‘Vibrates through apartment’: Residents’ 4am city construction hell

Sleep-deprived Brisbane city residents have blasted all-night construction noise at one of the CBD’s major projects, claiming the ‘excessive noise’ vibrates through their apartment from 9pm to 4am.

A couple who packed up and moved apartments in Brisbane’s city centre to escape major construction noise say they are now being kept awake by new all-night works without warning.

Anthony Clarke says the building works from Cross River Rail had forced him and his wife out of his Charlotte Street home.

And now the construction of Brisbane City Council’s metro bus line through the night has made his Adelaide Street apartment vibrate with what he described as “excessive noise”.

The couple’s apartment is 21-floors above ground but he said the work, which began at 9pm and continued through to 4am last week, “vibrates through the apartment”.

Anthony Clarke says construction work has gone through the night.

In a letter sent to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s office, seen by The Courier-Mail, Mr Clarke issued a complaint of “extremely excessive loud noise” generated from work on the corner of Adelaide and George Streets, which “continued unabated with continual banging of steel upon steel from a mechanical device”.

“To allow this type of construction highlights the ignorance and absolute stupidity on the person/s who allow this after hours construction activity to be permitted, showing complete contempt for the residents in the adjoining building,” the letter sent last week says.

Mr Clarke said he was particularly puzzled by the disruptive noises given the section of the city being worked on was not impacted by traffic.

“It is not emergency works which from time to time Queensland Urban Utilities are required to perform, it is not related to road closures or any other reason rather that thoughtless inconsiderate actions of unknown persons who approve this activity,” the complaint said.

“It is upon Brisbane City Council to regulate private construction activities hours of operation yet here is BCC allowing this to create serious noise and sleep issues for residents.”

The all night works ‘vibrate’ through his apartment, he claims.

A council spokesperson said major works on the Adelaide Street tunnel began in early September 2021 and include works “outside standard construction hours” but the construction is subject to traffic permits, environmental management and community impacts.

“We will continue to keep residents informed about the project’s work hours and potential impacts and we thank the community for their patience,” the spokesperson said.