Review of Health Local Laws 2001

The City is undertaking a review of the Health Local Laws 2001 and is proposing to make a Health Local Law 2023

The purpose of the Health Local Law 2023 is to provide for the regulation of issues that may affect public health or otherwise cause a nuisance within the City of Bayswater. It prescribes obligations and requirements for owners or occupiers of land in order to reduce unacceptable risks to public health or undue effects on the amenity of residents within the City of Bayswater.

Background

The current City of Bayswater Health Local Laws 2001 are the principal local laws for regulating health matters within the City. The City has recently identified some issues with the administration of the existing Health Local Laws 2001, and has decided that it will be beneficial to address them. In addition, and given the age of the current health local laws, some of the provisions are considered to be either outdated, not practical or have been replaced by other legislation.

A Councillor Workshop was held in February 2023, which provided the opportunity to discuss in detail any proposed changes. At the Ordinary Council Meeting of 28 March 2023 Council resolved for a local public notice to be issued for the purposes of seeking public comment on the proposed changes.

What changes are being proposed?

• Beekeepers will be required to register beehives with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and keep them in accordance the WA Apiarist’s Society “Best-Practice Guidelines for Urban Beekeeping”.
• The number of poultry and cage-birds that can be kept on a property will be 20 for each to ensure consistency.
• The number of poultry permitted on a property is proposed to be nine for a lot size up to 599m2 and then remain at one per 100m2 of land thereafter.
• The section relating to rodents has been updated to exclude native animals and update the requirements for the keeping of rodents.
• The toilet requirements for outdoor festivals has been removed as this is covered under the Health (Public Building) Regulations1992 and associated guidelines.
• Typographical errors and terminology that is no longer considered appropriate have been updated.

Public Consultation

An online submission form was available for interested people to complete.

Submissions about the proposed local law could be made in writing either via email to mail@bayswater.wa.gov.au or by mail addressed to the Chief Executive Officer City of Bayswater, PO Box 467, Morley 6943.

The submission period closed at 5pm on Friday, 2 June 2023.

The City received two submissions through Engage Bayswater plus another 2 written submissions.

What happens next?

City officers prepared a draft report to present to Council at its Ordinary Council Meeting on 25 July 2023; this included analysis of submissions received.

Council has resolved to proceed with the proposed changes and will seek approval from the State Government.

Feedback from State Government

The State Government through the Joint Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation advised that some further amendments were required, and as a result. Council advertised a draft Health Amendment Local Law to include these changes during January and February 2024.

Council then adopted this Amendment Local Law at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 26 March 2024, which was gazetted on 12 April 2024 and has now been sent back to the State Government for final approval.

Updates will be posted on this page.