North Sydney residents have had enough of the nightly noise
North Sydney Council is revving up its action on late night hoons, passing a proposal for a roundtable working group at council’s meeting on 13 April.
“Too many residents continue to endure ‘hoon’ cars that loop at night from the Harbour Bridge through North Sydney and surrounding suburbs,” said Mayor Zoë Baker, who proposed the roundtable.
“While traffic calming measures may assist in some locations, enforcement is difficult due to resourcing constraints. This issue falls between noise pollution and anti-social behaviour, and a coordinated response involving residents, council, police and the State Government is needed.”
Mayor Baker wrote to the Minister for Police Yasmin Catley on 2 April requesting enforcement action on ‘dangerous and noisy hooning’ cars as council continues to receive regular complaints from residents.
Blues Point resident Bruce Handmer told NL that the car park at the end of Blues Point Road turns into ‘a car and motorcycle showroom’ most nights, but Thursday to Saturday were ‘a serious problem.’
‘This issue falls between noise pollution and anti-social behaviour.’
North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker
“The disability parking area is a parking lot for motorcycles and cars that have been modified,” said Mr Handmer. “They come down, appreciate each other’s vehicles, rev their engines and when they leave, quite a few do burnouts up the road.
“They love the sound of the engines echoing off the apartment buildings and houses along Blues Point Road.”
Mr Handmer said the residents of Blues Point Tower – overlooking the car park – were investing in sound proof windows to attempt to mitigate the noise.
“The sound is violent,” he said. “It’s louder than the helicopters going by and they do this at two or three o’clock in the morning.”
Mr Handmer said the lights at Blues Point Reserve were too bright, on all night, and residents would like them turned off and noise cameras installed.
If council’s Special Rate Variation is approved, council is proposing in its 2026/27 Operational Plan changes to Blues Point Road to improve pedestrian safety, amenity and driver behaviour.
Mayor Baker stated in her Mayoral Minute that traffic calming measures alone might not resolve the issue. She has been actively advocating to the NSW Minister for Police, seeking stronger enforcement action, including targeted police operations.
NSW Police said it was aware of ongoing community concerns about noisy driving behaviours on the North Shore.
“Highway Patrol and the local police continue to monitor the area and conduct targeted traffic enforcement as part of our broader road safety activities,” NSW Police said.
“Additionally, police work collaboratively with partner agencies, including council, Transport for NSW and the NSW Environment Protection Authority to address these issues.”
Random inspections targeting illegally modified cars in August 2025 in Milsons Point saw 11 vehicles inspected, 50 defects identified, and 34 infringement notices issued.
Another in November saw 13 vehicles found defective, 47 infringement notices issued and the EPA identified seven vehicles which did not meet the noise pollution standard.
