What you told us

During the first phase of community engagement 81.4% of respondents either supported or strongly supported more robust rules for unsightly or dangerous private land, telling us that neglected properties, dilapidated buildings, overgrown vegetation and unsafe conditions affect their neighbourhood’s appearance and feelings of safety.

Feedback also raised concerns about vegetation encroaching on footpaths, streetscape maintenance, and protecting trees while managing impacts on nearby properties.

Our proposed response

The proposed changes to the Local Law make the rules clearer for unsightly and dangerous land, overhanging obstructions and private land vegetation. They also set clearer expectations for camping, containers and vehicle storage on private land, so these issues can be managed more consistently and effectively.

Clauses that relate to ‘Your property’ include (pages 8 - 11 in the draft Community Local Law 2026):

8. Unsightly land

9. Dilapidated buildings

10. Dangerous land

11. Overhanging obstructions or vegetation

12. Tree and vegetation protection on private land

13. Property numbers

14. Camping on private land

15. Shipping containers on private land

16. Storing vehicles on private land

Key themes for proposed amendments:

• Strengthening and expanding existing provisions to address unsightly properties to include machinery and vehicle parts, waste, and incomplete buildings

• Including specific examples of what could constitute dangerous land (e.g. vermin, noxious weeds, hazardous materials etc.).

• Overhanging vegetation expanded to include all types of obstructions coming from private land.

• Tree and vegetation protection on private land clauses and definitions (e.g. significant tree, canopy tree and notional root zone) revised to not overlap or be inconsistent with new Planning Scheme clause 52.37.

• Camping on private land for up to 28 days without a permit:

• Redefined camping

• Requirement for appropriate sanitary facilities and

• No detrimental impact on amenity of adjoining land.

• Clearly defined maximum vehicle length and weight; and included provision for a registered caravan and boat be kept on private residential land.