A big thank you to every one of the 6,959 people who completed our survey on new Local Law ideas in August/September 2020.

This amazing response means it has taken a while to analyse all of the survey responses, which included more than 3,000 comments. Through this process, we’ve gained some great insights into the issues that really matter to our community.

So, what’s happening with barbeques?

The hottest topic in the survey was an idea to ban burning solid fuel outdoors, which would mean no more lighting firepits or charcoal BBQs in Bayside if adopted. Over 86% of survey respondents were opposed to this idea, so it hasn’t been included in the proposed new Local Law.

What about the other ideas?

The other seven new Local Law ideas in the survey received more community support:

• Removing dumped shopping trolleys (80%)
• Preventing derelict or abandoned buildings (71%)
• Extending the smoking ban to cover the foreshore (69%)
• Requiring a permit for long-term parking of trailers, caravans and boats (55%)
• Mobile advertising billboards need a permit (53%)
• Shared transport services operators need a permit (48%)
• Drones need a permit to fly over Council land (46%)

Taking survey support and comments in consideration, along with legal advice, these ideas have been included in the proposed new Local Law.

The graph below shows the level of support and opposition for each of the new Local Law ideas in the survey.

Want to know more?

The report on the survey and first phase of community engagement is available to read here and saved in the document library on the main project page.

A new Local Law idea from Victoria Police

We’re proposing to make the Red Bluff Cliffs at Half Moon Bay an alcohol-free zone in response to large gatherings and parties recently held in the area. This inclusion is at the request of Victoria Police and would enable our Local Laws officers to enforce any breaches of the proposed ban. This was not part of the first consultation, although we received many comments (104) regarding better enforcement of smoking and alcohol. We’ll be seeking community feedback on this as part of the next stage of community consultation.

What happens next?

Another opportunity to have your say on Bayside’s Local Law is coming up.

The next phase of community consultation will be on the proposed new Local Law, which has been developed in response to your feedback and legal advice.

On 17 December 2020, Councillors will consider commencing this statutory process for community consultation to open from 1 February 2021 until 5 March 2021. This date has been proposed to encourage participation, ensuring everyone’s back from their summer holidays and festive celebrations with friends and family.

It is expected that a Special Committee of Council meeting will be held on 31 March 2021 to hear any submissions from the community. Council will also receive a report on any submissions received at its Ordinary Meeting of Council on 18 May 2021.

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

As a project subscriber, we’ll send you an email to let you know when consultation on the proposed new Local Law formally opens.