The City of Cockburn's response to The West Australian/Seven West Media about neighbourhood complaints/disputes
Questions:
- In 2022 how many complaints did the council receive from residents?
- What was the main source of complaints to the council?
- How many of those complaints, if known, related specifically to neighbours complaining about their neighbours?
- In 2017 how many complaints did the council receive from residents?
- What was the main source of complaints to the council?
- Does the council often receive requests for the council to intervene in neighbourhood disputes?
- If so, how do most disputes get resolved? (ie: Does the council often get involved or does it encourage the neighbours to work it out together etc?
Answer:
The majority of complaints received by the City involve noise (common examples include loud music and barking dogs), compliance issues (health and amenity issues like vermin or dust), dogs and parking.
While the City may be contacted by someone in the community with a complaint, this does not necessarily indicate that parties/neighbours, are involved in a dispute.
The City is responsible for the enforcement of legislative requirements and does not provide a mediation service. We do encourage parties to agree to a resolution themselves, within the Local Laws or State Legislation that apply to an individual situation.
The City does not intervene unless there is an offence under its Local Laws or under State Legislation it is required to enforce.
As part of the City’s Neighbourhood Networking program, $50 vouchers are available to residents to help neighbours get to know each other.
These vouchers enable people to hold a community gathering in their neighbourhood so people can get to know each other and establish friendships.
Last financial year, the City received 28 applications with many enjoyable community gatherings held throughout Cockburn’s 24 suburbs.
While this program is not aimed at preventing disputes, it helps when neighbours get to know each other. It promotes understanding and familiarity, which means it’s easier to have a conversation to solve issues if they arise.
It’s also worth noting that while the City’s population has increased in the past five years, the number of complaints has not significantly increased in the corresponding period.
The response below is in two parts, the first section outlines complaints dealt with by the City’s Public Health Team such as noise, and health and amenity compliance matters like vermin or dust.
The second section involves complaints received by the City’s Ranger Team, including issues generally involving dogs, cats, parking and litter. There is no break-down of what issues the complaints refer to.
Public Health Team:
In 2022 how many complaints did the City of Cockburn Public Health Team receive from residents?
1,495 Health requests were received for 2022, based on data capture for Public Health matters for Environmental Health Officers, as well as noise complaints received by the City’s CoSafe mobile safety and security patrol.
What was the main source of these complaints?
Of the 1,495 Health requests received for 2022, the largest categories were:
958 Noise complaints, of which 557 were for loud music or stereo noise
190 Pest complaints, of which 61 were about rodents
133 Dust complaints (primarily related to sand blowing from vacant land or development sites).
How many of those complaints, if known, related specifically to neighbours complaining about their neighbours?
This cannot be readily quantified due to the way complaints from numerous sources are captured
Of the 958 noise complaints, 557 relating to loud music or stereo noise would likely be initiated due to activities on one property disturbing people at another property.
In 2017 how many complaints did the City of Cockburn Public Health Team receive from residents?
1,479 Health requests were received for 2017, based on data capture for Public Health matters for Environmental Health Officers, as well as noise complaints received by CoSafe mobile safety and security patrol..
What was the main source of these complaints?
Of the 1,479 Health request received for 2017, the largest categories were:
- 1,084 Noise complaints, of which 710 were for loud music or stereo noise
- 101 Pest complaints, of which 27 were about rodents
- 101 Dust complaints (primarily related to sand blowing from vacant land or development sites).
Does the City often receive requests to intervene in neighbourhood disputes?
The City can only track the customer requests it receives, for matters it is authorised to deal with. The receipt of a complaint or request does not necessarily indicate parties are in dispute
The City is an agency responsible for the enforcement of legislative requirements, rather than a mediation service. We do encourage parties to reach a resolution themselves
Information on legal requirements that may relate to specific complaints are available on request, as well as on the City’s website.
If so, how do most disputes get resolved? (ie: Does the City often get involved or does it encourage the neighbours to work it out together etc?)
The City can only track the customer requests it receives, for matters it is authorised to deal with
If neighbours were to resolve matters themselves without the involvement of City officers, this would not be captured on record.
Ranger Team:
In 2022 how many complaints did the City of Cockburn Ranger Team receive from residents?
10,176
In 2017 how many complaints did the City of Cockburn Ranger Team receive from residents?
10,392
What was the main source of these complaints?
Animal complaints are primarily due to barking dogs while owners are away from their residence. As more people work from home during the day, residents increasingly notice dog behaviour in their neighbourhood.
With multi-generational living becoming more common, common complaints are about neighbour’s cars blocking roads, or parking on verges without consent.
Does the City often receive requests to intervene in neighbourhood disputes?
There are occasions when civil disputes between neighbours occur. In these cases the City does not intervene unless there is an offence under our Local Laws or State Legislation the City is required to enforce.
If so, how do most disputes get resolved? (ie: Does the City often get involved or does it encourage the neighbours to work it out together etc?)
Rangers adopt an educational role, helping residents understand the local and state laws that apply to their individual situation.