Place green work on motor-boat sound (10)

I believe the answer is:

putputting

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'work on motor-boat sound' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'place green' is the wordplay.
'place' becomes 'put' (synonyms).
'green' becomes 'putting' (synonyms).
'put'+'putting'='PUTPUTTING'

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I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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