Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has released data showing the top 10 Victorian local government areas where the owners of noisy vehicles live, with Casey City (506), Greater Dandenong (398) and Frankston City (276) councils coming out on top.
Hume City (162), Mornington Peninsula (136), Whittlesea City (131), Kingston City (130), Knox City (111), Ballarat City (110) and Cardinia Shire (100) round out Victoria’s top 10 LGAs from data taken from 1 January 2014.
Over the last three years more than 5,000 notices have been issued to Victorians, requiring them to get their vehicles tested and to make any repairs to ensure they comply with environmental law.
EPA issues notices after receiving reports from Victorian Police officers, EPA staff and by conducting roadside operations.
At roadside inspections, about 88 per cent of drivers were male and 12 per cent female, while the top vehicle makes and models tested and failed at roadside blitzes over the past 18 months were:
- Holden Commodore (sedans and utes)
- Nissan (mostly Skylines)
- Subaru (Impreza, WRX)
- Ford Falcon (sedans and utes)
EPA Regulatory Practice and Strategy Executive Director Chris Webb said that under the Environment Protection Act 1970, it was an offence against the registered owner or driver of a vehicle to exceed prescribed noise standards.
“When a vehicle has been reported as being excessively noisy by either an EPA officer or a Victoria Police officer, the registered owner receives a notice requiring they take their vehicle to an EPA-approved noise tester,” Mr Webb said.
“The owners will then need to make any repairs or modifications as required to ensure their vehicle is compliant before being retested. EPA notices also require the registered owner of the vehicle to lodge a certificate of compliance, which can only be obtained from an approved noise tester. EPA has the power to suspend a vehicle’s registration if a certificate is not provided.”
Mr Webb said it was clear that noisy vehicles were a serious concern for the community – doubly so when the vehicles had been deliberately modified.
“We recognise that for some of these vehicle owners the noise is all part of the attraction. What they need to understand is that for a large part of the community, particularly on suburban streets at 2am in the morning, their passion is not shared,” Mr Webb said.
“Modifying vehicles shows a blatant disregard for the community members who have a right to live in an environment that is free from preventable disturbances. Noisy vehicles can cause community annoyance, sleep disturbance and other health impacts.”
EPA encourages the community to report noisy vehicles at their local police station. If a police officer is able to observe the vehicle being too noisy on a public road, the vehicle will be referred to EPA so a notice can be issued to the vehicle owner.