Key amendments to Local Law No 2 include the following:

·         Including provisions relating to other audible bird scaring devices, including electronic bird scarers, rather than just gas scare guns.

·         Removing restrictions on the use of such devices on Christmas Day or at Easter.

·         Referencing the Environment Protection Authority “Interim Guidelines for Control of Noise from Industry in Country Victoria, 1989” which has noise limits for certain times of the day.

·         Introducing a requirement for “Bird Management Plans”, which is a plan for each farmer to control pest bird species on their property in order to protect their crops.

Some changes have also been made to definitions of the Local Law to bring them in line with definitions used in other areas of Council’s operations.  These are:

·         “Township Area” has been clarified to mean land-abutting roads with speed limits of 60 kilometres per hour or less.

·         “Residential Zone” has been clarified to mean land in Residential, Township or Mixed Use Zones.

·         “Rural Zone” has been clarified to mean land in any of the Rural or Farming Zones.

Public comment is invited on the proposed amendments.  The Draft Local Law is attached below for viewing or downloading as required.  Copies are also available at Council’s Beechworth Office and Customer Service Centres in Yackandandah, Rutherglen and Chiltern.

Written comments will be received up until 5.00 pm Friday 12 December 2008 and should be addressed to Mr Brendan McGrath, Chief Executive Officer, Indigo Shire Council, PO Box 28, Beechworth, 3747.

** ends release***

For further information: Contact Council’s Environmental Health Unit on (02) 6028 1100.