Felixstow residents petition call Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council to move basketball court following noise complaints

The constant “boing of the bloody basketball” has spurred a petition demanding the removal of a court while retaliating youths have reportedly “egged” nearby homes.

Felixstow residents have demanded the local council take “urgent action” and move a new basketball court which is the source of “unnecessary distress” for the neighbourhood.

Nearly 40 residents have signed a petition calling on Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council move the Felixstow Reserve court with young people playing games as late as 2.30am, breaching the 8pm to 8am curfew.

“The noise of bouncing basketballs … has caused unnecessary distress to some nearby residents,” the petition stated.

Council staff say a “brazen and enterprising individual” also drove his work vehicle onto the reserve and used spotlights to illuminate the court to allow two people to play after 9pm, while kids have held boombox parties.

Elected members will consider a proposal on Monday night to install CCTV cameras at the reserve, or to possibly “eliminate” the court which was opened in February, 2019.

The court was opened by the council in February, 2019. Picture: Ben Cameron.

A local felt compelled to stick a note on the basketball post urging users to “please respect residents”.

Late last year, two local houses were reportedly “mistakenly targeted” and egged by retaliating youths, leaving the residents, who did not object to the court, “concerned for their safety”.

On Friday, The Messenger spoke to a number of aggrieved residents who asked their names be changed.

Joan, who has lived by the reserve for 56 years, said noise had been an issue since the court was opened.

“You always get those who will be there later (than 8pm) and all you get is this “boing, boing, boing of the bloody basketball,” Joan said.

“They’re in small groups. Males usually. There’s music and lots of chatter.”

She supported the court being moved, saying it was “too close to housing” and welcomed CCTV cameras.

“If the councillors don’t want to be bombarded with text messages … they might be able to see for themselves we’re not mucking around.”

Regular reserve user Melva said she hoped the court would not be moved. Picture: Ben Cameron.

Fellow resident Steve said the council should consider larger hedges, a new court surface or a removable ring to minimise noise.

“If that can’t happen it should be moved,” Steve said.

“It’s consistent, it’s constant. Bang, bang, bang, bang. We’ve had people playing at 2.30am.”

However, he said CCTV would not address the issue “because it won’t be policed”.

Steve said his wife, and other people in the area, wanted the court removed completely due to the “incessant noise”.

The council has set a strict curfew for basketball activities. Picture: Ben Cameron

“She used to work from home … on Zoom meetings she’d be asked ‘What is that noise?’” he said.

However, fellow resident Anil said he had no noise concerns but the use of cameras was a “fair idea”.

Regular reserve user Melva said any plans to remove or move the court were “no good”.

“This park is for everybody. We all follow those rules. It should stay,” Melva said.

Residents say their sleep has been impacted by games going on after midnight. Picture: Ben Cameron

Local councillor Scott Sims said concerns with the court were “barely mentioned” during extensive consultation before it was built.

“While council needs to look at resident concerns, we do need to find a balance that also benefits the whole community,” Cr Sims said.

Council staff reported testing revealed court noise was “not considered to be a nuisance”.

“Basketball noise is considered unlikely to be any louder (than other activities),” staff said.

“However, repetitive bouncing and noise may be difficult to ignore if you are noise sensitive and attuned to picking up and concentrating on that particular noise over other noises.”