8 February 2017
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Noise complaint statistics
Inquiry
Rotorua Daily Post inquired about the number and types of noise complaints received by council over the summer months (December, January and so far in February).
Response
The number of noise complaints received so far this summer in Rotorua have been on a par with previous years.
Rotorua Lakes Council noise control staff have dealt with a total of 799 noise complaints between 1 December 2016 and 8 February 2017. Of those, 24 related to industrial/commercial premises with noise from other sources accounting for the remainder during the period. There were four equipment seizures during this time.
| Source of noise complaints | |
| Alarms | 9 |
| Band | 2 |
| Bass | 119 |
| Drums | 9 |
| Machinery | 22 |
| Motorbikes | 7 |
| Other | 14 |
| Party | 198 |
| Planners | 1 |
| Radio | 1 |
| Singing | 2 |
| Stereo | 392 |
| Thumping | 1 |
| Vehicles | 4 |
| Voices | 18 |
By suburb/area (1Dec2016-8Feb2017) | |
| Fairy Springs | 36 |
| Fenton Park | 21 |
| Fordlands | 22 |
| Glenholme | 53 |
| Hamurana | 3 |
| Hannah's Bay | 6 |
| Hillcrest | 56 |
| Holden's Bay | 7 |
| Kaharoa | 1 |
| Kawaha Point | 4 |
| Koutu | 73 |
| Lynmore | 15 |
| Mamaku | 1 |
| Mangakakahi | 64 |
| Mihi | 4 |
| Ngapuna | 7 |
| Ngongotaha | 43 |
| Ohinemutu | 8 |
| Okareka | 2 |
| Okere Falls | 1 |
| Owhata | 81 |
| Pleasant Heights | 3 |
| Pomare | 19 |
| Pukehangi | 75 |
| Rotoiti | 2 |
| Rotorua Central | 39 |
| Selwyn Heights | 29 |
| Springfield | 25 |
| Sunnybrook | 3 |
| Tarawera | 5 |
| Tihi-o-Tonga | 15 |
| Utuhina | 9 |
| Western Heights | 65 |
| Whakarewarewa | 2 |
Noise complaints were received from across the district, Rotorua Lakes Council Manager - Compliance Solutions, Neven Hill says.
Noise complaint figures during the same period a year ago were impacted by complaints relating to the Lumbercube mill but when those are removed the numbers are similar to other years, he says.
"People tend to spend more time outdoors and have outdoor gatherings during summer so we generally expect more complaints during this time of year.
"Noise containing very low frequencies, such as music with a lot of bass, tends to annoy locals the most.
"The response from people at properties visited by noise control staff is generally good," Mr Hill says.
