The Fraser Coast council wants to know what the community thinks about bringing cat registration back

The Queensland council that had to pay back ratepayers more than $300k in bungled cat registration is considering bringing back feline fees.

The Fraser Coast council wants to know what the community thinks about bringing cat registration back

A motion discussing whether cat registration should return to the Fraser Coast has been passed at the council’s monthly meeting.

The motion asks the community to consider whether it wants to bring back cat registration, which was canned in 2017 after a legislation bungle was uncovered.

Before the meeting, Fraser Coast councillor Paul Truscott said the motion was aimed at discussing local laws and singling out cat registration for the community to share its views.

He said some people wanted the policy to return while others were strongly against paying registration for their cats.

Mr Truscott said while the costs of dogs, in terms of picking up strays and providing parks, was greater for the council, roaming cats came with their own cost to the environment, as well as having to be kept in airconditioned surroundings when they were brought into the pound.

Cat registration was introduced to the Fraser Coast in 2014.

But in 2017, a legislation bungle was uncovered, leading to $365,000 in registration and fines being returned to Fraser Coast feline owners.

At the time, it was also decided owners would no longer have to register their cats.

“We identified an administrative oversight that resulted from a change in legislation and as a result of this oversight we technically have no legislative power to require our residents to pay for cat registrations,” council chief executive Ken Diehm said.

In September 2013, the State Government repealed statewide mandatory cat registration, with councils given 28 days to determine a course of action.

The Fraser Coast council voted to continue with cat registration and the administration was directed to create new local laws.

“Due to an administrative oversight this did not happen,” Mr Diehm said.