Editorial: Party season spells trouble

A six-month deadline means any confiscated equipment not picked up is disposed of by the council. Photo / Thinkstock

We've all been there.

That night when you lie in bed willing yourself to go to sleep and the longer you are awake the more you think about all the things you have to do the next day.

Then the frustration kicks in. All you can hear is the noise from the neighbour's party and you are hoping it will be over soon.

I have been there more times than I would have liked. Sometimes, when you know it is a one-off, you let it slide, but when it is a recurring thing, it gets annoying.

In yesterday's Bay of Plenty Times we reported that so far this year 4167 noise complaints had been made to the Tauranga City Council. That's fewer than the 5790 in 2013 and 5873 in 2012.

But so far this year the city council noise-control team has seized 54 pieces of equipment, compared to 38 in 2013.

Owners are able to reclaim their property but have to prove it belongs to them and pay $190 or $220 to get it released.

A six-month deadline means any equipment not picked up is disposed of by the council.

I can't say I have utilised the noise-control service offered by the city council but I have regretted not calling them after I found a party-goer in a property above mine had vomited in a pair of shoes that were outside my front door.

Papamoa Neighbourhood Support co-ordinator Lorraine Stevens said she thought a lot of noise-control issues came from rental properties with tenants.

If people knew their neighbours and talked to them they were usually okay with a party, Mrs Stevens said.

I agree that a lot of complaints are about tenanted properties, it does seem that once you own a property and become part of a neighbourhood, you are less likely to host outrageous parties which could upset your neighbours.

It's also common courtesy to let your neighbours know if you are planning a party.

Anyone can make a complaint about noise they judge to be unreasonable or excessive and complaints are kept confidential and can be made at any time of day.

I'm not encouraging people to rush to pick the phone and lay a complaint, but everyone should be a little bit more considerate of those around them.