Have your say on changes to Fraser Coast local laws

Fines for illegally parking in a spot reserved for a person with a disability could more than double and regulated parking areas would be updated under proposed changes to Fraser Coast local laws.

Fraser Coast residents are being asked to provide feedback on proposed changes covering a broad range of issues including parking and bathing reserves.

Cr Paul Truscott said the proposed changes come out of community consultation and feedback.

“Council is responsible for making and enforcing local laws on issues not governed by state or federal laws,” he said.

“Local laws help communities to be better places to live by regulating certain behaviours, promoting safety, harmony and good rule in the community.

“There are seven local laws that apply across the Fraser Coast region, with the existing laws developed in 2011.

“Council regularly reviews the Local Laws and Subordinate Local Laws to ensure they reflect current community expectations.

“Many of the changes being put forward for consideration come from feedback to Councillors during those reviews.”

Feedback surveys for proposed amendments to the local laws are now open and can be accessed at https://frasercoast.engagementhub.com.au/local-laws

The proposed amendments to Local Law 5 seek to:

• update regulated parking areas to reflect additional, extended and existing parking areas;
• update the existing off-street regulated parking maps to remove all areas of open space;
• increase penalties for certain parking offences (such as parking illegally in a parking space reserved for a disabled person), and;
• address typographical anomalies.

The proposed amendments to local law 6 and subordinate local law 6 (Bathing Reserves) 2011 seeks to:

• widen the types of activities permitted in bathing reserves to acknowledge the diversity of sport and competitions that take advantage of the bathing reserve areas;
• amend several definitions including the use of aquatic, prescribed and prohibited equipment to encapsulate the changes to modern aquatic and land machines; and
• add or update definitions of terms to provide a current reflection of the use of bathing reserves today.

“The amendments will change the definitions of aquatic equipment to include things such as stand up paddle boards which were not around when the laws were last reviewed.

“The list of items prohibited from a bathing reserve, such as land yachts and what can be permanently moored in a reserve has also been amended.

“The proposed new laws make clear that motorised equipment, such as jet-ski’s, must stay at least 50 metres on each side from a bathing area.

“This is to ensure the safety of swimmers and our volunteer lifesavers. 

“The changes do not bring in any new powers or offences.”

The surveys close at 11:55 pm on Friday 23 June 2023.

If you are not logged on to our Engagement Hub, you will not be notified if you have successfully submitted your responses.

You can sign up to the Engagement Hub or sign into your account at https://frasercoast.engagementhub.com.au/.