Gosnells residents who want to keep bees, birds, poultry or farm animals are set to benefit from a proposed new local law, which will streamline application processes and clarify requirements.
The City of Gosnells has called for public submissions about its proposed Public Health Local Law 2017, which will remove unnecessary red tape while ensuring certain activities do not cause a nuisance within the community.
City of Gosnells mayor Olwen Searle said the proposed law in particular removed the need for residents to obtain permits to keep poultry, birds, farm animals and bees as long as they certain criteria.
“Rather than prohibiting activities such as keeping farm animals or bees, the local law describes the circumstances in which they can be kept,” she said.
“People only need to obtain a permit if they want an exemption.”
Ms Searle said there was growing interest in beekeeping in the wake of concerns about a global reduction in bee numbers, and the new law would make it easier for people to keep these insects within the city.
“Membership of the WA Apiarists’ Society has increased dramatically in recent years, from just 60 members in the 1990s to almost 900 members this year, as more and more people recognise the important role played by bees in pollinating flowers, vegetables and fruit,” she said.
“It is well acknowledged that fruit trees and vegetable patches pollinated by bees will have a greater, better quality yield.”
The new law also contains provisions for pest control, the disposal of refuse and disused materials, and the storage of fertilisers and compost.
A copy of the proposed local law can be viewed at the City’s Civic Centre at 2120 Albany Highway, Gosnells, between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday, at the city’s libraries during normal opening hours, or alternatively visit gosnells.wa.gov.au.
Written submissions may be made by 4pm on September 1.
