Overview
The
Environmental Management and Pollution Control (Noise) Regulations 2016 are made under the
Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA). In general, the Regulations are implemented by local government and Tasmania Police.
The main objective of these Regulations is to limit the amount of community noise in residential neighbourhoods by setting out prohibited hours of use for common noise sources such as off-road motor vehicles, motor vessels, appliances, power tools, garden equipment, heating and cooling devices, pumps, chainsaws, sound systems and musical instruments. They also extend to noise from equipment and machinery used on building construction and demolition sites (not road construction) which can be heard in any neighbouring residential premise.
Noise emission limits have also been set for fixed equipment such as heat pumps as these are relatively easy to measure.
The 2016 Noise Regulations note the penalties for prescribed offences.
Legislation online
The regulations are available on line at the Tasmanian Legislation website.
Provisions
The Regulations outline the following
prohibited times* for the use of various types of machinery and equipment at residential premises, construction and demolition sites:
| Lawnmowers and other power garden maintenance equipment | Monday to Friday: Before 7am and after 8pm
Saturday: Before 9am and after 8pm
Sunday and Public Holidays: Before 10am and after 8pm
|
Chainsaws powered by internal combustion engine operated within 300 metres of residential premises.
(Note: May be used for domestic garden maintenance on only one day in any 7 consecutive days)
| Monday to Friday: Before 7am and after 6pm
Saturday: Before 9am and after 6pm
Sunday and Public Holidays: Before 10am and after 6pm
|
| Musical instruments and sound amplifying equipment | Monday to Thursday: Before 7am and after 10pm
Friday: Before 7am
Saturday: Before 9am
Sunday and Public Holidays: Before 10am and after 10pm
|
Motor vehicles, motor vessels & outboard motors
(unless moving in and out of residential premises or a construction or demolition site) | Monday to Friday: Before 7am and after 6pm
Saturday: Before 9am and after 6pm
Sunday and Public Holidays: Before 10am and after 6pm
|
Mobile machinery, forklift trucks and or portable equipment
(e.g. tractors, graders, rollers & cranes; power and percussion tools, compressors, pumps, generators and cement mixers) | Monday to Friday: Before 7am and after 6pm
Saturday: Before 8am and after 6pm
Sunday and Public Holidays: Before 10am and after 6pm
|
| |
* refer to regulation 6 for conditions applying to use of machinery outside these hours.
Supporting Documents
Any measurement of noise or test of a noise source for the purposes of the Regulations should be made in accordance with the Noise Measurement Procedures Manual.
Noise Measurement Procedures Manual
(1Mb)