With handling of noise complaints coming up frequently on Facebook, and an influx of visitors to Raglan I asked Waikato District Council how they would be handling noise complaints:
What arrangements has WDC made to handle noise complaints in Raglan over the holiday period?
In the past has a patrol has been stationed here. But at the moment they seem to be coming from Hamilton and taking an hour to get here if they come at all.
Roger MacCulloch, Waikato District Council Regulatory Manager replied saying:
“Noise control services are contracted to an external provider with an expected response time of one hour, which is consistent with other areas in our district. Historically responses to Raglan have been from Hamilton as it is not economic to maintain a patrol in Raglan. There was a brief period when the contractor did have a person based in Raglan however that is no longer the case.
We have not made any additional provisions for noise control responses in Raglan over the holiday period beyond the normal contractual arrangement. There has not been any large increase in the number of complaints received over this time that would warrant any special arrangements.
If people experience noise that they feel is too loud, they should call 0800 492 452. It’s important for people to call when the noise is happening so that the contractor can come out and assess the noise level.”
So it seems that Raglanites can expect a wait of an hour when they lodge a noise complaint before the noise patrol ‘contractor’ shows up.