Noise control

Press, 17 March 1982, Page 26

Noise control

Sir,—Victims of unsolicited noise pollution and local bodies may be interested in perusing a copy of the New Zealand Standard Specification 9201; a model by-law already in use for several years in some places. This by-law contains the "traditional” requirement that three or more people must make the initial complaint, but also contains very effective sanctions against the continuance of the annoyance. Hamilton and Te Awamutu .are two towns where the by-law has been used with great success. Some kind of arbitration still needs to be considered where individuals have a legitimate grievance and are the only ones affected. Perhaps Justices of the Peace could be called on in such cases; but they must have the backing of law and appropriate sanctions.—Yours, etc., LEITH E. HOLLAND. March 4, 1982. [The Chief City Health Inspector, Mr R. P. Millthorpe, replies: "The whole aspect of noise control is under consideration by a parliamentary select committee at the moment, and its eventual report back to the House will be . of interest to your correspondent. Several submissions to the select committee considered the existing legislation (including NZS 9201, chapter 20, 1975) inadequate to deal with neighbourhood noise for which early remedial action was required.”]'