White Noise, Not Beeping - Reversing Alarms

We, the undersigned, do respectfully request that the Council:

1. Establish local noise regulations requiring all contractors, commercial vehicles, delivery trucks, and business vehicles operating within the City of Stirling, to phase out traditional tonal reversing beeps ("beep-beep-beep") and transition to modern broadband reversing alarms ("white noise" or "pshh-pshh-pshh" alarms);
2. Implement a compliance timeline with full transition required by January 1, 2028, giving operators reasonable time to retrofit existing vehicles;
3. Provide clear guidance and education to contractors, businesses, and vehicle operators on compliant broadband alarm systems that meet both Occupational Safety and Health requirements and environmental noise standards.

Reasons for this petition

The Problem: Traditional tonal reversing beeps create severe noise pollution that travels far beyond construction sites, penetrating homes through walls and windows. These intrusive tones disrupt residents' sleep, work-from-home arrangements, and quality of life - particularly during early morning construction hours. The "cut through" tonal characteristic of tonal beeps makes them far more annoying than other noise at similar levels.

The Solution Exists: Modern broadband reversing alarms provide superior safety outcomes while dramatically reducing community impact: Better safety: Easier to locate direction of sound, more uniform coverage with no "dead spots," easier to differentiate between multiple reversing vehicles.

Reduced noise complaints: Sound blends into background at distance, no annoying tonal characteristics.

Regulatory compliance: More likely to meet Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 as no tonal penalty applies.

Council Has Clear Authority to Act: Despite previous claims by the City of Stirling that Occupational Health and Safety regulations prevented intervention on reversing beeps, the WA Minister for the Environment has now confirmed in writing (17 July 2025, ref: 87-01143) that: The Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 do apply to reversing alarms. There is no WA legislation requiring tonal reversing alarms - they are simply what manufacturers fit by default Broadband reversing alarms are a "reasonable and practicable alternative" that meets both safety and noise requirements Local councils have "delegated and authorised powers to investigate noise issues and enforce the provisions of the Noise Regulations". The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation's guidance document "Audible Reversing Alarms: Considerations for Use" (September 2019) explicitly states: "Where a tonal reversing alarm on a vehicle is likely to negatively impact on the community, the use of broadband alarms may assist in providing a solution."

Community Support: Multiple City of Stirling councillor candidates have previously expressed support for this initiative during consultation with residents, demonstrating clear community appetite for action on this quality-of-life issue.

Precedent Exists: Similar regulations have been successfully implemented in noise-sensitive areas internationally without compromising workplace safety. This is proven, practical technology that costs no more than traditional alarms.

What this means for Stirling

By implementing this regulation, the City of Stirling will:

• Protect residents' amenity and wellbeing without compromising construction worker safety.
• Demonstrate leadership in evidence-based environmental policy.
• Reduce the burden on Council's noise complaint processes.
• Exercise existing regulatory powers as confirmed by the State Environment Minister set a practical example for other Perth councils to follow.

This is not about stopping construction or development - it's about using 21st-century technology that's better for everyone.