NoiseNet is frequently asked about what role local council plays in noise complaints. Last week, we explored how you can attempt to manage noise complaints with your neighbours. You can read more about that here. This blog will delve into who is responsible for dealing with noise complaints and where you can go with your complaint in order to get the best response. The first thing to learn is how your council deals with noise. There are 7 councils in South-East Queensland. Be

Following are the findings of our Google survey of 504 random respondents after pre-screening to confirm they were home-owners. I'll let the results speak for themselves. 1 in 8 would definitely have not bought and a further 1 in 6 would probably have not bought due to noise. Don't make the same mistake. #homebuyers #survey #postpurchase #issue #noise #noisenet

We all hear it but very few of us know what we can do about it. Noise can impact our lives in a variety of ways. Loud sounds may begin as an inconvenience but over time they continue to take a toll on our sleep, productivity, and health. Trying to navigate what rights you have when it comes to unwanted sound can be confusing. NoiseNet is passionate about helping people take back their lives from unwanted noise which threatens to invade it. Our team has compiled a list of answ

A recent article from Kip Serfozo in Food Service Magazine has drawn attention to the problem that kitchens are traditionally one of the noisiest working environments. The story very quickly debunks the idea the kitchen must be a noise chamber and suggests it is the way we design our kitchens and the equipment we buy which is what causes the biggest noise impact problems. There are currently many innovative product designers who are trying to lead the way in the designing of

Depending on the laws of the state or territory you live, you are entitled to entertain (even loudly) at your property within certain hours. In New South Wales, you have until midnight to party on the weekends, but in Queensland, there are no time-based noise restrictions and an excessive amount of noise can be reported at any time of the day. You can read more about the specifications of noise curfews where you live in our previous blog post. With the Easter long weekend jus

If you've recently bought a house, you probably have just encountered a time full of stress, upheaval through moving, a lack of sleep an

If you've ever lived in the country and then moved closer to a city then you know how drastically different the soundscapes can be. In the city your little ears are competing with the busy lives of thousands of others who drive cars, own pets, do the dishes late at night and sometimes, painfully, even their recycling. But perhaps you don't always have to sacrifice silence in order to be near the big smoke. There are some places in cities that are significantly quieter than ot

If you're pulling long days at the office and staying up binging Netflix, then you probably already know the answer. For some people though, an interrupted sleep is enough to drive them mad with wondering why they feel so tired, constantly. Lifestyle changes are the most likely cause and should be your first focus to change. Some of these include drinking more water, eating a balanced diet and of course - going to bed at a reasonable hour to maximise sleep. If none of this ma

A Brisbane woman has admitted to spending hours sitting outside properties, day and night, trying to hear what it would be like to live there. She’s not alone, many people know what a property is like to live in, but are in the dark about whether the property suffers from intrusive noise problems. Anne Sweeney is a Brisbane resident who owns an investment property in Jindalee. It was purchased so her three children would have a place to live while they study at the University

Noise canceling headphones are all the rage online right now and you don't have to look hard to find a review which is either talking them up or tearing them down. A lot of people, however, don't know how they differ from normal headphones, or why people are spending hundreds of dollars to get their hands on a pair. What are noise canceling headphones? Noise-cancelling headphones reduce the impact of ambient sounds from reaching the ear. This happens because they use active n

Deciding to work from home isn't as easy as it seems. To be productive in a home office, you need to be able to conjugate your home experience and your professional personality. This often means being very deliberate when selecting not only a house but the ideal space to conduct business in the home. When you've decided you want to work from home, there's more to it than slumping onto the couch with your laptop. You should start by making a list of everything you need around

Nobody wants to disturb the police on matters that are not urgent. Unfortunately in Australia however, the police are the authority responsible for managing amplified noise and the associated complaints. This works well for parties, especially if they begin to get out of control or if there is an imminent threat of violence. It also means that police have to take calls from all the other elevated noise problems, such as a loud radio or local band practice. Despite the police

Ocean waves are tumbling and crashing on the shore. Up the hill from the beach, a car alarm begins to sound. The little dog in the house with the brown fence is suddenly scared, he lifts his nose and begins to howl. Crash, beep - beep, woof. That's a lot of noise - but did you know it might kill you? Yes, you read it right, exposure to noise has been proven to increase your chance of dying sooner, and the following conditions are just the start. 1. Tiredness Interrupted sleep

Unwanted noise can be irritating at the best of times, but could it also be killing us? A World Health Organisation (WHO) study seems to think so, suggesting noise is a (not so silent) killer of one million people annually in Western Europe. The 2011 report titled 'Burden of disease from environmental noise' gathered data from an array of epidemiological studies collected over a 10 year period in Europe. The study reveals the link between environmental noise and various healt

From Darwin to Perth, Brisbane to Adelaide, Australia has one of the highest levels of home ownership in the world. Buying a home in Australia for the first time can be one of the most exciting times in your life - it can also be one of the most complicated too! So, are you in the market to purchase a new house for you and your family? If yes, then you certainly would need a home buyer inspection checklist to guide you in knowing if you are making a good purchase. Otherwise,

At one time or another in everyone’s life, we have to deal with estate agents, (either buying or renting a property); and we all have to pay close attention to what they say to understand them. The slangs they use often mean nothing to everyday house hunters and never usually mean what you think. Luckily, we’ve decided to help you decode all the slang, so that next time you hire an agent, you can understand. So, read below and you’ll be fluent in estate agent! 1. What they

I speak from experience here. Determining if a property is free from noise is not easy. I have got it wrong a couple of times in my life and I have spent the last few years working out how you can avoid the same mistake. 25% of people report that noise is their biggest issue after buying a property and half of them say they would definitely not have bought if they knew about the noise beforehand. Intrusive noise affects your ability to relax, to sleep, to work, your product

Here are 10 steps that can help you minimise the risks of noise related health issues. 1. Know your noise. Download a noise measurement app on your phone and get an understanding of how loud your home and workplace are. This will help you decide if you need to take further actions. 2. Ensure that noise is in your selection criteria for anything you buy. There is a HUGE difference between the quietest and the loudest. This can apply to almost any appliance, tool, vehicle etc.

As our lives are moving faster and faster and we are increasingly "always on". Noise is taking a toll on our minds and bodies. The cacophony of sound makes our lives stressful which impacts on our bodies through higher levels of stress hormones, damage to our immune system and impairing our bodies ability to repair and rebuild. A small but growing minority of people have realised the impact that noise has to their productivity, health and wellbeing and are looking for ways to

Recent research in Germany has analysed the level of hearing loss in people across many different cities. They found that those in the loudest cities have hearing that is comparable with being 10 years older then the natural ageing process. As an increasing amount of research is showing, noise doesn't just affect your hearing, it affects many different aspects of your health. Just as air pollution can cause premature ageing, noise should probably also be considered. The mos