Council consults on its proposed Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2022
Rooster in, or rooster out in urban areas is one of the questions that Buller’s residents can make a submission on in the coming four weeks during the Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2022 consultation period.
Council reviewed the current model general bylaw for the keeping of animals in the Buller district and now seeks feedback on the updated version.
Residents can make a submission from 13 September to 11 October 2022 during the consultation period. A hearing will be held in November with a decision expected to be made by the end of November.
Council’s group manager regulatory services Sean Judd says: “The proposed Keeping of Animals Bylaw 2022 is more comprehensive than what we have had in place in the past.”
Bylaws are discrete pieces of law created by councils that specifically apply to a district. These locally applicable forms of legislation deal with district-specific issues that are not already covered by any existing Acts of Parliament or Regulation.
Mr Judd says: “The new bylaw provides a better tool for council to manage, regulate, and protect the public from any nuisance or offence associated with the keeping of animals, and maintain public health and safety in the district.
We encourage residents to read the proposal, including the maps as to where urban areas are defined, as it affects many townships across the district.”
The updated bylaw is defining key terms like nuisance, livestock, animal, outlining rules around the general keeping of animals such as increasing the number of cats per house to four, guidelines around beekeeping, determining a maximum of 12 poultry per property, wrapping rules around the slaughtering of livestock, introducing the possibility to charge a fee, clarifying the process around offences and penalties, and specifying the process around repair and removal of works.
Mr Judd says: “It is very important that local residents review the information and make a submission.
Please note that this proposed bylaw does not affect the keeping of dogs. This is covered by a separate bylaw.”
To find out more visit council’s website www.bullerdc.govt.nz. Submissions can be made in writing or online. Copies of documents and submission forms can be found at Buller district libraries, Council offices and the Karamea and Ngakawau Information Centres.
–ENDS-
For more information contact:
Group Manager Regulatory Services