Local Laws are designed to secure community safety, protect public assets and enhance neighbourhood amenity.

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

It empowers Council to respond to local issues and protect public and private space as well as the community’s health and safety.

Council have a legislative obligation under the Local Government Act 2020 to review our Local Law every 10 years to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the community and address any new or emerging issues.

The current Local Law is set to expire on 31 December 2024. This means that it will no longer be valid or enforceable. As such, a new Local Law must be made and will be known as the Community Local Law.

The process for making a local law is that the Council must first give public notice of its intent to make a local law. Council should then consider any written submissions received prior to its final decision. Submitters must be given an opportunity to speak in favour of their submissions.

It should also be noted that a local law cannot be inconsistent with any Act or regulation of state or federal government, or the City of Whittlesea Planning Scheme.

Council has made the decision to develop a new Community Local Law through extensive review and consultation with staff and the community. This will allow us to make significant improvements to make it a more readable streamlined document and ensure that it does not duplicate other legislation.

The objectives of the new Community Local Law are:

• protect community safety and neighbourhood amenity;
• protect public assets and infrastructure, and the built and natural environment;
• enhance the use, access and enjoyment of public places for the community’s benefit.
• provide for the fair administration of Council’s powers and functions; and
• revoke the General Municipal Law 2014

The new community Local Law will cover the following areas:

• Your Property
• Fire Safety
• Your Animals
• Vehicles and Roads
• Your Business
• Building and Asset Protection
• Alcohol & Smoking
• Municipal Places & Reserves
• Council Buildings
• Permits, Administration & Enfor

As citizens we benefit from the protections available under the Local Law, and we should abide by the controls that it contains.

It may be that the Local Law can assist in resolving neighbourhood disputes, or to overcome a cause for local concern, say due to noise or damage to community assets.

In some circumstances the Local Law may assist neighbours to agree amicably on appropriate behaviours. In other cases, breaches can be reported to the Council.

Council’s authorised officers are able to warn, or to issue notices to comply or infringement notices, or to prosecute in the Magistrates Court. The Local Law sets out applicable fines.

Notices issued by authorised officers will set out the processes to be followed by each party, including rights of appeal. It is very important that any enforcement action and appeals received are managed strictly in accordance with the Law.