Neighbourhood Concerns & Disputes

Most issues with your neighbours are best resolved by talking directly to your neighbour as they may not be aware that their actions or property is disturbing you.

If the issue is a civil matter, council is unable to get involved, however please refer to the Queensland Government website for information on these matters.

Queensland Government - Neighbourhood disputes 

Common issues contributing to neighbourhood disputes are listed below:

  • Council can only remove unregistered vehicles from council land.

    If you would like to report an unregistered abandoned vehicle on council land, please contact us on 1300 307 800.

    If the abandoned vehicle is on a main road please contact Department of Transport and Main Roads on 13 74 68.

    Please refer to the Queensland Government website for more information including vehicle registration status.

     

  • Barking Dogs:

    If you are experiencing issues with a barking dog in your neighbourhood, there are steps that you can take before contacting council.

    Step 1 - Consider contacting your neighbour to discuss your concerns.

    Step 2 - Consider contacting the Wide Bay Dispute Resolution Service to facilitate a discussion.

    Step 3 - Lodge a formal complaint with council including evidence of barking. 

    For more information, including what is required to lodge a formal complaint, download Resolving Barking Dog Issues in your Neighbourhood.

     

    Wandering or other nuisance animals:

    You can report these animals on 1300 307 800 or lodge an online customer request for council to investigate.

     

  • The Neighbourhood Disputes (Dividing Fences and Trees) Act 2011, defines the law relating to constructing and repairing fences that divide adjoining land.

    Council is unable to assist with any boundary fence disputes:

    See neighbourhood dispute resolution for more information and effective ways to mediate a dispute.

    Also refer to:

    Dividing fence disputes | Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (qcat.qld.gov.au)

  • Dust issues arising from activities undertaken by your neighbour may be an environmental nuisance regulated under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Responsibility for administering environmental nuisance relating to residential premises has been devolved to Council. If your attempts to resolve dust pollution issues with your neighbour have failed and your health is being affected please call us on 1300 307 800 or lodge an online customer request.

    Investigation and resolution of environmental nuisance complaints relies on affected persons providing detailed evidence and witness statements. Council has developed an Environmental Nuisance Pack to assist persons affected by environmental nuisance in making a complaint.

    On making a complaint, Council will forward an environmental nuisance pack and nuisance diary to you to complete and return for Council to determine action required in the matter. Click here to download a copy of the nuisance pack.

    NOTE: In order to be able to take legal action in relation to environmental nuisance, the evidence and investigation must clearly identify substantial and unreasonable interference from an ongoing or repeated activity.

    When we investigate complaints about dust under the environmental nuisance provisions in the Act, we consider the:

    • amount of dust being emitted
    • duration and rate of emission
    • characteristics and qualities of the dust
    • sensitivity of the environment into which the dust is being emitted and the potential impacts
    • view of other neighbours or complainants.

    How can I reduce dust?

    • Consider weather conditions before starting work.
    • Retain vegetation - even low or small amounts of vegetation can significantly lower wind speed and reduce the amount of dust leaving a site.
    • Erect a dust fence.
    • Water topsoil.
    • Use products such as hydromulch for large areas.

  • For information on environmental noise issues, please visit this page Noise Pollution

  • If you would like to report illegal camping, please call us on 1300 307 800 or lodge an online customer request.

  • Light emissions from luminous advertising signs and flood/sensor lights on neighbouring properties may be an environmental nuisance regulated under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Responsibility for administering environmental nuisance relating to residential premises has been devolved to Council. If your attempts to resolve light pollution issues with your neighbour have failed and your health is being affected, please call us on 1300 307 800 or lodge an online customer request.

    Investigation and resolution of environmental nuisance complaints relies on affected persons providing detailed evidence and witness statements. Council has developed an Environmental Nuisance Pack to assist persons affected by environmental nuisance in making a complaint.

    On making a complaint, Council will forward an environmental nuisance pack and nuisance diary to you to complete and return for Council to determine action required in the matter. Click here to download a copy of the nuisance pack. 

    NOTE: In order to be able to take legal action in relation to environmental nuisance, the evidence and investigation must clearly identify substantial and unreasonable interference from an ongoing or repeated activity.

    How can I reduce light nuisance?

    • Consider the location of light installation.
    • Investigate appropriate barriers or lamps.
    • Use low voltage bulbs.
    • Install a timer for outdoor lighting requirements.

    Please refer to the Light Nuisance Fact Sheet for more information.

  • Odour issues arising from activities undertaken by your neighbour may be an environmental nuisance regulated under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Responsibility for administering environmental nuisance relating to residential premises has been devolved to Council. If your attempts to resolve odour pollution issues with your neighbour have failed and your health is being affected, please call us on 1300 307 800 or lodge an online customer request.

    Investigation and resolution of environmental nuisance complaints relies on affected persons providing detailed evidence and witness statements. Council has developed an Environmental Nuisance Pack to assist persons affected by environmental nuisance in making a complaint.

    On making a complaint, Council will forward an environmental nuisance pack and nuisance diary to you to complete and return for Council to determine action required in the matter. Click here to download a copy of the nuisance pack.

    NOTE: In order to be able to take legal action in relation to environmental nuisance, the evidence and investigation must clearly identify substantial and unreasonable interference from an ongoing or repeated activity.

    When we investigate complaints about odours under the environmental nuisance provisions in the Act, we consider the:

    • amount of odour being emitted
    • duration and rate of emission and the odour's characteristics and qualities
    • sensitivity of the environment into which the odour is being emitted and the potential impact
    • the view of other neighbours or complainants.

    How can I reduce odours?

    • Keep your property tidy and don't allow vegetation or rubbish to accumulate.
    • Consider weather conditions before starting work that will create odour, for example when using fertiliser.
    • Enclose or cover compost bins to contain odour
    • Do not store piles of vegetation
    • Remove excess grass clippings and vegetation that is not able to be composted in a suitable covered compost unit to contain odours to a Council waste facility for disposal.

  • If you have an issue with a neighbours tree or shrub causing a nuisance or property damage, this is a civil matter and council is unable to assist. 

    Please refer to the Queensland Goverment website for further information or Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

    Overgrown properties:

    Refer to information here if you would like to report an overgrown property.

     

  • Fires and smoke emissions are regulated as follows:

    • Council local laws provide that:
      • lighting of fires in urban areas is restricted to fires in a BBQ or brazier for cooking or heating (permitted fires).
      • incinerator and other fires are prohibited in urban areas
      • lighting of small open fires less than 2 metres in any direction in non-urban areas and rural properties is permitted provided no smoke nuisance is created.
    • QFES (Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990) – open fires greater than 2 metres in any direction in non-urban areas require a “Permit to Light Fire”. If you are being impacted by a fire greater than two metres in any direction, please contact your local fire warden in the first instance. NOTE: call 000 in emergency situations. Visit the QFES website for more information.
    • Environmental Protection Act 1994 – smoke from permitted fires for cooking or heating in urban areas and smoke from small fires in rural or non-urban areas may be an environmental nuisance.

    Smoke or fumes arising from activities undertaken by your neighbour may be an environmental nuisance regulated under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Responsibility for administering environmental nuisance relating to residential premises has been devolved to Council. If your attempts to resolve smoke pollution issues with your neighbour have failed and your health is being affected, please call us on 1300 307 800 or lodge an online customer request.

    Investigation and resolution of environmental nuisance complaints relies on affected persons providing detailed evidence and witness statements. Council has developed an Environmental Nuisance Pack to assist persons affected by environmental nuisance in making a complaint.

    On making a complaint, Council will forward an environmental nuisance pack and nuisance diary to you to complete and return for Council to determine action required in the matter. Click here to download a copy of the nuisance pack. 

    NOTE: In order to be able to take legal action in relation to environmental nuisance, the evidence and investigation must clearly identify substantial and unreasonable interference from an ongoing or repeated activity.

    When we investigate complaints about smoke or fumes under the environmental nuisance provisions in the Act, we consider the:

    • the amount of smoke or fumes being emitted
    • how long the smoke or fumes are emitted for, and the characteristics and qualities
    • the sensitivity of, and impact on the environment
    • the view of other neighbours or complainants.


    How can I reduce smoke?

    • Choose firewood carefully - wet or green timber produces more smoke than dry, aged timber. Do not burn manufactured timber products (eg. chipboard) or treated/painted timber.

    • Stack wood under cover in a dry ventilated area - wood should be air-dried for at least eight months before it is ready to burn.
    • Burn the fire brightly – a brightly burning fire with air controls open produces less smoke.
    • Keep air controls open at night - do not shut the air controls overnight as this causes more smoke.
    • Clean and maintain your chimney at the beginning and end of winter each year.

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