After an extensive review process over several years, the City’s new Consolidated Local Law 2020 came into force at the end of January 2021.
Local laws govern activities on land that is owned or managed by the City, as well as certain activities conducted on private land within the City.
These local laws have the status of legislationand are enforceable by the City. The City may authorise Officers to enforce the local laws on its behalf.
As part of the review several environmental related requests and recommendations have been addressed particularly related to plants, trees and verge treatments.
Verge Treatment
To allow sufficient space for trees and to promote green verges that are dominated by natural plantings, artificial turf is no longer permitted on verges and hard surface materials can only be installed on verges that have a greater than 12 metre wide lot frontage to allow sufficient space for street trees, or on very small verges with permission. This will not be retrospective.
However, allowable plant height has increased and raised garden beds can now be installed on verges, subject to approval.
All of these measures are consistent with the City’s vision to improve urban liveability and to increase tree canopy cover in our streetscapes and local neighbourhoods.
Shopping trolleys
The new Consolidated Local Laws also provide increased penalties to shops should they fail to pick up trolleys after being notified by the City’s Rangers.
In the new Local Law, two new zones have been created to the north and south of the Belmont Forum Shopping precinct that within these two zones shopping trolleys must be removed within three hours of notification.
Outside of these zones the current 24 hour notification and pick up requirements still apply.
With fines doubling and the introduction of stricter controls, it is hoped that shops and their contractors take greater responsibility for their property so that the blight of shopping trolleys on our streets stops. Report abandoned trolleys via the Trolley Tracker or the Coles App.
Parking fines
As part of new laws, parking infringements have doubled from $40 and $60, to $80 and $120 respectively, however they still remain one of the lowest in comparison to other metropolitan local governments.
The City of Belmont’s parking infringements had remained unchanged since 2002 so the increase brings the City’s parking infringements up to the metropolitan average.
The City has observed an increase in errant parking in certain areas which has resulted in complaints from the community. It has been clear that warnings and the issuing of infringements were not acting as an adequate deterrent so it is anticipated that the increase in penalty will address this issue.
Read the full Consolidated Local Laws 2020