New Local Law endorsed by Council

Published on 23 October 2025

Council has endorsed a new Local Law following two rounds of engagement, receiving positive community feedback on the updates and changes.

The adoption of the Community Amenity Local Law 2025 was a statutory requirement, as the previous General Purposes Local Law 2015 will expire on 17 November 2025.

Updates to the new endorsed Local Law include simplified language, as well as the introduction of new clauses and offences to address safety and amenity concerns. Only minor changes needed to be made between engagement on the draft, and the final endorsed version.

The first community conversation for the new Local Law began in March 2025, and community members shared concerns about some proposed changes, including the reduction in number of registered cats and dogs on a property. We heard this feedback and removed the proposed change from the proposed draft Local Law. We also received strong community support for stricter land use controls, enhanced heritage protections, and new smoke-free areas.

Following this initial conversation, we introduced new clauses based on community input, and shared these back with the community through the draft Local Law in July and August of this year. These new clauses included:

• people feeding uncaged animals, such as strays, may be asked to stop if it causes a nuisance or damage
• ensuring lighting on residents’ land does not bother other people, and a Council or an Authorised Officer may authorise it to cease if deem to be a problem
• requiring reasonable upkeep of private properties to prevent dilapidation and protect visual appeal and safety
• a person must not park or leave an abandoned, derelict, or unregistered car on a road or Council land

This second conversation confirmed that a majority of respondents supported the draft Community Amenity Local Law and the new clauses.

“We appreciate the community taking the time to be part of this vital engagement process and shared your thoughts on what local laws should look like for the next ten years,” Mayor, Cr Pradeep Tiwari said.

The Community Amenity Local Law 2025 will take effect on 17 November 2025.

Maribyrnong News

Stay up-to-date with the latest news by subscribing to our eNews.