TWEED COUNCIL HOPE TO PREVENT GROWING NUMBER OF NEIGHBOURHOOD DISPUTES

By Sarah Waters

NEIGHBOURLY disputes are on the rise with about 800 complaints across the Tweed been recorded each year.

To prevent the growing number of conflicts, particularly around noise complaints, Tweed residents and Tweed Shire Council have introduced a new program called Know your Neighbour.

Council Environmental Health Officer Elleni Stewart said the program educated residents on the complaints process, but also focused on what avenues are available before an issue escalates.

“Research tells us that people feel safer if they know people in their neighbourhood,” Ms Stewart said.

“Getting to know your neighbours early on, through just a simple hello, can really reduce the potential for any conflict.

“Often, after people have been officially reported to Council, they will say things like ‘I honestly had no idea this was a problem, I wish we had known sooner’.

“A focus on understanding different people and communication styles is vital, as is knowing what resources are available if you are ever in a situation where you have an issue with a neighbour,” she said.

Ms Stewart said it was always better for neighbours to try and resolve a problem before a complaint was made.

Figures show noise complaints have risen steadily in recent years, from about 148 noise complaints registered with Council in 2018 to 200 noise complaints in 2022.

Other neighbour-related complaints, including odour, light, illegal dumping and noisy animals have remained high with about 800 complaints recorded each year over the same timeframe.

Uki neighbours Geoffrey Colwill and Carmen Myler have lived next to each other for the past 12 years.

Not long after they moved next door, they purchased a lawn mower to share.

Uki neighbours Geoffrey Colwill and Carmen Myler in there neighbourhood

Mr Colwill said knowing your neighbours meant you had people nearby to rely on.

“Even if just for a quick chat, it makes our part of the world an even more special place to live,” Mr Colwill said.

“I found that a simple way to make community is to ask for support – it’s a way to connect with people.”

Ms Myler said neighbours should ask for help if they need to and let people know it’s okay to say no if they can’t.

Both Mr Colwill and Ms Myler are members of Resilient Uki, a community-led group whose focus is to ensure community bonds are strong, so they can support each other in an emergency.

The group was started after the 2022 floods to enhance resilience, preparedness and community-led recovery.

For more information about the Know Your Neighbour program visit here.

Council also has a Know Your Neighbour booklet, which includes a set of mailbox cards to introduce yourself to a neighbour and to discuss any issues of concern.

For more Tweed Shire news, click here.