Fraser Coast council asks residents for feedback on local laws changes

Fraser Coast residents are being asked to have their say on proposed changes to local laws that could mean higher fines and tighter laws around parking and swimming.

Fraser Coast councillor Paul Truscott (pictured) says residents are being asked to provide feedback on proposed amendments to the local laws, that could see parking laws tighten and fines double.

The Fraser Coast council is asking residents to provide feedback on a raft of proposed changes to local laws that could result in tighter and higher parking and swimming reserve laws.

Councillor Paul Truscott said the proposed changes came out of community consultation and feedback.

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

“Council regularly reviews the local laws and subordinate local laws to ensure they reflect current community expectations.”

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The proposed amendments include updating regulated parking areas to reflect additional, extended and existing parking areas; updating existing off-street regulated parking maps to remove all areas of open space,; increasing typographical anomalies and increasing penalties for certain parking offences (such as parking illegally in a parking space reserved for a disabled person).

Other amendments include widening the types of activities permitted in bathing reserves to acknowledge the diversity of sport and competitions in those areas, and amending several definitions including the use of aquatic, prescribed and prohibited equipment to encapsulate the changes to modern aquatic and land machines.

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Mr Truscott said the amendments would also change the definitions of aquatic equipment to include things like paddle boards.

“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,” he said. “The proposed new laws make clear that motorised equipment, such as jet skis, must stay at least 50m on each side from a bathing area.

“These changes are to ensure the safety of swimmers and our volunteer lifesavers, and do not bring in any new powers or offences.”

The feedback surveys for the proposed amendments are will close at 11:55pm on Friday, June 23.