​Breach of an order

A noise abatement order takes effect immediately after it has been made. Unless the order specifies an end date, it continues to apply until it is revoked (cancelled) by the court.

If a noise abatement order is made and served (given) on your neighbour, they must stop making the type of noise specified in the order. If your neighbour continues to make the noise they may be breaching (breaking) the order. It is an offence to breach a noise abatement order.

The Environmental Protection Agency, the local council or the police have the power to prosecute a breach of a noise abatement order. You may contact one of these agencies and show them a copy of the order. They may charge your neighbour with a criminal offence for breaching a noise abatement order.

If your neighbour is charged they will have to go to court to defend the charge. At the court hearing the magistrate must decide whether they continued to make noise in breach of the order.

If the magistrate is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that they did breach the order, your neighbour may have to pay a fine.  

If you were the applicant for the noise abatement order, you may prosecute the breach of the order yourself. Before taking this step you should get legal advice. If you are unsuccessful, you risk an order that you pay the other side's legal costs.