Bulga couple Jurgen and Garby Seiffhart live opposite vineyards and say the guns are making their life unbearable.

They start at 6am and continue until 10pm.

What doesn’t help the Seiffhart’s situation is the geographical location of their property. Their home, a rustic-built weekender they retreated to from Sydney but moved to permanently in 1989 Nestles against a cliff face that literally captures the noise of the gas guns and reverberates it through the Seiffhart’s home.

It is a noise they can stand no longer.

However they are without any power to prevent it with gas gun usage lacking any controlling policy or procedure other than basic noise restrictions.

It is a problem the Broke Fordwich Wine and Tourism Association is all too familiar with.

Association president Wendy Lawson said the issue had been highlighted this year because of a significant increase in the number of birds feeding on grapevines this season.

She blames higher fruit yields and higher sugar content of the grapes.

“Our chardonnays are riper now then what we at picked last year,” Mrs Lawson said indicating just how different the season is.

The newly elected Broke Fordwich Wine and Tourism Association committee has been approached to look at the use of gas guns and Mrs Lawson recognises the need to set up protocols for their usage.

“We want to develop a plan that looks at all the issues, the environmental issues as well as the noise, and have asked for advice from the Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority to help us deliver an independent document that can be referred to,” Mrs Lawson said.

“It is my hope that we might have something in place for next season,” she said.

With only a month or so to go until the majority of grapes are picked, the Seiffharts and others impacted by gas guns has some comfort knowing it will come to an end.

As for next season, they wish the Broke Fordwich Wine and Tourism Association every success to get a policy in place.