Extreme local laws outrageous
Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 11:57AM It is increasingly brought to our attention the need for the State Government to reign in local government laws after local governments continue to go above and beyond the test of common sense.
The Joint Standing committee on Delegated Legislation has investiagted and rejected the City of Gosnells Waste Local Law 2011 for this very reason.
The City of Gosnells Waste Local Law 2011 moved to criminalise acts causing no harm, including;
- Leaving bins lids open, even when empty
- Having a bin visible from the street or public place (for example in a carport or behind a picket fence)
- Not having your bin in a particular position by a particular time on collection day
- Putting Marks on the bin (eg. Cricket wickets painted on the front)
- Having a dirty bin
These laws show a local government that doesn’t truely understand the potential impact of their laws on residents everyday life.
It is shocking to think you could be fined $150 for putting a ‘Slow down for Kids’ sticker on your bin on residential streets, or that the wind blowing you bin over or the lid open could also hand you a $150 fine.
The City of Gosnells did not necessarily see the laws being used in this manner, they were concerned about Health and Safety, but these Waste Laws are not the answer, they need to use common sense when developing their by-laws.
The State Parliament has rejected these council laws.
