Police, councils and residents back cross-boundary action
Residents, councils, NSW Police, Transport for NSW and State Government agencies backed a joint response to hoon driving, illegal street racing and excessive vehicle noise across Sydney.
North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker convened the roundtable at North Sydney Council Chambers on Thursday 16 July. The meeting included residents from the North Sydney, City of Sydney and Bayside local government areas.
According to participants, hoon drivers move across council boundaries between places such as North Sydney, Millers Point and Bayside. As a result, agencies agreed the response must also cross those boundaries.
Mayor Baker called the meeting after a steady stream of resident reports about revving engines, disrupted sleep, and dangerous and antisocial driving late at night.
“At its core, this issue is about being able to enjoy your home, getting a good night’s sleep, and feeling safe in your own neighbourhood,” Zoë Baker said.
Baker also pointed to a small number of drivers having a disproportionate impact on thousands of residents across Sydney neighbourhoods.
EPA noise technology and hotspot patrols
The roundtable identified several actions for further investigation and advocacy. They included targeted enforcement in known hotspot locations and a pilot of noise detection technology with the NSW Environment Protection Authority.
Participants also backed a coordinated traffic management approach across affected councils and Transport for NSW. They also called for better sharing of evidence and community experiences to shape future policy and operational responses.
Another proposed step was practical measures to reduce the impact of excessive vehicle noise and dangerous driving on local communities in North Sydney, City of Sydney and Bayside.
Residents from North Sydney, Millers Point and the Bayside Council area described strikingly similar experiences at the 16 July roundtable. That overlap showed agencies the problem is shared across several communities.
However, participants acknowledged enforcement is difficult because of resourcing constraints. They also noted that denser Sydney neighbourhoods are likely to expose more residents to night-time noise.
The roundtable followed a Mayoral Minute that Baker brought to North Sydney Council in April 2026. After the 16 July meeting, North Sydney Council will work with NSW Police, Transport for NSW, State agencies and neighbouring councils to progress the agreed priorities.
“No single organisation can solve this alone,” Baker said. She linked the issue to road management, environmental regulation, policing and community safety.
In the closing discussion, Baker told the roundtable the aim was to ensure residents feel heard and that government agencies understand their experiences. Council will now continue that work with police, transport authorities and neighbouring councils.
