The noise of rock-breaking at a hinterland subdivision has prompted an accommodation owner to cancel bookings and driven one resident from their home.
Locals say the noise from the development of The Enclave – between the Maleny football ground, Bunya Street, Tallowwood Street and Centenary Drive – has been relentless.
They say the rock-breaking has been going for most days of the week for months, although the local councillor says it has only been a week.
Mark Newman said the noise had been happening from 7am until at least 4pm at least five days a week “for months”.
“I can’t remember when it started but it’s certainly at least two months and probably three,” he said.
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Mr Newman, an author, said the noise was so bad at his home about 750m from the site that he went away for three weeks and finished the final chapter of his novel elsewhere.
“I went away to somewhere that was quiet. At the moment, I’m not doing the sort of writing that requires that sort of quiet,” he said.
He said the breaking and excavation of rock on the site was “like a quarry”.
Frances Harper, who lives about 500m from the subdivision, said the consistent noise of the rock-breaker had upset a lot of people.
“It has been going on, and on, and on,” she said.
“I didn’t take any notice of when it started. You think it will only be for a couple of days but then you realise down the track that it’s not.”
Ms Harper said she could not understand how the development had been approved.
Councillor Winston Johnston said the rock-breaking had only gone on for about a week to his knowledge, to remove rock for the construction of roads, and one person was responsible for the complaints.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said the development was approved but the rock and associated work had been revealed after approval had been granted.
“The contractor has conducted letterbox drops to inform nearby residents of their operations. Council is aware of and has been monitoring the situation,” they said.
Residents told Sunshine Coast News that they were concerned that the development was only up to its second stage and that the rock-breaking would continue into future stages.
The developer has been contacted for comment.
