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Resource Consents : Bird scarers 
Hastings District Council often receives complaints regarding noise from bird scare devices used on orchards in the region. If used thoughtlessly, bird scare devices can cause serious annoyance and disturbance to the public.
The Hastings District Plan Section 14.2 Noise (PDF, 94 KB) (refer 14.2.9.1) sets down rules for the use of bird scare devices on how and when they should be operated as well as how to avoid causing a nuisance.
See the rules below:
a) Noise generated by gas gun bird scare devices shall not exceed the following noise Performance Standards from the District Plan at or within the notional boundary of any residential building (within any zone) or within any residential zone.
| Location of Receiving Environment | Time Period | Noise Limit dBC Peak |
| Rural | Sunrise to sunset | 115 |
| Residential | Sunrise to sunset | 100 |
b) Audible bird scare devices shall be operated only during the months December to May inclusive.
(c) Audible bird scare devices shall not operate at any times other than those specified above.
(d) Discrete sound events of the bird scaring device (each event shall not exceed 3 shots within a 1 minute period) shall be limited to 4 an hour or to a total of 12 individual shots an hour.
(e) No audible bird scare device shall be operated unless a legible notice is fixed to the road frontage of the property on which it is being used, giving the name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for its operation.
Separation required to meet noise limit
The separation distances given in the table below are a guide as to the minimum distance a gas gun can be from a notional boundary or residential zone boundary, to be able to comply with the stated noise limit.
| Guide as to separation required to achieve noise limit* | Noise limit dBC peak |
| 150m | 115 |
| 420m | 100 |
* These separation
distances are relevant for rotating gas guns, or for gas guns
pointing towards the
relevant boundary. In situations where a gas gun is fixed
away from the relevant boundary and / or
noise barriers are used, a smaller separation will be required.
Contact
For more information on bird scare devices in the Hastings
District, contact the Environmental Planning team at the Council
on 
resource@hdc.govt.nz
or phone 06 878 0500. Alternatively, come
up to the 2nd floor of the Council's main civic administration
building, 207 Lyndon Road East in Hastings and speak to a
member of our team.
