Rotorua's top 10 noisiest streets

If you want to have a stress-free New Year's Eve celebration there are
some party tricks for peaceful celebrations to avoid getting noise
complaints.


Rotorua District Council regulatory and support services acting manager
Neven Hill said in the financial year ending June 30 the council
received 3371 noise complaints, the majority of those, about 90 per
cent, coming from loud parties and stereos.


Once again Clayton Rd has the dubious honour of being Rotorua's
noisiest street with 93 noise complaints in the financial year ending
June 30.


Mr Hill said the council had the power to confiscate stereos, issue noise warnings and fines for the worst offenders.


He said he was not surprised that Clayton Rd was Rotorua's noisiest street as it was a long road with many residents.


But for smaller streets like Miller St with 67 complaints and Beech Pl
with 48 complaints he said many of those complaints were for the same
people who continued to ignore excessive noise abatement notices.


The council employs ADT Armourguard as its noise control officers.


Security staff employed in the role work on the council's behalf and
can issue warnings and confiscate equipment deemed to be causing the
noise.


If a noise control officer issues you with a notice to reduce noise to a reasonable level you must comply.


This notice must be adhered to for 72 hours.


If this is breached and excessive noise continues, a noise control
officer accompanied by a police officer can take any steps necessary to
stop the noise.


This usually includes but is not limited to: seizing the source of the
noise eg a stereo, removing parts from a noise source or locking up the
noise source so it can't be used.


Breaching a noise direction could lead to an instant fine of $500 or a fine of up to $10,000 after prosecution.


Mr Hill said fines for non-compliance could be very expensive but Rotorua's council had not yet prosecuted any offenders.


"Usually seizing the equipment does the job for most people but in one
case we had to go back three times in one night because each time we
confiscated their stereo they went and found another one," Mr Hill said.


ADT Armourguard general manager Ian Anderson said his company was
employed by 15 councils around the country to provide noise control
services and offered advice to people partying over the festive season.


"Over the summer holiday period many people like to throw Christmas and New Year's Eve parties.


"However, there are just as many people that look forward to a quiet peaceful break and many others who will still be working."


Mr Anderson said people planning to throw a party could adopt some
simple measures to avoid disgruntled neighbours and noise complaints.


He said people should be considerate towards their neighbours, inform
them they are having a party or invite them to it, try a maintain a
moderate level of music and noise and reduce the volume after midnight.


Other tips were to set an end time for the party and make sure everyone
is aware of it, don't allow guests to stand around in groups outside
the venue in residential areas and to shut doors and windows to minimise
noise from escaping.