Noisiest Wairarapa streets revealed

CRANKING IT UP: Vogel Crescent had the most noise complaints of any street in Masterton in 2014. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Noise control officers in Wairarapa had to deal with just over 1000 complaints last year but despite the high number, complaints actually fell on the previous year.

The source of annoyance for neighbours who summoned noise control ranged from noisy quad bike use, crowing roosters, exploding fireworks and even rowdy wedding guests.

Information gathered from the three territorial local authorities, Masterton, Carterton and South Wairarapa district councils was obtained under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act to reveal the extent of the problem.

Topping the table for the noisiest streets was Vogel Crescent in Masterton, High St in Carterton, East St in Greytown, Brandon St in Featherston and Strasbourge St in Martinborough.

Compared to 2013, the noisiest streets didn't change in Carterton and Greytown but Wakefield St in Featherston, Dublin St in Martinborough and East Masterton are no longer the source of the most complaints.

People were most likely to call noise control over party noise, loud music or noisy people.

In Masterton, there were 743 complaints, with 580 related to "stereo/party" noise, 86 "other noise", 66 dog-related noises and 11 cases of industrial noise.

Officers served 204 "excessive noise directions" which is a 72-hour notice to the noisy neighbour to cut back the noise.

Five houses failed to comply with the notice and had items seized.

In South Wairarapa there were two seizures - car keys and a stereo, but in Carterton district, Carterton, there were none.

One person in Martinborough called noise control about the sound of a "low flying helicopter" and in Carterton, piano playing irked one resident.

Barking dogs also caused a few complaints in all areas.

In 2014, there were 191 fewer complaints than in the previous year, in which there were 1200 complaints.

Do you live on one of Wairarapa's noisiest streets?

Top three noisiest streets by number of complaints
Masterton
1. Vogel Cres - 33
2. Kippenberger St - 25
3. Churchill Ave - 22
Carterton
1. High St - 19
2. Tasman Cres - 15
3. Fisher Place - 12
Greytown
1.East St - 18
2. Main St - 14
3. West St - 3
Featherston
1. Brandon St - 14
2. Revans St - 9
3. Fox St - 6
Martinborough
1. Strasbourge St - 7
2. Venice St - 3
3. Oxford St/Dublin St - 2