Several residents living near Ranford Road have raised concerns about noise, vibration and dust caused by recent overnight resurfacing works.
Residents described sleepless nights, shaking homes, distressed pets, and dust settling across properties during the works, which took place between Campbell Road and Nicholson Road.
“Vibrating… I was literally rocking in my bed, the noise was utterly ridiculous at 2am, not to mention the incessant ‘beeping’ of the vehicles,” one resident wrote.
“I understand the road requires the work, but seriously.”
Another resident said, “We’ve had our dishes and ornaments shaking, our dog getting distressed, pictures crooked from every time they stop and start, our entire household unable to sleep.”
Some residents said the noise and vibration were strong enough to wake households during the night, while others reported cracks appearing in walls, items shifting inside homes and dust affecting pools, cars and air-conditioning systems.
One resident, Simone Batley, said the first few nights were particularly difficult.
“When the road works started the noise, banging, vibrating, lighting, people talking loudly and horns beeping were a level nine for the first two nights,” she said.
“We basically didn’t sleep, then woke up to major dirt covering my entire property.”
Ms Batley said dust covered her solar panels, pool, vehicles and air-conditioning system while the woks were being done.
The resurfacing works ran from January 27 to February 4, with residents saying the worst disruption occurred during the first three nights between 7pm and 3:30am.
“Daily life was terrible for the first three days with lack of sleep, waking up with startles due to loud banging,” she said.
“The first three days was a massive clean up to everything outside.”
Other residents also raised concerns about household disruption, while some reported shaking dishes, moving wall hangings and difficulty sleeping due to the overnight works.
Ms Batley said the situation was made harder as she had recently undergone a full hip replacement and was unable to assist with the clean-up.
“It was completely overwhelming,” she said.
“My husband and housemate had no sleep, had to go to work, then come home and clean everything.”
She said she had contacted the city during earlier road widening works after noticing movement in her home and repairing ceiling issues herself.
Ms Batley said she plans to write to the city seeking compensation for clean-up time and the cost of replacing air-conditioning pads, and raised concerns about damage she said affected her pool steps during previous works.
She added that the only notice she received before the latest works was a letter advising that the works would start again.
“I didn’t expect the amount of mess that occurred,” she said.
“People need to be prepared for sleepless nights, major disruption, fumes, concrete dust and house vibration.”
City of Gosnells Chief Executive Officer Ian Cowie, responding, said pre- and post-dilapidation surveys were not conducted for this stage of works, as they are not standard practice for short-term road rehabilitation projects.
“Dilapidation surveys are not standard practice for short-term road rehabilitation works and have not been conducted for this stage,” Mr Cowie said.
Residents who believe their property has been damaged are advised to contact their insurers.
“In the first instance, residents should contact their own insurers,” he said.
“If their insurers believe the damage has been caused by the City’s works it is likely the matter would be dealt with between the residents’ insurers and the City’s insurers.”
Mr Cowie added that the works were scheduled overnight due to traffic volumes.
He also stated that vibration monitoring was not typically required.
“Vibration monitoring is not typically required for standard resurfacing works, which generally have low vibration levels,” Mr Cowie said.
To reduce impacts, the city said it implemented mitigation measures.
“Key mitigation measures include limiting the duration of vibration at any one location, minimising equipment idling and allowing only essential vehicle movement,” he said.
“Where vehicle reversing is required, the city uses broadband reversing alarms which reduce disturbance to surrounding properties compared with tonal reversing alarms.”
Mr Cowie confirmed the city had received complaints and made changes during the works.
“The city has responded to residents’ concerns by reducing the number of compactor passes to reduce vibrations while maintaining safe and effective construction requirements,” he said.
He said the resurfacing works had now concluded, with line-marking continuing along the section of Ranford Road, and thanked residents for their patience during the short-term works.
