How to deal with persistent noise pollution from a factory

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#2875331 26-Feb-2022 16:07

Thanks for all the advice on dealing with this! The current status is that as of right now it's worse than ever, we used to live within a few km of a fire station siren and it's roughly that intensity but a continuous sound. It's now very obvious during the day even with the noise from traffic and cicadas so I called the council yet again and finally got someone who could dive into the problem: Since the previous calls were at night, all they could do was send some poor guy out there to confirm yet again that it was a problem, but no action was taken because there was no-one at the factory.

I asked whether they could, you know, maybe call the factory during the day to let them know there was a problem but they said it'd be better if I called noise control again during working hours and they'd send someone out then to have a talk to them. Which means a weekend of high-intensity whine and lots of panadol. But at least the roadblock has been identified and removed, and hopefully some action will get taken.

If that fails I'll try some of the escalation ideas others have suggested, starting with calling and trying to talk to a director who can actually make a decision about it, and then take it from there.

MadEngineer

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#2875524 26-Feb-2022 20:53

neb: We live opposite the Birkdale light industrial area, which includes a place called Allproof Industries which has a rear fan facing this area which emits a continuous whine about the pitch of a mosquito and the intensity of a dentist drill. This has been going on for over two weeks now, and runs almost continuously, day and night. When contacted about it, Noise Control are very courteous and polite, issue a case number, and do nothing. The next night they issue another case number, and do nothing. The following night they issue another case number, and do nothing. The last time I called and got the latest case number I asked what it would take to get any action taken, and the person I talked to, while being very pleasant and courteous, had no idea what came next apart from issuing another case number. It seems like Allproof Industries can continue to keep the area we live in awake at night, not to mention the persistent headaches the nonstop whine all day causes, with impunity.

Short of the nuclear option of recording the noise, finding the owners, and blasting it at their house 24/7 like they're currently doing to others, can anyone see a way out of this problem? Obvious ones like "go to Fair Go" will take months, and the house is almost uninhabitable because of this.

Did you take the name of their person that lodged the case numbers? Did you ask what happened to the previous case numbers? Ask them how they’re processed. Whatever promises they make repeat them back as a question for confirmation (“we will get back to you” = “so you’ll call me? When do you think you’ll call me? What time frame should I expect a responce back? Who should I call if I don’t get a responce? What’s a suitable time frame to wait before I follow up?” - you get the picture.

If they don’t know the answer to a question, ask who will know the answer and if you can be transferred to them.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

Ruphus

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#2875553 26-Feb-2022 22:06

Do you have any decibel readings from various times during the day and night from both inside and outside your home? This can help reinforce your complaint to the council as saying"it's loud", can be subjective.

K8Toledo

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#2875554 26-Feb-2022 22:13

neb: We live opposite the Birkdale light industrial area, which includes a place called Allproof Industries which has a rear fan facing this area which emits a continuous whine about the pitch of a mosquito and the intensity of a dentist drill. This has been going on for over two weeks now, and runs almost continuously, day and night. When contacted about it, Noise Control are very courteous and polite, issue a case number, and do nothing. The next night they issue another case number, and do nothing. The following night they issue another case number, and do nothing. The last time I called and got the latest case number I asked what it would take to get any action taken, and the person I talked to, while being very pleasant and courteous, had no idea what came next apart from issuing another case number. It seems like Allproof Industries can continue to keep the area we live in awake at night, not to mention the persistent headaches the nonstop whine all day causes, with impunity. Short of the nuclear option of recording the noise, finding the owners, and blasting it at their house 24/7 like they're currently doing to others, can anyone see a way out of this problem? Obvious ones like "go to Fair Go" will take months, and the house is almost uninhabitable because of this.

Given you live in an industrial area can you honestly say this complaint is justified? It's industrial zoned for a reason.

I'm reminded of similar complaints from apartment owners who chose to purchase apartments opposite Vector Arena and later complained to the council about the noise during events.

Just my 2c.

insane

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#2875557 26-Feb-2022 22:31

K8Toledo:
Given you live in an industrial area can you honestly say this complaint is justified? It's industrial zoned for a reason.

I'm reminded of similar complaints from apartment owners who chose to purchase apartments opposite Vector Arena and later complained to the council about the noise during events.

Just my 2c.

Perhaps read the thread before you make your 2c seem over valued.

I'll save you the trouble - he's what appears to be 100s of meters from the source of the noise which has started only in the last two weeks as a result of a maintenance issue.

Jase2985

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#2875569 26-Feb-2022 23:24

K8Toledo:

neb: We live opposite the Birkdale light industrial area, which includes a place called Allproof Industries which has a rear fan facing this area which emits a continuous whine about the pitch of a mosquito and the intensity of a dentist drill. This has been going on for over two weeks now, and runs almost continuously, day and night. When contacted about it, Noise Control are very courteous and polite, issue a case number, and do nothing. The next night they issue another case number, and do nothing. The following night they issue another case number, and do nothing. The last time I called and got the latest case number I asked what it would take to get any action taken, and the person I talked to, while being very pleasant and courteous, had no idea what came next apart from issuing another case number. It seems like Allproof Industries can continue to keep the area we live in awake at night, not to mention the persistent headaches the nonstop whine all day causes, with impunity. Short of the nuclear option of recording the noise, finding the owners, and blasting it at their house 24/7 like they're currently doing to others, can anyone see a way out of this problem? Obvious ones like "go to Fair Go" will take months, and the house is almost uninhabitable because of this.

Given you live in an industrial area can you honestly say this complaint is justified? It's industrial zoned for a reason.

I'm reminded of similar complaints from apartment owners who chose to purchase apartments opposite Vector Arena and later complained to the council about the noise during events.

Just my 2c.

another one who fails to read

1101

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#2876105 28-Feb-2022 09:35

Ak unitary Plan , light industrial zone & noise

http://unitaryplan.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Images/Printable%20PDFs/Part%204%20-%20Rules/4.3.3%20Business%20zones.pdf

Its possibly just in the too hard basket .
Noise control cant do much , at night, as there is no one in the building (I presume)
Ak Council : it would just turn into a fight & they cant be bothered

Also, councils & noise control will be dealing with a constant barrage of unjustified noise complaints : people being unrealistic
& expecting zero noise, less noise than road traffic .
So they might think its this , just someone being unrealistic & petty & there are ignoring it .
(Im Not saying its is)

I dont know how loud it is, but
if you close the windows & draw the blinds is it louder than your TV ?
Louder than a bus driving down the street ?

have you talked to your neighbors ?
Start a petition, get enough locals involved & council will be more likely to take action.
Organize a meeting with neighbors at a local hall & insist a council rep attends . That will get their attention

Equinox IT

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MikeAqua

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#2876134 28-Feb-2022 10:39

neb: I called them up and told them about the problem and asked whether they could do the right thing and sort it out. They were totally, utterly uninterested. So I asked them again, and suggested that it really needed to be sorted out, but I would prefer to just do it nicely rather than involving Noise Control. Total lack of interest. OK, so if you don't want to do anything the only option will be to go to Noise Control. Sure, fine. And then you'll risk prosecution and fines. OK, sure.

The council will follow quite a slow process in all likelihood. Assuming they are non-compliant, there will be site visits discussions and eventually and abatement notice, possibly followed by an enforcement order if the business is non-cooperative.

I've resolved this solution (years ago) by having a 'swan-neck' to the fan outlet, which directed noise up onto the roof and away from the residential area. It made a massive difference, to the great relief of the neighbours. It cost several thousand per fan, but was the right thing to do.

Mike

K8Toledo

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#2876136 28-Feb-2022 10:42

Jase2985:

another one who fails to read

Elaborate. What exactly have I "failed to read"?

Jase2985

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#2876144 28-Feb-2022 10:56

@K8Toledo:

neb: We live opposite the Birkdale light industrial area, which includes a place called Allproof Industries which has a rear fan facing this area which emits a continuous whine about the pitch of a mosquito and the intensity of a dentist drill. This has been going on for over two weeks now, and runs almost continuously, day and night. When contacted about it, Noise Control are very courteous and polite, issue a case number, and do nothing. The next night they issue another case number, and do nothing. The following night they issue another case number, and do nothing. The last time I called and got the latest case number I asked what it would take to get any action taken, and the person I talked to, while being very pleasant and courteous, had no idea what came next apart from issuing another case number. It seems like Allproof Industries can continue to keep the area we live in awake at night, not to mention the persistent headaches the nonstop whine all day causes, with impunity. Short of the nuclear option of recording the noise, finding the owners, and blasting it at their house 24/7 like they're currently doing to others, can anyone see a way out of this problem? Obvious ones like "go to Fair Go" will take months, and the house is almost uninhabitable because of this.

Given you live in an industrial area can you honestly say this complaint is justified? It's industrial zoned for a reason.

I'm reminded of similar complaints from apartment owners who chose to purchase apartments opposite Vector Arena and later complained to the council about the noise during events.

Just my 2c.

1. they dont live in the industrial area, they live opposite it, if you read further in the thread they actually live over a patch of water, so a distance from the building in question.

2. your anecdote has nothing to do with this situation as the noise only started a few weeks ago, the OP has been living where they are for longer than that, which suggests either they have changed something or something has failed.

so yeah, you failed to read the thread.

surfisup1000

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#2876169 28-Feb-2022 11:41

Jase2985:

so yeah, you failed to read the thread.

The only important factor is whether the noise is over the permitted level for light industrial. I don't see that the OP has confirmed whether this is the case or not.

I've read the thread, the OP lives near a light industrial zone. I live 2 or 3 km from industry, and we still get noise from time to time (wind direction matters). This is a fact of life if you choose to live near one of these areas.

Why do you think the newness of the noise is at all relevant? Being quiet one day is no guarantee it will be quiet forever. Business can legally operate up to the noise limits regardless of how quiet they may have been in the past.

However in saying that, the OP needs to get this sorted through the council since the factory employees are being obnoxious. The OP must find the person in council that is responsible for environmental noise pollution and keep hassling them to investigate. At the very minimum, maybe the factory could switch the fan off when it is not required.

MikeAqua

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#2876360 28-Feb-2022 14:51

surfisup1000:

important factor is whether the noise is over the permitted level for light industrial. I don't see that the OP has confirmed whether this is the case or not.

I've read the thread, the OP lives near a light industrial zone. I live 2 or 3 km from industry, and we still get noise from time to time (wind direction matters). This is a fact of life if you choose to live near one of these areas.

Why do you think the newness of the noise is at all relevant? Being quiet one day is no guarantee it will be quiet forever. Business can legally operate up to the noise limits regardless of how quiet they may have been in the past.

Often there are two noise limits. 1 for the property boundary, the other for the zone boundary. If I was having no joy with the management, I'd contact a director. The companies office will have their addresses. Start with whoever has been a director the longest. They are probably the most senior.

Mike

surfisup1000

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#2876379 28-Feb-2022 16:00

MikeAqua:

Often there are two noise limits. 1 for the property boundary, the other for the zone boundary. If I was having no joy with the management, I'd contact a director. The companies office will have their addresses. Start with whoever has been a director the longest. They are probably the most senior.

Can't hurt. The attitude of the company is appalling though.

A company in rotorua was shutdown a few years ago because of the noise they made, and they were even within the resource consent limits ....

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/controversial-rotorua-lumbercube-site-sold-and-being-dismantled/YMRR5APTUHNTSP2NJDLD5ERKTY/#:~:text=Lumbercube%20operated%20on%20the%20old,of%20sleep%2C%20stress%20and%20anxiety.

Bung

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#2876396 28-Feb-2022 16:46

surfisup1000:
The attitude of the company is appalling though.

It could be that the company admin offices are at the other end of the factory and none of the noise is obvious to them. The maintenance fitters who aren't involved in the conversation probably know that the bearings in the fan are failing but while it still turns it won't be high on their to do list.

neb

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#2876536 28-Feb-2022 19:11

MikeAqua:
I've resolved this solution (years ago) by having a 'swan-neck' to the fan outlet, which directed noise up onto the roof and away from the residential area. It made a massive difference, to the great relief of the neighbours. It cost several thousand per fan, but was the right thing to do.

Ah, another thing that's good to know, there is a solution for it. In any case though since it's only been like this for a bit over two weeks my guess is that something is showing signs of failure, it was especially bad Saturday night then stopped all day Sunday before starting again just before midnight where typically it's been close to 24/7.

The council sent someone round today so maybe it'll finally get resolved, still hoping it can be done in a civil manner through the proper channels.

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