Council is updating its bylaws

Anyone wishing to extend their domestic menagerie beyond a dozen poultry birds and four cats on a residential property will need permission under changes proposed in an update of Council’s bylaws.

The general bylaws cover a range of matters ranging from public health and safety, parking, the use of public reserves, stock on public roads and driving on beaches, as well as the keeping of animals.

There are no major changes to existing bylaws but some new rules are being proposed. Bylaws are there to enable Council to deal with complaints about nuisance issues and matters of public safety, says Council solicitor Kaye McIlveney.

“We’ve translated the legalese into plain English language and drafted new wording to address points where complaints and inquiries have shown up a few gaps in our existing bylaws since they were last updated in 2010,” she said.

Council already has rules regulating dogs and this new bylaw proposes that, like dogs, other animals must not be a public nuisance. Dogs are dealt with separately, by Council’s Dog Control bylaws which are not due for review until 2022.

The new rules cover poultry, not caged birds such as budgies or canaries. Roosters are already banned. Permission would also be required to keep any other farm animals in town, including bees, with approval granted only where the conditions are assessed to be appropriate.

New bylaws would also enable the Council to act where a property or a motor vehicle is a public health risk, enabling steps to be taken where, for example, vermin are a problem or temporary toilets are creating odour or leakage issues.

Copies of the proposed bylaws will be available from Friday 24 February. Councillors are seeking public feedback on the changes to the bylaws so the changes can come into effect in May.

• See the proposed bylaw changes at www.marlborough.govt.nz or by visiting Council’s offices or libraries in Blenheim or Picton.
• For further information, or to obtain a copy, email bylawsubmissions@marlborough.govt.nz
• Deadline for submissions is 5pm 24 March 2017.

ENDS

© Scoop Media