Proposed Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024

In 2022, the City of Bayswater began reviewing its local law for keeping and control of cats. Extensive community engagement was undertaken, the results of which can be viewed at Keeping and Control of Cats Local Law 2022 | Engage Bayswater.

The City is continuing this work, and at the Ordinary Council Meeting of 25 June 2024, approved the proposed draft Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024 for public advertising.

Proposed changes

The purpose of the local law is to amend the Keeping and Control of Cats Local Law 2022 to include:

  1. a new clause 2.3 “Cats in Other Places”:
    • This clause provides that a cat shall not be in a public place unless the cat is, in the opinion of an authorised person, under effective control. It also stipulates that a cat should not be in a place that is not public, unless consent to its being there has been given by the occupier or a person apparently authorised to consent on behalf of the occupier, and it is under effective control. If the cat contravenes clause 2.3, the owner of the cat commits an offence, and an authorised person may seize and impound the cat and deal with the cat pursuant to the Cat Act 2011.
  2. a new offence penalty in Schedule 2, item 3; and
  3. “Brickworks Lake” as part of the Maylands Lakes Cat Prohibited Areas.

The effect of the amendment local law is to incorporate ‘by reference’ clause 3.2 ‘Cats in other places’ of the Shire of Northam Cat Local Law 2019 under section 82 of the Cat Act 2011, with minor modifications.

A copy of the proposed amendment local law may be found on the City's website here and may also inspected at and obtained from:

  • City of Bayswater Civic Centre 61 Broun Avenue, Morley
  • Bayswater Public Library 25 King William Street, Bayswater
  • Morley Public Library 240 Walter Road West, Morley
  • Maylands Public Library 28 Eighth Avenue, Maylands

A consolidated version of the Keeping and Control of Cats Local Law 2022, including the changes proposed by the Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024, can be found here.

How to get involved

Submissions on the proposed amendment local law may be made using the form or uploading your submission below or in writing either by email at mail@bayswater.wa.gov.au or by mail addressed to the Chief Executive Officer City of Bayswater, PO Box 467, Morley 6943.

Submissions must be made by 5pm on Friday 30 August 2024.

What's next

Once consultation has closed the City will summarise the feedback received and make a recommendation to Council at its 22 October 2024 Ordinary Council Meeting.

Next Steps

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 22 October 2024 Council resolved to make the Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024 as advertised, which includes by reference’ clause 3.2 ‘Cats in other places’ of the Shire of Northam Cat Local Law 2019 under section 82 of the Cat Act 2011. This Amendment Local Law appeared in the Government Gazette on Friday 8 November 2024 and will come into operation on 22 November. The City is now preparing to send all the required documentation back to the State Government who will scrutinize the local law and advise if this is allowed or not.

Due to the upcoming State Election, which is schedule on 8 March 2024 it is unlikely that the City will be hearing back until after the State Election.

In 2022, the City of Bayswater began reviewing its local law for keeping and control of cats. Extensive community engagement was undertaken, the results of which can be viewed at Keeping and Control of Cats Local Law 2022 | Engage Bayswater.

The City is continuing this work, and at the Ordinary Council Meeting of 25 June 2024, approved the proposed draft Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024 for public advertising.

Proposed changes

The purpose of the local law is to amend the Keeping and Control of Cats Local Law 2022 to include:

  1. a new clause 2.3 “Cats in Other Places”:
    • This clause provides that a cat shall not be in a public place unless the cat is, in the opinion of an authorised person, under effective control. It also stipulates that a cat should not be in a place that is not public, unless consent to its being there has been given by the occupier or a person apparently authorised to consent on behalf of the occupier, and it is under effective control. If the cat contravenes clause 2.3, the owner of the cat commits an offence, and an authorised person may seize and impound the cat and deal with the cat pursuant to the Cat Act 2011.
  2. a new offence penalty in Schedule 2, item 3; and
  3. “Brickworks Lake” as part of the Maylands Lakes Cat Prohibited Areas.

The effect of the amendment local law is to incorporate ‘by reference’ clause 3.2 ‘Cats in other places’ of the Shire of Northam Cat Local Law 2019 under section 82 of the Cat Act 2011, with minor modifications.

A copy of the proposed amendment local law may be found on the City's website here and may also inspected at and obtained from:

  • City of Bayswater Civic Centre 61 Broun Avenue, Morley
  • Bayswater Public Library 25 King William Street, Bayswater
  • Morley Public Library 240 Walter Road West, Morley
  • Maylands Public Library 28 Eighth Avenue, Maylands

A consolidated version of the Keeping and Control of Cats Local Law 2022, including the changes proposed by the Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024, can be found here.

How to get involved

Submissions on the proposed amendment local law may be made using the form or uploading your submission below or in writing either by email at mail@bayswater.wa.gov.au or by mail addressed to the Chief Executive Officer City of Bayswater, PO Box 467, Morley 6943.

Submissions must be made by 5pm on Friday 30 August 2024.

What's next

Once consultation has closed the City will summarise the feedback received and make a recommendation to Council at its 22 October 2024 Ordinary Council Meeting.

Next Steps

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 22 October 2024 Council resolved to make the Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024 as advertised, which includes by reference’ clause 3.2 ‘Cats in other places’ of the Shire of Northam Cat Local Law 2019 under section 82 of the Cat Act 2011. This Amendment Local Law appeared in the Government Gazette on Friday 8 November 2024 and will come into operation on 22 November. The City is now preparing to send all the required documentation back to the State Government who will scrutinize the local law and advise if this is allowed or not.

Due to the upcoming State Election, which is schedule on 8 March 2024 it is unlikely that the City will be hearing back until after the State Election.

Page last updated: 08 Nov 2024, 02:14 PM