Your Local Law Review

Talbot Market aerial shot

The Local Law covers a range of diverse topics from unsightly land, fire safety, animals, roadside, reserves and footpath trading to planting on nature strips and building sites.

Local Laws help to protect public health, safety and amenity throughout the municipality. They are created in consultation with the community in order to meaningfully deal with local issues and meet emerging needs.

This draft Local Law has been created using input from around 90 community members in late 2023. The Community Impact Statement has been prepared to inform the community of the proposed updates to the Local Law.

We encourage you to take the survey below to let us know your thoughts on the Local Law. This survey will be open until Friday 30 August 3pm.

The following table highlights the main amendments to the General Local Law 2025;

No.

Excerpt from Local Law

Explanation for Inclusion / Removal

1.6

Definitions


Old version had only 13. Now contains 32 definitions which reduce ambiguity in the use of the instrument

2.1


Behaviour in Municipal Places

Provides staff with powers to approach people to resolve issues raised by the community not addressed by Victoria Police

2.2


Consumption and Possession of Alcohol

Changes to facilitate a Local Laws Permit for alcohol on Council managed land.

2.4

Fireworks

Identified gap in law

2.6

Bulk Rubbish Containers

Previous combined with industrial and commercial waste related local law

2.7

Obstructions to the Safe Use of the Road

Complaint driven law that council was previously unable to respond too.

2.8

Commercial Waste

Currently no control over amenity impacts from commercial waste and containment prior to disposal

2.10

Repair of Vehicles

Inclusion of vehicle maintenance to current law

2.11

Sale of Motor Vehicles

New law to respond to control use of public land for sale of motor vehicles.

2.13

Toy Vehicles

Clarification of external regulation of drones and e-scooters

2.15

Shopping Trolleys

New law obliging trolley owners to maintain control over the location and use of shopping trolleys

2.16

Refuse on Building Sites

New law will allow Compliance Team to improve standards within building sites

2.18

Damaging or Interfering with Roads or Municipal Places

New law controls inappropriate use of council assets for personal use.

2.20

Drains and Storm Water Discharge

Issue identified within infrastructure and compliance

2.21

Planting on Nature Strips

Obliges compliance with Council’s Nature Strip Landscaping Policy

3.1

Dangerous and Unsightly Land

Expanded clauses responding to identified gaps in the current law

3.2

Vegetation

Responds to gaps in the current law for overhanging vegetation and obstruction of council assets

3.3

Dilapidated Buildings

Assists in the rectification of issues before they escalate to more complex building compliance issues.

3.4 -3.10

Burning in the Open Air (and associated clauses)

Provides instructions to the community on what can be burnt and when. Resolves confusion over the zoning of land and applicable law.

3.11

Motorised Recreation Vehicles

New law provides limits and controls for the use to motorised recreation vehicles on appropriate land.

3.12

Heavy Vehicles

Revised law to align with state legislation

3.13

Camping, Caravans, and Motorhomes

Provides clarity on when a permit is required for use of a caravan on private property.

3.15

Storing Machinery Materials, Goods or Vehicles on Land

New law facilitating permit triggers for secondhand trading and or recycling.

3.16

Shipping Containers

Clarifies requirements in relation to building and planning controls

3.17

Charity Collection Bins

New law triggering permit requirements for charity bins

4.1

Animal Keeping

Updated laws to set limits on maximum number of animals permitted without a permit.

4.2

Keeping Excess Animals

Improvements identified to permit system

4.3

Animal Housing

Revised law increases clarity of expectation on animal owners.

4.6

Pests, Stray Animals and Wildlife

New laws to control proliferation of animals

4.7

Wasps and Bees on Private Land

Expanded law for greater clarity.

6

Administration

Improved permit application information, process, fees and charges, conditions, amendments and exemptions

N/A

Dogs in Public Places

Law removed entirely




You can still ask our Local Laws team to contact you and discuss further

email: LocalLaws@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

The Local Law covers a range of diverse topics from unsightly land, fire safety, animals, roadside, reserves and footpath trading to planting on nature strips and building sites.

Local Laws help to protect public health, safety and amenity throughout the municipality. They are created in consultation with the community in order to meaningfully deal with local issues and meet emerging needs.

This draft Local Law has been created using input from around 90 community members in late 2023. The Community Impact Statement has been prepared to inform the community of the proposed updates to the Local Law.

We encourage you to take the survey below to let us know your thoughts on the Local Law. This survey will be open until Friday 30 August 3pm.

The following table highlights the main amendments to the General Local Law 2025;

No.

Excerpt from Local Law

Explanation for Inclusion / Removal

1.6

Definitions


Old version had only 13. Now contains 32 definitions which reduce ambiguity in the use of the instrument

2.1


Behaviour in Municipal Places

Provides staff with powers to approach people to resolve issues raised by the community not addressed by Victoria Police

2.2


Consumption and Possession of Alcohol

Changes to facilitate a Local Laws Permit for alcohol on Council managed land.

2.4

Fireworks

Identified gap in law

2.6

Bulk Rubbish Containers

Previous combined with industrial and commercial waste related local law

2.7

Obstructions to the Safe Use of the Road

Complaint driven law that council was previously unable to respond too.

2.8

Commercial Waste

Currently no control over amenity impacts from commercial waste and containment prior to disposal

2.10

Repair of Vehicles

Inclusion of vehicle maintenance to current law

2.11

Sale of Motor Vehicles

New law to respond to control use of public land for sale of motor vehicles.

2.13

Toy Vehicles

Clarification of external regulation of drones and e-scooters

2.15

Shopping Trolleys

New law obliging trolley owners to maintain control over the location and use of shopping trolleys

2.16

Refuse on Building Sites

New law will allow Compliance Team to improve standards within building sites

2.18

Damaging or Interfering with Roads or Municipal Places

New law controls inappropriate use of council assets for personal use.

2.20

Drains and Storm Water Discharge

Issue identified within infrastructure and compliance

2.21

Planting on Nature Strips

Obliges compliance with Council’s Nature Strip Landscaping Policy

3.1

Dangerous and Unsightly Land

Expanded clauses responding to identified gaps in the current law

3.2

Vegetation

Responds to gaps in the current law for overhanging vegetation and obstruction of council assets

3.3

Dilapidated Buildings

Assists in the rectification of issues before they escalate to more complex building compliance issues.

3.4 -3.10

Burning in the Open Air (and associated clauses)

Provides instructions to the community on what can be burnt and when. Resolves confusion over the zoning of land and applicable law.

3.11

Motorised Recreation Vehicles

New law provides limits and controls for the use to motorised recreation vehicles on appropriate land.

3.12

Heavy Vehicles

Revised law to align with state legislation

3.13

Camping, Caravans, and Motorhomes

Provides clarity on when a permit is required for use of a caravan on private property.

3.15

Storing Machinery Materials, Goods or Vehicles on Land

New law facilitating permit triggers for secondhand trading and or recycling.

3.16

Shipping Containers

Clarifies requirements in relation to building and planning controls

3.17

Charity Collection Bins

New law triggering permit requirements for charity bins

4.1

Animal Keeping

Updated laws to set limits on maximum number of animals permitted without a permit.

4.2

Keeping Excess Animals

Improvements identified to permit system

4.3

Animal Housing

Revised law increases clarity of expectation on animal owners.

4.6

Pests, Stray Animals and Wildlife

New laws to control proliferation of animals

4.7

Wasps and Bees on Private Land

Expanded law for greater clarity.

6

Administration

Improved permit application information, process, fees and charges, conditions, amendments and exemptions

N/A

Dogs in Public Places

Law removed entirely




You can still ask our Local Laws team to contact you and discuss further

email: LocalLaws@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

Page last updated: 11 Sep 2024, 08:48 AM