, how effective do you think it was? Single response

Base: Those who have complained N=156

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satisfaction with complaint resolution…

32

28

40

0 10 20 30 40 50

Disagree

Moderate

Agree

percentage

Q10. Thinking about your complaint, how effective do you think it was? Single response


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reasons for not making a complaint…

3

2

2

1

3

3

2

9

5

7

8

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Someone else complained

Not deliberate

They are young

Neighbour moved away

Neighbours would take no notice

Authorities would do nothing

No need in the end

Not a regular problem

Noise stopped eventually

Keep the peace with neighbours

Avoid backlash

percentage

Q11. And why did you not complain? Multiple response

Base: Total Sample N=750 (note 60% did not complain)

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result of complaint on relationship with neighbour…

16

11

65

8

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Don't know

Got worse

Stayed the same

Got better

percentage

Q12. How did the relationship with your neighbours change as a result of the complaint? Single response


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issuesissues attitudes attitudes

&

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issues with neighbourhood noise…(1 is strongly disagree and 10 is strongly agree)

People in my immediate area tend too look out for each other 6.3

I shouldn’t be able to hear noise from neighbours at any time 4.9

Noise is only acceptable at certain times 6.7

People are entitled to make noise providing they get permission/let neighbours know

6.8

I should be able to make noise in my own home – it’s my personal side 6.3

I would not feel comfortable approaching my neighbour about a noise problem

5.0

Where I live I think it is reasonable to expect some noise from neighbours 5.9

Car and house alarms are necessary to maintain neighbour security 6.6

Motorcycle noise is more annoying than noise from cars 6.6

I feel a more stringent set rules should apply to noise from private activities than for public works

5.0

If neighbourhood noise gets too much I have faith in the council being able to control it

5.2

Mean


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issues with neighbourhood noise…

Disagree

(1-3)

%

Moderate

(4-7)

%

Agree

(8-10)

%

People in my immediate area tend too look out for each other

16 48 36

I shouldn’t be able to hear noise from neighbours at any time

27 58 15

Noise is only acceptable at certain times 6 58 36

People are entitled to make noise providing they get permission/let neighbours know

7 52 41


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Disagree

(1-3)

%

Moderate

(4-7)

%

Agree

(8-10)

%

I should be able to make noise in my own home – it’s my personal space

9 60 31

I would not feel comfortable approaching my neighbour about a noise problem

35 43 22

Where I live I think it is reasonable to expect some noise from neighbours

16 58 26

Car and house alarms are necessary to maintain neighbour security

9 53 38


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Disagree

(1-3)

%

Moderate

(4-7)

%

Agree

(8-10)

%

Motorcycle noise is more annoying than noise from cars

11 51 38

I feel a more stringent set of rules should apply to noise from private activities than for public works

24 63 13

If neighbourhood noise gets too much I have faith in the council being able to control it

26 53 21


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preferred preferred solutions solutions

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effective way to deal with noise complaints…

3

1

1

26

13

3

53

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Strengthen noise laws

Arrange with neighbours to makenoise at better time of the day

Get police & councils to useexisting noise control regulations

Shut windows & doors

Complain to police

Complain to council

Talk it over with neighbourmaking the noise

percentage

Q13. Which in your opinion or experience is most effective in dealing with noise complaints? Single response


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reduce noise problems – what should local council & state government do?

3

10

45

10

11

29

23

17

28

40

54

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Other

None of these

Educate community more about noise &impacts

Build better homes

Provide grants for sound insulation

Provide 24 hour noise service

More information about the powers authoritieshave

More follow-up work with noise sufferers andcomplaintants

Tougher legislation

Resolve cases/ disputes quickly

Respond quickly to calls as they happen

Q14. Which three of the following do you think are most important for the local council or state government to do to reduce problems of noise by neighbours? Single response


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placing limits on noise – what is a suitable time for noise to cease…

10

4

33

8

14

7

10

3

12

3

2

10

3

11

14

23

7

27

0 10 20 30 40 50

1am or later

12.30am

12am

11.30pm

11pm

10.30pm

10pm

9.30pm

9pm or earlier

Percentage

WeekdayWeekend

Q6. In general, until what time of night do you think it is acceptable to make noise that can be heard inside your house a) on the weekend and b) during the week? Single response


43


placing limits on noise – what is a suitable time to cease – (accumulative)

10

14

47

55

69

78

88

91

100

3

5

15

18

29

43

65

73

100

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

1am or later

12.30am

12am

11.30pm

11pm

10.30pm

10pm

9.30pm

9pm or earlier

percentage

WeekdayWeekend

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placing limits on noise – continued

• During weekdays the ‘midpoint time’, i.e. the time half the population considers noise to be unacceptable, is between 10pm and 10.30pm. This varies little across the three zones (inner city, suburban and rural) – although inner city dwellers are marginally in favour of a later time.

• During the weekend this time is advanced by an hour to 11.30pm – each of the three zones being very similar in their view on this.

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knowledge knowledge legislation legislation

of

46


awareness of legal restrictions relating to…

6

42

83

41

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Other

Offensive noise

Time of day noiseis made

Length of timenoise is made

Q16. Do these laws relate to the? Multiple response

Base: Those aware of regulations N=253

34% claim to be aware of laws that exist on making noise in their neighbourhood. Of these – most (83%) are aware of restrictions

around the time of day noise is made…

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appropriateness of regulations…

Total

N=253

Very appropriate

%

Appropriate

%

Not appropriate

%

Length of time noise is made

104 37 58 6

Time of day noise is made 209 40 56 4

Offensive noise 105 37 57 6

Other* 15 13 60 27

Base: Those aware of the specified legislation N=253

Q17. How appropriate do you feel these types of laws are? Single response

*Caution – small base size

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knowledge of noise laws…

73

66

29

40

43

28

24

61

10

11

24

17

14

52

57

14

17

23

48

43

43

20

19

25

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

True False Don't know

Every vehicle on road cannot be noisier than a set level

You can be as noisy as you like during the day

Only police can enforce noise laws

Some noisy garden appliances have noise labels on them to help you buy the quietest

Motor cycle mufflers have to carry a noise label

The regulations control on road vehicles but not vehicles traveling off road

Offensive noise means noise above a prescribed level

You can’t mow your lawn late at night

Q17b. For the next statements, can you please tell me whether you think they are true or false? Single response


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current noise experience – noises people make/experience occasionally or regularly…

85

2

2

3

0

2

7

2

48

6

23

28

4

4

20

18

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

None

Power garden tools in evening

Motor cycles

Modified motor cars

Offensive noise from off road trail bikes

Air-conditioning &/or pump noise aftermidnight

Loud amplified music played aftermidnight

Security alarm noise that operates forlong periods of time

percentage

Noise I Make Noise my neighbours make

Q18. Which of the following neighbourhood noise to you currently experience – either regularly or occasionally? Q19. And being honest – which ones would you generate – either regularly or occasionally?


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current noise generated – continued

• The most significant ‘noise’ sources indicated is that of amplified music played after midnight. Not surprisingly, this has higher ‘claim’ rates amongst younger (under 39), male and those resident in flats, units or apartments.

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current noise experience – continued

• Of the three major noise sources being currently experienced, there are a number of groups that have a greater or lesser degree of experience.

Noisy modified motor cars

- Areas of semi-detached/townhouses (35% i.e. plus 7% on overall)

- Outer suburban areas (33% plus 5%)

- Rural or small towns (20% minus 8%)

Noisy motor cycles

- Over 60 years (17% minus 6%)

- Inner city areas (31% plus 8%)

- Rural or small town (18% minus 5%)

- Areas of semi-detached housing (35% plus 11%)

Loud amplified music after midnight

- 60 years plus (12% minus 7%)

- Inner city areas (25% plus 6%)

- Rural or small town (9% Minus 10%)

- Flats, units/apartments (34% plus 15%)

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appropriateness of regulations…

37

45

41

32

17

41

34

62

54

56

63

66

52

63

2

2

3

5

17

7

3

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Highly appropriate Appropriate Not appropriate

Q20. One way of dealing with this noise is to regulate against it. For each of the following can you tell me how appropriate you feel is the regulation for this type of noise? Single response


Noisy Garden powered tools banned after 8pm

Motor cycles to have max. level of noise

Modified motor cars to have a maximum level of noise

Offensive noise generated by off road trail bikes

Air conditioning &/or pump noise to be banned after 10pm

Loud amplified music played after midnight to be banned

Security alarms to have maximum duration for the alarm noise

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amplified music/power tools okay if occurring more than…

100

92

81

66

39

24

11

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Other

Daily

Twice weekly

Weekly

Fortnightly

Monthly

Every 3moths or more

A frequency of between fortnightly and weekly would seem to be the tolerance point for amplified music and power tool noise for all.

The major variation from this pattern is for those living in flats, units and apartments. Here the tolerance occurrence point is between fortnightly and monthly

A frequency of between fortnightly and weekly would seem to be the tolerance point for amplified music and power tool noise for all.

The major variation from this pattern is for those living in flats, units and apartments. Here the tolerance occurrence point is between fortnightly and monthly

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overall satisfaction with regulations and how they work to control and resolve

6

61

33

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Not Satisfied

Moderate

Satisfied

NEIGHBOURHOOD NOISE 2004 Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) 1 survey results...

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