9 May 2016

Chch construction triggers 300% hike in noise complaints

7:52 pm on 9 May 2016

Noise complaints about construction in Christchurch have jumped more than 300 percent in the last five years.

A worker hammers down timber for a house's deck.

Photo: 123RF

Christchurch City Council received 169 noise complaints for construction noise in the council 2011-2012 year.

That jumped to 707 complaints for the 2015-2016 year.

Council Environmental Compliance Team leader Nigel Grant said it was inevitable during a rebuild as large as the one underway in Christchurch that residents would have to put up with some construction noise.

"There are rules that people need to follow, from Monday to Saturday there should be no noisy construction before 6.30am."

People having repairs or construction work done should be respectful of neighbours and where possible give them prior notification of the planned work, he said.

"If people have an issue with noise coming from a site they should approach the builder or contractor first, if nothing changes they should then contact the council."

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