Armourguard to police noise

Armourguard Security has won Palmerston North City Council's contract to enforce noise control in the city.

The job sometimes involves seizing equipment and issuing formal notification if the disturbance is loud and prolonged.

Council environmental protection services head Wayne Jameson said the council received about 3500 noise complaints each year.

The most common irritation was stereo noise and parties. Other complaints included turbine noise, trains passing through the city, boy racers and building construction.

Noise issues increase by about 20 per cent each year and the community's tolerance levels were reducing, Mr Jameson said.

The council had a procedure: complaint callers before 10pm were asked to ring back in half an hour if the noise persisted. Action was then taken.

Calls after 10pm prompt a security officer to investigate and resolve the issue. On Friday and Saturday nights, the time deadline goes later, to 11pm.

"When a stereo is seized it's held for 28 days and returned with a penalty fee of $150. If a security officer has to return to an address after an instruction is given then an infringement of up to $750 could be issued. If the noise control officer feels threatened then the police will be called," Mr Jameson said.

"We want people to enjoy themselves but not disturb the peace and wellbeing of others."

- © Fairfax NZ News