Review of the Local Law

Council’s Local Law No. 2 ‘Neighbourhood Amenity’ is due to sunset in April 2022. Due to community interest and concern over specific issues, Council is bringing forward the review of this Local Law to be completed before 30 June 2021. This will include all statutory processes required to adopt the Local Law, including community consultation. This Local Law is only comprehensively reviewed every 10 years, so this is an important opportunity for the community to raise any issues for consideration, as well as a mechanism to deal with some petitions presented to Council in recent years.

The proposed new Local Law will provide for:

1. Protection of community safety and neighbourhood amenity;
2. Protection of public assets and infrastructure, and the built and natural environment;
3. Enhanced use, access and enjoyment of public places for the community’s benefit;
4. The administration of Council’s powers and functions; and
5. The revocation of Council’s Neighbourhood Amenity Local Law No. 2 (as amended), made in April 2012.

Specific impacts where the proposed Local Law differs from the existing Local Law, are explained in a Community Impact Statement and in detail here.

We want to understand the issues of concern for the community and community support for the proposed Local Law.

The list below refers only to the community engagement process for the Local Law.

• The proposed Local Law (influence is limited to the Section 223 consultation process)

• Fees and charges
• Related policies and permits
• Look and format of the new Local Law
• Application and enforcement
• Animal Actions from Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) (including: public spaces, off leash areas, Officer patrols/enforcement)
• Adoption by June 30 2021

This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.

Due to the wide-ranging impacts, individuals groups have not been named but listed in categories.

Impact: What level of change will the stakeholder / community segment experience as a result of the project / matter

Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated

Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum. This project has been assigned at the ‘Consult’ level. This means we will keep you informed, listen to and acknowledge concerns and aspirations, and provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision.

Stakeholder	Impact	Interest	Influence
Arborists	L	M	Consult
August/September 2020 survey participants	M	M	Consult
Bathing Box associations	L	L	Consult
Builders and developers	M	M	Consult
Businesses that provide shopping trolleys	M	L	Consult
Councillors in nearby LGAs	L	H	Consult
Drone owners/users	H	M	Consult
Environmental groups/conservation societies	L	H	Consult
Event permit holders	M	L	Consult
Foreshore associations and 'friends of' groups	L	H	Consult
Foreshore traders	M	M	Consult
Friends of Bayside roads	M	M	Consult
Gardeners	M	M	Consult
General Bayside community	L	L	Consult
Graffiti busters	M	H	Consult
Highly-engaged residents	L	H	Consult
Home owners / property owners	M	L	Consult
Hospitality premises	L	M	Consult
Individuals who regularly participate in engagement and governance	L	H	Consult
Lead petitioners for relevant petitions (new Local Laws ideas)	H	H	Consult
Lifesaving clubs	M	L	Consult
Operators of bike and/or e-scooter share schemes	H	M	Consult
Owners of trailers, boats, caravans	H	M	Consult
People who have previously been fined for Local Law offences	L	M	Consult
Registered animal owners / dog walkers	L	M	Consult
Residents' associations	L	L	Consult
Service clubs (Rotary, Lions etc)	L	M	Consult
Smokers	H	M	Consult
Sporting clubs and associations	L	L	Consult
Tenants of Council buildings	L	L	Consult
Traders and traders' associations	L	L	Consult
Users of solid fuel outdoor appliances	L	H	Consult
Victoria Police	H	H	Consult
Victorian Building Authority	L	L	Consult

The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought.

The unpredictable impacts of COVID-19 restricts our ability for face-to-face communication, as well as slower distribution of mail.

Key tools for communicating the project

• Social media, especially 'sponsored' posts to reach specific audiences
• Digital advertising targeting key demographics
• Signage in key foreshore locations and long-term parking locations.
• Council's e-newsletter This Week in Bayside
• News stories Council website
• Let’s Talk Bayside magazine
• Direct emails to project subscribers and key stakeholder groups
• Zoom session Q&A 6pm 18 February 2021. Information session only. Video recording and written summary made available after the session.

Key methods for gathering feedback

• Council website online form
• Written submission to Governance Officer
• Request to be Heard at Special Meeting of Council 31 March 2021
• Online engagement through Have Your Say, including opportunity to ask questions
• Printed project information can be provided by post

The Local Law is being informed by:

• Requirements from within the Local Government Act 1989
• Community feedback across two phases of engagement
• Consultation with Bayside City Council departments
• Legal advice
• Benchmarking with other Local Government areas

The first phase of consultation on the existing Local Law and eight new ideas from residents was completed between 13 August – 21 September 2020, with 6,959 people taking part. Ideas which were supported by community members have been included in the proposed new Local Law.

Community consultation on the proposed new Local Law will run from 28 January 2021 until 5pm, 5 March 2021.

A Special Committee of Council meeting will be held at 6pm 31 March 2021 and 7pm on 14 April 2021 to hear any submissions from the community. Council will also receive a report on any submissions received at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 18 May 2021.

Following revisions from community feedback, the proposed new Local Law will be considered by Council for adoption in May 2021.

If you would like more information please contact Andrew Biffin, Service and Efficiency Coordinator, on 9599 4424 or abiffin@bayside.vic.gov.au