Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) will be issuing warning notices to residents who fail to comply with the new rules regarding the parking of caravans, and other vehicles in residential streets. Under the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021. The new laws include harsher penalties for owners of shopping trolleys, unregistered cars and trailers, and stray stock animals.
The new laws provide councils, other public land managers and police with stronger powers and penalties to rid footpaths, streets, parks, bushland, and waterways of abandoned and unattended property.
These laws mark the biggest change to impounding laws in nearly 30 years. Fines for all offences are in force from 1 May 2023. CGRC will be monitoring, educating and issuing warnings before pursuing penalties.
Under the new laws, owners, and others responsible for private property left in public, such as shopping trolleys, unregistered and abandoned cars, unattended trailers, and stray stock, face stronger regulatory action if they do not remove their property within risk-based timeframes. This includes on-the-spot fines, higher court penalties, rapid seizure action and enforcement orders.
The new laws make it easier for councils to store and dispose of unattended or abandoned items and animals that they take into possession, significantly reducing red tape and cost for local communities.
The changes also improve the ability of council officers to track down owners of shopping trolleys and vehicles, reducing the need for impounding action.
There are restrictions on parking registered caravans, boats, trailers, and vehicles on the road for more than 28 consecutive days at a time. CGRC Rangers are actively monitoring compliance with these regulations and may impound vehicles found to be in violation, after issuing notices and warnings.
The running of power leads, greywater or freshwater to caravans across the verge is considered a safety concern and is illegal under the same Act. Additionally, parking fully or partially on nature strips/verge and footpaths, regardless of the intention or the presence of a concrete kerb is also illegal.
CGRC mayor Cr Charlie Sheahan said Council will be undertaking an educational program.
“Our rangers will be issuing notices to residents who have breached this Act, it’s not about being heavy handed and penalising people or impounding vehicles. A commonsense approach will be undertaken. We just can’t have unregistered or abandoned vehicles left in our streets. We need to ensure public safety is our highest priority, so trip hazards such as hoses and power leads to caravans are not running across public spaces. There are many liability issues for both Council and the owner of the vehicle, Council’s priority to is reduce the risk in both public safety and liability matters,” Cr Sheahan added.
Unregistered vehicles cannot be parked on the road/street at any time. Council rangers will be monitoring and impounding vehicles when deemed necessary.
The commencement of the new Act will be supported by sensible regulations, guidelines, fact sheets and other information for industry, councils, and the community.
The purpose of the new laws under the Act is keeping public spaces safe, accessible, and enjoyable for the community now and into the future.
These reforms were developed following widespread consultation with councils, members of the public, industry/business groups, retailers, peak bodies, and government agencies.
Further information about the new laws and what they mean for you can be found at www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/unattendedproperty or contact Council for further clarification.
Picture and caption:
This is one sign residents who park illegally on streets will not want to see. Council rangers will be monitoring the illegal parking of vehicles and issuing warning notices before tough new penalties are issued from 1 May 2024. Caravans, boats, trailers, and other vehicles cannot be parked on the street for more than 28 consecutive days.
