Community Local Law 2026-2035

The purpose of this Community Local Law is to maintain peace, order and good governance within the municipal district of Mansfield Shire by:

•    Managing inappropriate use;
•    Promoting community wellbeing; 
•    Protecting the environment; and
•    Maintaining public safety and neighbourhood amenity across the municipal district of Mansfield Shire through fair and          effective risk-based regulation. 

With respect to each of the following areas, the Community Local Law sets out to achieve the following objectives: 

Community Wellbeing

•    Support a safe, healthy and enjoyable environment for all residents, visitors, businesses and landowners

Amenity and Environmental Protection

•    Protect and enhance neighbourhood amenity to support a high quality of life; and
     Prevent or manage activities that may – 
•    Unreasonably disrupt the local environment or amenity;
•    Harm public health or safety; or
•    Damage property, infrastructure, or community assets.

Use and Enjoyment of Land

•    Ensure that private land use is responsible, fair and does not unreasonably interfere with others’ rights or enjoyment of          their property; and
•    Prevent nuisances and minimise negative impacts on neighbours and the wider community.

Use of Public Spaces

•    Support vibrant and inclusive use of public spaces;
•    Encourage responsible commercial and community activities that enhance public amenity;
•    Ensure shared spaces remain accessible, safe and enjoyable for all users; and
•    Minimise unnecessary regulatory barriers while maintaining fairness and community benefit.

Animal Management 

•    Promote responsible animal ownership that protects public health and neighbourhood amenity;
•    Minimise nuisance, noise, odour and waste impacts from animals kept on land; and
•    Recognise and support Mansfield’s rural and farming character by allowing for appropriate animal husbandry while                balancing residential expectations.

Waste and Infrastructure Protection 

•    Prevent pollution, waste-related nuisance, environmental harm and damage to Council infrastructure arising from                  construction or private activity;
•    Minimise off-site impacts such as litter, stormwater contamination and sediment run-off; and
•    Protect public drains, roads and infrastructure from damage or degradation during building works and land use.

The general purpose of the Local Law is to:

• Revoke the existing Mansfield Shire Council Community Local Law No 1, revised and adopted by Council on 19 February 2008;
• Outline permit considerations for a number of activities including trading in public places, alcohol consumption, camping and caravans on private land, open air burning and livestock on roads and to provide guidance around the issues to be considered when deciding upon an application;
• Part A – OVERVIEW: outline the title, purpose and power to make the Local Law, its commencement and end date, revocation of Community Local Law No 1 (revised and adopted by Council on 26 June 2018), the application of the Local Law throughout the municipal district and definitions for terms used in the Local Law;
• Part B – USE OF PUBLIC PLACES AND ROADS: Regulates the use of public places and roads including activities such as trading, consumption of alcohol, including the designation of alcohol free zones, access to Council buildings, land and municipal reserves, collection of money, clothing bins, bulk waste containers and fireworks;
• Part C – COUNCIL INFRASTRUCTURE: Protects Council infrastructure, including drainage. This section also covers works within a roads reserve, firewood collection and vehicle crossovers.
• Part D – AMENITY & SAFETY: Protects amenity and public safety by regulating activities such as condition of private land, placement of shipping containers, work to significant trees camping and caravans on public and private land and open air burning. 
• Part E – ANIMALS, BIRDS AND LIVESTOCK: Regulate the number of animals that can be kept on land, conditions under which animals are kept, controls around noise and smell from animals, containment of animals, animal waste in public places, provisions for wandering animals and the grazing and movement of livestock on roads.
• Part F – WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE: Regulates the use of domestic garbage bins, recycling bins, organic green bins, use of rubbish bins in public places, bulk rubbish containers on private land and conduct at the Resource Recovery Centre.
• Part G - BUILDING SITES: To ensure building sites have appropriate facilities provided, that there is no negative impact on Council's Stormwater system as a result of building works and building sites have appropriate waste management onsite.
• Part H – ADMINISTRATION: Outlines provisions around the issue of permits by Council, information required to be submitted with permit applications, waiving of permit fees, duration of permits, conditions that may be placed on permits, considerations when assessing permit applications and processes for amending or cancelling permits.
• Part I – ENFORCEMENT: Details offences against the Local Law, identifies the discretionary powers of Authorised Officers and reasonable directions by Authorised Officers. Also identifies the range of enforcement options available to Authorised Officers under the Local Law including official warnings, infringement notices, notices to comply, the power to act in urgent circumstances, impounding items and appeal mechanisms for requesting a withdrawal of an official warning or notice to comply.