People want action on noise, a recent public meeting in Brisbane showed. Some want technical improvements such as quieter air conditioners or better sound barriers (屏障) around major roads. Others want tougher laws to keep noise within limit from building sites or to require owners to be responsible for barking dogs. But the first to do was a noise complaints system that works.

　　Brisbane City Council (委员会) receives more complaints about noise than all other problems put together. So it made a survey and found that about half its citizens are upset by noise in one form or another—traffic, pool pumps, air conditioners or loud parties. This inspired the Council to bring together more than 100 citizens one evening to talk through solutions to the problem.

　　The meeting found the present noise complaints system useless. Depending on the problem, responsibility for noise can lie with the Council, the Environment Protection Authority, one of three government departments or even the police. So complaints often feel they are getting the run-round. When the people at the meeting were asked to vote for changes, the strongest response was for a 24-hour, noise hotline to be the first port of call for all complaints.

　　The meeting also favored regulatory measures, such as tougher minimum standards for noise made by equipment like air conditioners. This even makes economic sense, as noise is a waste of energy and money. Other measures the meeting supported were wider buffer zones around noisy activities and controls to keep heavy traffic away from residential areas（居民区）.

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