Noise control officers once again had a "very busy" O Week with more than 100 excessive noise notices issued.
But despite some students taking their partying too far, University of Otago proctor Dave Scott said students were generally well-behaved over O Week, especially given the "great spell of weather" in Dunedin.
Dunedin City Council compliance solutions team leader Carlo Bell said that as of last Friday, 102 excessive noise direction [ENDs] notices had been issued and equipment seized 13 times during O Week.
"Most of the ENDs are in the student area and all of the seizures were."
As usual, it had been a busy time for noise control officers.
"[O Week] is always very busy in terms of noise and this year is comparable with last year."
Equipment was usually seized after excessive noise directions, which remained in force for 72 hours, were breached.
Mr Scott said it appeared a similar number of students were referred to his office for poor behaviour as last year.
"As with previous years, there were issues during O Week with noise, rubbish and behaviour involving students," he said.
However, the university’s efforts aimed at keeping students safe and focus on prevention continued to pay dividends, he said.
"I am meeting with students daily in a proactive, preventative manner."
The university was always looking for new ways of keeping students safe and was working on combating the "emerging issue" of non-students coming into the campus area and causing trouble.
A police spokeswoman said while the city centre and local bars had been busy, "there have been no issues from students".
"There have been a number of large student parties in the student quarter with the main issue being with noise," she said.
Events run by the Otago University Students’ Association at Forsyth Barr Stadium had gone well.
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Comments
So more than 100 people had their peace disturbed- enough to justify excessive noise notices. How many more were affected? One complaint could represent a family or a full motel. Then there are others who suffer but do not make a complaint? It could run into hundreds of people affected by this selfishness. Safety of the students becomes a laughing matter- it's the majority who live in this society we should be concerned about, their safety and peace of mind.
Hi Nash,
In reply to your comment I would point you toward the complaints in regard to Ruapuna and Western Springs speedways. In both of these cases the speedways were constructed well before residential buildup and was actually a contributor to the houses being there in the first place.
In my opinion it is vastly unfair to state the just because you move to an area with excessive noise, that it gives you the right to end that event. This analogy can be associated with the university campus situation as well, If an establishment is built next door to properties that A) Are on University property and B) Always have been; then the blame is not on the students but on the establishment complaining as proven by the countless complaints for nightclubs every year.
Cheers