Noise complaints
There were 47 noise complaints in 2024/25 – 15 more than last year.
The increase cannot be traced back to any single reason. One possibility is a change in the personnel fielding our noise complaints, as the community appears to be more comfortable to log noise complaints.
Three vessels generated the 32 vessel noise complaints. The CMA CGM Quelimane, which services Port Chalmers on a monthly rotation, was the most frequent offender. CMA has agreed to install a silencer on the vessel and planning is underway. The other two vessels were the Ningbo and Maersk Monte Lascar. However, thanks to Maersk’s responsive action – installing a silencer at a cost of more than $1m – the Monte Lascar is no longer an issue. A heartfelt thank you to Maersk, on behalf of our community. Meanwhile, discussions about silencing the Ningbo are underway.
The 15 non-vessel noise complaints were predominantly bangs and crashes from operational activity across both our Port Chalmers site and Dunedin Bulk Port.
