By Belinda Nolan
BRIMBANK Council is taking action to ensure Sunshine West residents get a good night’s sleep.
The council has ordered transport company Lindsay Australia to keep the noise down, after residents complained noisy 24-hour operations were disturbing the peace and quiet of their neighbourhood.
Acting on numerous complaints, council officers inspected residents’ homes and found operations at the Vella Rd site were causing “undue detriment” to the community.
The council has issued the company with a Noise Prohibition Notice, ordering it to take immediate steps to suppress the noise – or face further action.
The company, which was operating a 24-hour truck depot at the site, has been ordered to shut at 10pm every day, to give residents peace and quiet.
Last week Star reported residents of Learmonth Crescent and surrounding streets were considering legal action against the company, amid fears the constant noise was having a negative impact on the health of residents.
Learmonth Crescent resident Jo Mooney told Star she had experienced medical problems due to a lack of sleep.
“We’ve been getting out of the house as much as we can to try to get rid of the exhaustion,” Mrs Mooney said.
It’s just ridiculous … and it has to stop.”
Stephen Sully, council’s general manager of City Development, said council took the concerns of residents seriously and would take enforcement action where necessary to protect their rights.
Mr Sully said the council had committed to undertake regular inspections to ensure the company was operating within the agreed hours.
If the company failed to change its ways, council would declare the operations to be a nuisance and take appropriate action under the planning permit.
Lindsay Australia spokesman Graham Johnston told Star the company was aware of the concerns of residents and was taking them seriously.
He said the company was introducing long and short term initiatives to address the problem.
