Fraser Coast council cracks down on shopping trolleys, yards

Fines as high as $7740 have been introduced across the Fraser Coast targeting repeat offenders with unsightly lawns, and businesses that fail to keep their shopping trolleys on site.

Stricter penalties will soon be in effect for repeat offenders with unsightly lawns and for retailers who repeatedly fail to ensure trolleys are kept within their precinct.

Homeowners and businesses across the Fraser Coast now face increased fines for having unsightly lawns and rogue shopping trolleys.

The offences could warrant fines from $1548 for a first offence to $7740 for a third offence if repeated within 12 months.

Councillor Paul Truscott said the amendments to the laws were made in response to an extensive review conducted by the council in 2021, which aimed to find out whether the laws reflected current community expectations.

Other amendments put into motion include removing provisions in local laws around designated smoke-free zones at swimming pools and newly identified pests that have been added to local declarations.

Other amendments that will be taking effect include:

• Removing provisions in local laws around designated smoke-free areas, prescribed swimming, pool standards and noise provisions as Queensland laws cover these;
• new identified local pests have been added to the declaration of local pests;
• Simplifying regulations on the lighting of fires to make it easier to understand by having all the information in one section of the local laws;
• Increasing penalties for repeat offenders with overgrown or unsightly allotments with fines escalating from $1548 for a first offence to $7740 for a third offence within 12 months;
• Increasing penalties for shopping centre retailers who repeatedly fail to ensure trolleys remain within their precinct escalating from $1548 for a first offence to $7740 for a third offence within 12 months;
• Broadening the definitions of a fire hazard, community safety hazard and building appearance to better clarify the intent of the law;
• Preventing the disposal of previously omitted material such as radioactive waste in bins or other rubbish facilities;
• Putting the onus on property owners, particularly those who run home businesses, to ensure they are only putting general domestic waste in their general bins, not commercial waste;
• Creating a new offence of leaving a waste container on the kerb for more than 24 hours before or after scheduled collection to improve safety and prevent road hazards.

‘Least protected’: Zoning changes coming for Great Sandy Marine Park