Noisy air-con puts Sydney woman in court

Daily Telegraph
August 20, 2007

REPLACING her old air conditioner with a reverse cycle unit has landed Dragica Koceva in court after the western Sydney resident failed to comply with a noise control notice issued by Fairfield council.

Mrs Koceva, 51, of St Johns Park, said she has been victimised because she uses her air conditioner.

''This is ridiculous. I feel like a criminal, they made me feel like I did something wrong,'' Mrs Koceva told The Daily Telegraph.

''I have lived 20 years in Australia and suddenly I have to go to court because I'm using my air conditioner ...

Mrs Koceva said since a neighbour made the complaint about her $990 air conditioner, she has spent at least $400 to modify the noise level to suit council standards ...

A council officer is expected to come out and test the air conditioner noise levels again this week. ''I don't think it's too loud,'' Ms Koceva said ...

Ms Koceva's case highlights a growing problem _ burgeoning numbers of noise complaints to local councils in response to a trend for larger, reverse cycle air conditioner units. Manly council's manager for regulatory services, Mark Pearson said the trend for larger homes had meant consumers were now installing commercial-scale reverse cycle climate control units.

''We get between 10 and 13 complaints a week about air conditioner noise,'' Mr Pearson said ...

Figures for air conditioner noise complaints from Blacktown council showed complaints have increased by 25 per cent in five years.

City of Sydney council said noisy air conditioners accounted for roughly 10 per cent of its more than 1000 noise complaints in the last calender year ...

'You try to keep them at least three metres from the property's boundary,'' he said. Ms Koceva meanwhile has been ordered to attend Fairfield Local Court next month.