Mackay father Darren Purdy says he is not exaggerating over issues with barking dogs

An Erakala man fed up with his neighbour’s dog barking every time a ‘blade of grass moves’ seized his chance at a Mackay council meeting.

A barking dog is getting on the nerves of an Erakala resident who turned up to a council meeting to remind councillors he was suffering from the noise. Picture: Rob Williams.

A Mackay father driven to the brink by his neighbour’s barking dogs has fronted councillors in a desperate bid to resolve the issue.

Erakala resident Darren Purdy stood up at the Mackay Regional Council ordinary meeting on Wednesday with councillors, the CEO and other staff mandated to listen without interrupting for up to three minutes.

Mr Purdy said he wanted to put a face to the problem which had been ongoing for three years, adding his family could not relax in their home because of the noise.

“I just feel that after a certain amount of time, there should be more done in the situation,” he said.

“Every time you go out into the yard, every time a car drives past, a blade of grass moves, these dogs are barking.

“It’s not just me exaggerating.”

Mr Purdy said he tried resolving the situation with his neighbour, had met with council staff on various occasions, completed the mandatory surveys and was now waiting on a promised arbitration meeting.

“We’ve jumped through all the hoops that we’ve had to jump through,” he said.

“These rules in place are okay to start off with but we need to go to a next level for people who don’t abide by the rules.”

Mayor Greg Williamson said the council’s CEO Michael Thomson would take up the issue with Mr Purdy.