Police respond to resident complaints about a loud noise disturbing the peace

The mystery has been solved as to the cause of a very loud, annoying noise which woke Townsville residents this week. See what it was.

The mystery has been solved as to the source of a loud droning noise heard throughout Townsville’s southern suburbs, which prompted a torrent of resident complaints and a police intervention on Wednesday morning.

Numerous residents contacted the Townsville Bulletin and posted to social media, trying to figure out what caused the deafening noise to begin at 4am.

This masthead narrowed down a list of suspects before receiving confirmation from an Aurizon spokeswoman that the noise was caused by a klaxon (train horn) from one of their locomotive workshops in Stuart.

“The unprecedented wet weather over the past two months has had an impact, as wet weather conditions can cause these klaxons to get stuck or allow water to seep into them, resulting in continuous sounding,” she said.

An Aurizon train near Hughenden, QLD.

“We do look to address these issues as quickly as possible by isolating the faulty horns. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate the patience and understanding of those impacted.”

A worker who arrived early to the facility on Wednesday morning said police officers were already waiting on-site, looking for someone to fix the problem.

The officers said they were responding to numerous noise complaints received through PoliceLink – a consequence of the horn’s output, which was understood to be 146 decibels.

“I told the police I would rectify the problem immediately. I found the locomotive in the yard and found the faulty horn and isolated it,” the worker said.

“I can imagine how annoying it would be for people around but with all the rain and locomotives being large 100 odd tonne steel boxes, water is just a problem we are not normally used to.

“Funny thing is, if I didn’t come in on overtime, the noise still would have been going at 6am.”

EARLIER ON WEDNESDAY:

A mysterious loud droning noise heard in the Cluden and Wulguru area early on Wednesday morning has prompted an influx of messages to the Townsville Bulletin and posts to social media, trying to determine the source of the annoying sound.

A resident living on Thompkins St, Cluden Julijana Antelmi submitted a video, pleading for this masthead to find out what the “god awful droning” was.

She said the “constant ringing” had been going on since just before 4am on Wednesday, and from 6am on Tuesday, and also last month.

“It’s always very early in the morning and seems to happen only when it rains,” Ms Antelmi said.

A text to the editor from L.G. Wulguru sent to the Bulletin this morning asking for an explanation.

“(I was) twice woken up at 4am. A lady I spoke to said it sounded like an air raid siren. Went for 40 minutes,” they said.

“I couldn't decipher what it was. Not acceptable being woken up at that time.”

After reaching out to several suspected sources of the noise in the area, a post of the video to Townsville social media groups has helped narrow down the noise to a prime suspect.

In a post to the new people in the Watching Over Wulguru group, resident Gina Cavanagh said it was a train horn that had been heard the last few mornings.

“There are locomotive workshops … and yes they do horn tests as part of the loco maintenance,” Ms Cavanagh said.

Map of Aurizon's rail precinct in Stuart. Picture: Supplied.

“They don’t normally happen at 4am or 6am, so this could be faulting wiring or moisture affecting a loco parked in the yards.

“That was the case back in February when a horn was stuck for several hours and staff had been sent home because of flooding.

“There are no phone numbers to ring, we just have to endure until staff members arrive for work.”

Aurizon operates a locomotive maintenance depot in the area, and has been approached for comment, along with Townsville City Council.

Originally published as Police respond to resident complaints about a loud noise disturbing the peace