In order
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Talk to the site
The City of Melbourne says that if demolition or construction noise disturbs you, raise it with the owner or site supervisor as soon as it starts, because they are often unaware they are causing one. The City of Sydney says to contact the construction site first and try to resolve the issue directly.
The notice on the hoarding is where the contact usually is. In the City of Melbourne, the builder’s public notice must give the project supervisor’s name with an all-hours number, and people who complain must receive a response within 72 hours.
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Then the council
If talking to the site does not work, the City of Sydney says the builder or the person complaining can raise the issue with the council, which deals with it under its enforcement policy. The City of Melbourne asks that construction noise be reported by phone at all times, because it needs an officer on site while the noise is happening.
In New South Wales, councils keep the approved plans and employ compliance officers, and if building work breaches legislative requirements or the conditions of consent they can issue a compliance order, a stop work order or a fine. Urgent matters such as dangerous excavation should go to the council for immediate attention.
Two state regulators point to the council too. EPA Victoria says it does not investigate noise complaints about residential construction sites, which are the local council’s role. In Queensland, most reports about nuisance such as noise and dust are handled by local government, which should be the first point of contact.
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The state environment regulator, for some sites
EPA Victoria takes reports of noise from commercial construction and demolition sites, and of dust from commercial and industrial sources including construction. The NSW EPA’s contact table lists both the local council and the EPA Environment Line against building construction noise.
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Safety, at any time
The City of Melbourne asks people to report any unsafe building or construction site, to phone immediately if someone could get hurt, and to contact WorkSafe about worker or workplace safety. The NSW Government points people concerned about unsafe building sites, or about asbestos removal, to SafeWork NSW.
On asbestos itself, the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency’s advice for householders says it is “not recommended that you handle or remove asbestos yourself”, and in some places the law goes further: in the Australian Capital Territory any removal needs a licensed removalist, unless it is part of minor routine maintenance or other minor work, and in Queensland a home owner must be trained before taking out more than 10 square metres of non-friable material, and only a removalist holding a Class A licence may remove friable material. The agency adds that getting a professional to do the job is easier, safer and often cheaper. It also says that all asbestos waste must go to a landfill licensed to accept it, and that putting asbestos in a household rubbish bin can bring a fine.
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About the builder or the certifier, in NSW
Building Commission NSW can investigate complaints against licensed builders and tradespeople, registered certifiers, and councils acting as certifiers. It cannot order unauthorised building work to stop, or act on a complaint against a property owner, unless that owner is an owner-builder.
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Talking it through
For noise in Victoria, the City of Melbourne notes that the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria can help people resolve noise issues co-operatively, and that its services are free and confidential. In New South Wales, from 1 July 2025, Community Justice Centres mediate only disputes referred by NSW courts or involving incorporated associations. If a builder has damaged your property, the NSW Government points to the Building Commission’s building and renovating complaints.
Numbers, from each owner’s own page
Only numbers this guide could read on the organisation’s own website are listed. Councils other than these two publish their own.
| Organisation | What the page says it is for | Number |
|---|---|---|
| City of Sydney | Questions about the construction noise code, or an issue with construction noise | 02 9265 9333 |
| City of Sydney | Reporting construction work outside the approved hours of consent, immediately | 02 9265 9738 |
| NSW EPA Environment Line | Listed, with the local council, for building construction noise | 131 555 |
| SafeWork NSW | General contact by phone | 13 10 50 |
| City of Melbourne | Construction noise, at all times; unsafe buildings or construction sites where someone could get hurt | 03 9658 9658 |
| EPA Victoria | General enquiries, 24 hours; the same number is given for reporting dust from commercial sources | 1300 372 842 |
| WorkSafe Victoria | Speak to an advisor, 8 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday | 1800 136 089 |
| WorkSafe Victoria | Reporting an emergency, 24 hours a day | 13 23 60 |
| Queensland Pollution Hotline | Significant pollution incidents, 24 hours a day (option 2); most nuisance reports go to local government first | 1300 130 372 |
If anyone is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000).
What to have ready
The City of Melbourne asks for what happened, where, and when, and says timely reporting is critical; some kinds of noise report also need a noise log sheet. Western Australia’s regulation 13 fact sheet gives one more reason to keep notes: a site working out of hours there must be able to show it gave written notice, at least 24 hours beforehand, to the occupiers of premises likely to receive noise above the assigned levels.