Residents living in Scrubby Lane and Traralgon's West End told The Express they had been annoyed by a ``growling, chipping'' sound coming from the mill, which starts as early as 6am and continues until about 10pm.

But they could get some relief as early as this week.

Australian Paper is trying to curb the noise and management believes it will result in an ``immediate improvement''.

One Scrubby Lane resident, who did not want to be named, said she often heard the chipping machine over the sound of her television and had been woken up by the noise during the night on more than one occasion.

``Do we all have to walk around with earplugs?'' she said.

``The noise to the APM would just be music because they are making money from it, but it's not to us.

``People whinge about a wind turbine's noise but we're subject to this, it's just ludicrous.''

The woman questioned whether an environmental effects statement (EES) process was undertaken prior to the machine's installation.

``There was no study or public consultation as far as I'm aware,'' she said.

``Scrubby Lane is the first cab off the rank (in proximity to the mill), you would have thought they would tell us about it.''

Australian Paper spokesman Stephen Hawkins said the noise had been an ``unexpected effect'' of its woodyard project.

The mill has started to run new equipment installed as part of works undertaken during the past year.

``An unexpected effect has been the increase in the chipping and debarking process noise that has carried off the mill site,'' he said.

Mr Hawkins said the change in noise was ``neither intentional nor a permanent situation''.

``Action is already underway at Maryvale to reduce the transmission of this noise source as soon as possible,'' he said.

``These actions are expected to result in an immediate improvement this week.

``Further improvements will follow shortly and as necessary, to return to normal levels following a detailed acoustic and engineering review currently underway.''