Local laws adopted with some changes

Local laws relating to burning off and shipping containers on properties were amended at the eleventh hour before Baw Baw Shire adopted its final community local laws document.

After several opportunities for community consultation over the past two years, the final local laws document has been signed off by council.

In response to submissions, council amended its proposed local laws relating to open air burning and shipping containers.

Proposed burning off restrictions referred to land in, or not in, bushfire prone areas (BPA).  However, these clauses were amended to remove the BPA as the determining factor for a person’s ability to burn in the open air. 

Land size is now the key determinant in local laws for burning off.

The local law relating to shipping containers on properties now acknowledges as of right uses under the planning scheme, nullifying the need to obtain a permit.

The local laws review, which began in 2019, identified five priority areas that needed to be addressed: open air burning; increased vegetation protection; unsightly properties and noxious weeds; and, noise and construction related issues.

Feedback also related to waste management, animal management, vehicles parked on private land, stock crossings, shipping containers and smoking and alcohol in public places.

The introduction of permits for shipping containers and parking cars on a public reserve, as well as timeframes for putting away garbage bins are among proposed new laws.

Open air burning

Land less than 4000 square metres  – permit required unless the fire is for cooking, in a chimenea or fire pit, or for a fire of no more than four cubic metres of vegetation in a bushfire prone area;

Land more than 4000 square metres  – permit required unless the fire is for genuine fuel reduction purposes and is not within 20 metres of a house or 10 metres from any other structure.

On land less than 20,000 square metres, a permit is required to burn a pile more than 10 cubic metres.

On land more than 20,000 square metres, a permit is required to burn a pile more than 50 cubic metres.

Walhalla – permit required for a campfire within 1.2km of the Old Walhalla Post Office Museum, unless in a formally constructed campfire pit.

The restrictions also prevent open air burning on a road or road reserve, council land and reserve, Crown land or any public place.

Shipping containers

Permit required for a shipping container or relocatable building on council land.  Shipping containers also prohibited on private land unless permitted under the planning scheme.

Waste bins

Empty bins in residential areas must be returned to the owner/occupiers’ property as soon as possible and no later than 48 hours after collection.

In commercial areas, bins must be removed by 10am on the day of collection.

Livestock droving and crossings

Permit required for droving or grazing livestock on any road.

Permit required to instal a stock crossing or related sign or infrastructure on any road.

Vehicles on public land

Vehicles must not be parked on public land or a reserve unless for the purpose of displaying the vehicle for sale.

A person must not leave an unregistered vehicle or abandon any vehicle on any road or council land.

designated for that purpose by council.

Camping

Camping in a tent, caravan or camper van prohibited within 1.2km of the Old Walhalla Post Office Museum, unless in a designated camping area.

Camping is prohibited on any road reserve or public place.

Unsightly properties

Grass or weeds must not be grown on any land, unless it is grown for fodder, in which it must not exceed 300mm in height.

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