A Queenstown man was taken to hospital and another charged with assault when a dispute between the neighbours over loud music spiralled into violence.
Police encouraged more common courtesy between neighbours in working to solve noise issues after an altercation on Panorama Tce about 12.30am yesterday.
A Queenstown man aged in his 20s was treated for "substantial cuts" to an arm after he fell through a window of the property where he lived.
He was treated at Lakes District Hospital then transferred to Southland Hospital, in Invercargill.
He had lost a lot of blood and required an operation, Constable Craig Gibson, of Queenstown, said yesterday.
The injuries were serious, but not thought to be life-threatening.
A Queenstown man in his late 20s was charged with assault and is expected to appear in the Queenstown District Court on Monday, January 25.
Const Gibson said complaints had been received about excessive noise caused by residents of the Panorama Tce property since late 2008.
The alleged offender had called QLDC noise control officers several times about loud music being played into the early hours.
The address had been visited by noise control officers, but the noise had continued.
"It's a situation that didn't need to occur if people showed respect for their neighbours and their right to a good night's sleep," Const Gibson said.
"Perpetual partying has worn the neighbours down."
Kingston and Frankton community constable Zoe Albon said yesterday people could not be arrested for making excessive noise.
However, council noise control officers could serve abatement notices and had the power to remove equipment which was causing "unreasonable or excessive noise".
Const Albon said the main message from the "worst-case scenario" on Panorama Tce yesterday was the need to foster common courtesy between neighbours.
"The way Queenstown residences are structured, with its apartment blocks on top of each other, with thin walls, the key point is being considerate for other people," she said.
"You'd generally like to think when a neighbour gives the personal approach and expresses concern the noise is loud, that would be enough to quell the problem, without involving authorities like noise control and police."
Police inquiries into the incident are continuing.
