Dear Mr Lee
I refer to your correspondence to the Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Heritage, the Hon Penny Sharpe MLCregarding your concerns around noise from hooning vehicles in Barangaroo and the functionality of the EPA online report system and your call for noise cameras to be installed In Barangaroo. Your correspondence was referred to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), and I have been asked to reply.
Firstly, I acknowledge the distress that excessive noise from loud or hooning vehicles can cause. The NSW Government understands that it disrupts peace at home and can have a psychological and physical toll on individuals and their families.
Noise cameras are a new and emerging technology, being trialled until late 2025 to ensure the technology is effective, reliable, and can be integrated into a regulatory enforcement framework. Fines for noisy vehicles will not be issued during this period, and additional sites will not be added while the trial is under way and its outcomes are assessed.
For more details about the trial, visit the EPA website at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/noise/vehicle-noise/noise-camera-trial
In addition to the trial, existing measures to combat noisy vehicles will remain in place, involving collaborative enforcement by the NSW Police, TfNSW, and the EPA. For example, the NSW Police Force plays a critical role in enforcing on-road standards and driver behaviour. As part of the multi-approach, the EPA regulates stationary exhaust noise limits under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.
Additionally, the ‘Noise Abatement Program’ aims to provide noise mitigation to locations where road traffic noise is very high and can include treatments to houses to reduce internal noise. More information about the program and eligibility requirements can be found at: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/operations/roads-and-waterways/environment-and-heritage/reducing-road-traffic-noise/noise-abatement
Meanwhile, the EPA is reviewing the Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation 2017 to ensure that it continues to be fit for purpose and provides the best approach to protecting the community from offensive noise. The review includes consideration of the appropriateness of existing penalties for noisy vehicles and exhausts. There will be an opportunity to provide feedback on any proposed changes when the draft Regulation is publicly exhibited.
If you would like to be notified of the public exhibition, you can email the EPA at noise.reform@epa.nsw.gov.au.
Whilst I acknowledge that the current reporting methods have constraints, community members like yourself are encouraged to continue reporting excessively noisy vehicles to online at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/noise/vehicle-noise/reporting-noisy-vehicle-exhaust or the EPA’s Environment Line on 131 555.
Similarly, NSW residents who witness any hoon or dangerous driving offence are encouraged to make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers online at www1.police.nsw.gov.au/cs.aspx.
For more information about noise pollution from vehicles please visit our website at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/Your-environment/Noise/vehicle-noise
If you have any further questions about this matter, please contact me on 9995-6847 or atJames.Goodwin@epa.nsw.gov.au.
Thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to the Government's attention and for your feedback around the EPA’s online reporting system.
Sincerely
James Goodwin
Director Regulatory Practice and Services
Environment Protection Authority