Environmental nuisance
Environmental nuisance, such as offensive odour, loud noise, dust and light can be disruptive and interfere with daily activities when experienced by the community.
An environmental nuisance is generally defined as:
- unreasonable interference (or likely interference) with an environmental value caused by emissions of aerosols, fumes, light, noise, odour, particles (including dust) or smoke; or
- unhealthy, offensive or unsightly conditions caused by contamination.
Environmental values include the amenity of a place, such as a house, that make it suitable for anyone to sleep, study or relax there.
Your local council is generally responsible for the management of environmental nuisance under Queensland legislation. However, if the source of the environmental nuisance is caused by a state or local government entity, or comes from an operator that has a state government environmental authority, licence or permit, then the Queensland Government will usually have jurisdiction.
More information about the Queensland Government’s regulation of noise, dust, light and odours as part of environmental authority.
Like environmental nuisance, instances of water contamination can also be experienced in communities and may be dealt with by your local council.
Make a report
Read more about the following issues and how to report to the relevant authority:
How reports are managed
If it has jurisdiction, the Queensland Government may undertake a range of actions to address the environmental nuisance issue, such as:
- talking to affected residents and nearby businesses
- checking that local industry is complying with their licence conditions and have appropriate environmental management measures in place
- conducting monitoring
- working with council and other authorities, and
- taking appropriate enforcement action where necessary.
Further information
- The Queensland Government has developed a noise factsheet to assist local councils, residents and businesses understand how noise is intended to be managed for our communities.
- Visit the Swanbank Odour Targeted Compliance Project for an example of the Queensland Government addressing an environmental nuisance in the community.
- Report incidents of environmental nuisance.