Air Conditioners at Whitsunday Terraces Resort must be split systems, low noise, with internal drainage. Box air conditioners over doors must not be installed or replaced. This has been followed through since the 14 February 2006 Body Corporate committee decision after the Annual General Meeting.

This web site is intended for Body Corporate owners of apartments in Whitsunday Terraces, not for potential guests. Make room bookings for accommodation at Whitsunday Terraces Resort, Airlie Beach, overlooking the Coral Sea, at the Resort Manager's web site.

The Environmental Protection Act 1994 and Environmental Protection Regulation 1998 apply to residential premises. As there are some permanent residents in the Whitsunday Terraces, noise limits apply to air conditioners. Since most units adjoin another unit, the only way to meet the regulations is to use low noise split system air conditioners.

Air-conditioning equipment and refrigeration equipment from 7am–10pm (any day) — noise no louder than 50 decibels. At night, from 10pm–7am — either 40 decibels or five decibels above background noise level. This is the law in Queensland, not a Body Corporate decision.

Air conditioner drainage should in all cases first be directed down existing internal drains in the wall cavity between bathrooms. Failing that, air conditioning should be drained into the external downpipes from the gutters.

All air conditioning condensers are to be installed in a suitable location, approved by Whitsunday Terraces Building Manager. See Body Corporate committee meeting dated 1 March 2006.

Drilling a hole through a wall and sticking a pipe out in the breeze is not acceptable, despite the way some installers act. This must be supervised by the Resort Building Manager.

Air conditioning condensation must never be allowed to drop on sleepers or on paths (it increases the risk of guests slipping).

Our experience generally is that split system inverter air conditioning reduces the running costs, compared to older box style air conditioning. This will become more important as electricity rates continue to increase. I hope to get some actual electricity figures from owners.

Air conditioners can not infringe on the evacuation space from resort rooms. This means they can not be on any narrow pathways, except when they are not between the door and the exit from the building.

All air conditioning condensers are to be installed in a suitable location, approved by Whitsunday Terraces Building Manager. See Body Corporate Committee meeting dated 1 March 2006.

I will try to include a few photos of air conditioners that are well positioned, and have drainage correctly connected, as boring examples of good installation practice. At this stage, a majority of units have split system air conditioning.

To reduce slipping risks for guests on paths within the Whitsunday Terraces, the Body Corporate committee want to identify all air conditioners that spill water on paths. This is made more difficult because some air conditioning drainage pipes are actually disused, as are the air conditioners to which they are attached.

Some air conditions for which I have no photos, but noted a possible problem. 1, 4, 6, 17A, 34, 35, 36A, 37, 41A, 47, 47A, 48, 54A.

Some air conditioner installers have been mounting air conditioners at a height such that an incapacitated guest could run into the mounting brackets. Head height mountings should simply not be acceptable in these days of frequent personal injury claims. Installers should know better. Owners should consider having these air conditioners moved, if that is one of the options.

While most owners have had a simple wood fill to the over door air conditioning void, usually by the resort handyman, others found different ideas.

In particular, louvre windows make a more natural air flow possible. This may encourage guests to leave the air conditioning off.

Note that an insect screen is fitted, due to mosquitos in a nearby gutter in summer.

However in the studio sleeping rooms, an opaque louvre may be needed. Generally there is a light fitting outside these doors, so glass may not be appropriate.