Manager of environmental monitoring Andrew McMath says there are typically more noise over weekends and during summer months, which could lead to Mount Maunganui's and Papamoa's noisy status. Photo/File
Manager of environmental monitoring Andrew McMath says there are typically more noise over weekends and during summer months, which could lead to Mount Maunganui's and Papamoa's noisy status. Photo/File
An enthusiastic home renovator who lost track of time was the subject of one of nearly 5000 noise control complaints made to Tauranga City Council in 2016.
The person had upset neighbouring residents with music and hammering at 2am and was noted as one of the more "unusual" complaints from last year, which showed the area's beachside suburbs were by far the noisiest.
Information released to the Bay of Plenty Times under the Official Information Act revealed a breakdown of 4903 noise control complaints in Tauranga. In a breakdown of suburbs, Mount Maunganui had more complaints than any other suburb in the district.
The council received 921 complaints about excessive noise in Mount Maunganui, compared to 782 in Papamoa for the year.
Gate Pa recorded the third highest number of complaints for the year with 490, and Welcome Bay the fourth with 335. By comparison, smaller suburbs such as The Lakes recorded just 1 complaint and Oropi 6.
Council's manager of environmental monitoring Andrew McMath said typically there was more noise over weekends and during summer months, which could lead to Mount Maunganui's and Papamoa's undesirable lead statuses.
"Mount Maunganui and Papamoa cover large areas, they are not broken into smaller suburban areas. There are also a lot of people in these locations during summer months who are there on holiday and want to have a good time," he said.
Mr McMath said higher density housing also played a role in noise complaints.
"People are less tolerant, there's less distance between dwellings and people using outdoor living areas has an impact on neighbours whose rooms overlook outdoor living spaces."
It's not a very well designed bit of city, lots of traffic gets funnelled down this residential road because people want to avoid Bayfair roundabout and Hewlett's Rd.
Phil Mosscrop lives by the beach in Omanu - paradise by all accounts. While it was no quiet residential street by any means, Mr Mosscrop said it could be worse.
"Our neighbours are pretty respectful, there have been a few parties and occasions where it's been frustrating.
"The noisiest thing by far is the traffic going past at all hours on Oceanbeach Rd - but you can hardly complain to the council about that."
Though in a way the traffic noise was in part the council's fault, he said.
"It's not a very well designed bit of city, lots of traffic gets funnelled down this residential road because people want to avoid Bayfair roundabout and Hewlett's Rd."
Mr Mosscrop said he heard Bay Dreams over the New Year period but dismissed the noise, as it happened only once a year.
"There is an alarm of some sort that goes off at Bayfair Shopping Centre at all hours of the night though - I have no idea what it's for but it wakes me up at night sometimes."
Council ward rep for Mount Maunganui and Papamoa Leanne Brown said Bay Dreams was one of a number of events for the area which were popular but likely contributed to the complaints.
She also said Mount Maunganui's shops and bars all faced each other, rather than facing the waterfront as in Tauranga.
Fellow ward rep Cr Steve Morris said aside from being the largest suburbs, both areas were also among the city's most attractive.
"It isn't a surprise that they are sought after locations for events and we need to be mindful of spreading these around the city. Also Baypark hosts a lot of events and is located across the road from a residential area."
