Casey Council overhauls vehicle permit laws in major win for residents
Cops outnumbered residents as a cautious Casey council considered changes to its controversial local law for vehicles on private land.
Pricey permits for recreational and unregistered vehicles have been scrapped in Melbourne’s southeast as a Victorian council overhauls its local laws.
Casey Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to endorse changes to controversial regulations governing the storage and use of unregistered and recreational vehicles on private property after fierce backlash from residents earlier this year.
The revised local law, developed with the aid of $151,000 external review, would allow residents to ride recreational vehicles after 7am and before 8pm on weekdays and after 9am and before 8pm on weekends and public holidays without needing a permit.
Residents can also keep as many unregistered vehicles on their own land as they chose without needing a permit.
Previously those wanting to keep more than two unregistered vehicles needed a permit costing up to $473.
The council wasn’t taking any chance on security on Tuesday, after a meeting earlier in the year ended abruptly when 500 outraged Casey residents shouted, booed and swore at councillors.
However, this time the five police outnumbered residents attending the meeting, which progressed without incident.
Mayor Stefan Koomen said councillors were “taken aback” when the local laws were first placed under spotlight in February.
“Rather than just making a quick change, we’ve done a thorough review and consulted the residents on all the local laws,” he said.
“It is a really good and thorough doc and it talks to the commitment we have as a councillor group to consult and act.
“It may not be perfect, but we really captured concerns of residents.”
He urged residents to read the new rules and provide feedback ahead of a final council vote in December.
After the backlash in February the council commissioned a review into its local laws, which found “polarised views” within the community.
Forty-two per cent of residents thought it was unreasonable that council managed vehicle repairs on private property, while 37 per cent thought it unreasonable for council to manage how and when residents can use recreational vehicles on their land.
The survey noted that some residents had called the current law “unfair” being they allowed the council to remove unregistered vehicles from properties, even if they are stored away from public view in garages, sheds and behind fences.
Following the review into the laws, council officers drafted loosened restrictions on vehicle repairs, permits and use of recreational vehicles.
The key changes to the local laws, include:
Vehicle repairs on private property
The current law mandates residents to obtain a permit in order to dismantle, repair or service vehicles or machinery in circumstances where the activity or use is detrimental to the amenity of the area in which the private land is located. The newly proposed law has deleted this clause.
Storage of unregistered vehicles
Current law mandates residents to apply and pay for a permit if they wish to store more than two unregistered vehicles on their property. The newly proposed law has deleted this clause.
Unregistered vehicles and vehicle parts will instead be regulated through the “unsightly clause” — which specifies that owners must not allow their land used in a manner detrimental to the amenity of the area.
“Residents no longer need a permit to have unregistered vehicles on their property, there’s no set limit,” City of Casey communications and corporate governance manager Chloe Casey said.
“If it affects the look or condition of your property, council may be alerted and step in under the unsightly provisions outlined in the proposed Local Law.”
Use of recreational vehicles, such as motorbikes
Current law requires owners or occupier of private land to obtain a permit before they can use recreational vehicles, such as mini bikes, quad bikes, go-karts and on their private land. Under the new proposed law, residents would no longer need a permit for casual use of recreational vehicles on their own property. They would only require a permit if they wanted to use the vehicles “outside of EPA noise regulations” — before 7am and after 8pm on weekdays and before 9am and after 8pm on weekends and public holidays. The new law also specifies that residents using recreational vehicles must not “inconvenience, obstruct, hinder or endanger any person” on both public and private land, and that those using recreational vehicles aged under 18-years-old can be guilty of an offence under the council’s law.
Speaking before the meeting Casey corporate governance manager Chloe Casey said the changes proposed to the local laws aimed to create “clearer, fairer rules that balance flexibility for residents with respect for our community standards”.
The council refused to say if residents who had already purchased permits would be reimbursed if the new laws are gazetted in early 2026.
As of February, council had issued 20 local law permits for private land use.
“Prior to March, no permits were issued to residents to work on their cars outside of the EPA guidelines and no fines were issued to residents for storing cars on the property under the Local Law,” Ms Casey said.
If adopted by councillors in December the local law would then be gazetted in early 2026 and only then would the current permit system be revoked.
