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Nuisances

Neighbourhood nuisances can impact on a person's health and well being.  Council's Health & Regulatory Services Section regulates nuisances as defined under the Environmental Protection Regulation 1998, Part 2A Environmental Nuisance and through Mackay City Council Local Law No. 67 (Control of Nuisances).

Noise

Unwanted noise can negatively affect a person's health and well being.  Not only can it cause hearing loss, but it may affect people through annoyance, sleep interference, stress, loss of productivity and a general reduction in the quality of life.

The actual loudness, including the frequency, tone and vibrations of a sound may only be one component of the effect on people. Other considerations for time and place, duration, source of the sound and whether the listener has any control over it, should be made.

The most common noise nuisances are:

  • pool pumps and spas
  • regulated devices around the home such as lawn mowers
  • air-conditioning

For further information, download Council's fact sheets on General Noise (PDF 1.1mb), Pool Pumps and Spas (PDF 76 kb), Regulated Devices (PDF 83 kb), Air Conditioning (PDF 58 kb) and Building Noise (PDF 755.0kb)

Smoke and particles from open-air fires can cause a nuisance to neighbours and interfere with their normal daily activities.  If severe enough, it not only causes inconvenience, but can also be detrimental to people's health.

The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFS) generally exercise a supervisory role in relation to lighting fires in the open.  However, even with QFS permission to burn off in the open air, Council is responsible for regulating environmental nuisance within the community, so you may not be able to burn off, even if you have QFS approval.

For further information, download Council's fact sheet on Smoke (PDF 119 kb).

Untidy Property

An untidy property can include any vacant land, residential, or commercial property determined by a Council officer as untidy or unsightly.

An untidy property may have building materials, waste materials, debris, scrap, rubbish, or other materials or objects that have been allowed to accumulate in an unsightly manner.

For further information, download Council's fact sheet on Untidy Property (PDF 108 kb).

Overgrown Property

An overgrown property may be vacant, residential or commercial land which in the opinion of an authorised Council officer may be: 

  • likely to be a breeding place or harbouring of vermin because of grass, weeds, plants or other vegetable growth in large quantities
  • a fire hazard

For further information, download Council's fact sheet on Overgrown Property (PDF 140 kb).

Insects

Mosquitoes and sand flies are considered a nuisance in the Mackay region. Information about these insects and Council's aerial larviciding can be viewed below:

For further information, please contact Council.