Horsham Rural City Council are in the midst of updating the plan.

The Domestic Animal Management Plan was due in 2021, council has an extension to June 2022. It is separate to Local Laws review which is undertaken every 10 years and been undertaken during 2021.

The current review received 79 submissions from the public which have been considered.

All recommended changes are still under consideration by councilors before for adoption.

IN OTHER NEWS:

There are several public questions relating to the local law updates which will be addressed at the next Horsham council meeting in November.

In regards to keeping animals council have stated that in an urban area you can have two dogs, more with a permit. You can also have two cats, again more with a permit. The proposed change here is: three to two cats before a permit is required.

Five chooks are allowed in an urban area, but no roosters. This is a reduction in suggested numbers after a review of council and government website advice on the amount of chickens necessary to keep an average family in eggs.

In regards to urban area definition, urban area means an area, adjacent a road with street lights, where there are buildings:

a. the buildings are not over 100 metres apart;

b. the street lights are not over 100 metres apart; for a distance of at least 500 metres, or if the road is shorter than 500 metres, for the whole road/

It is proposed that this clause does not apply where the keeping of a particular type of animal or bird is permitted (rather than ancillary) under the Horsham Planning Scheme or a planning permit applicable to the land.

a. In the urban area a person must not allow, cause or suffer to be kept:

i. livestock (other than domestic fowl);

ii. free flying pigeons;

iii. any rooster;

b. Without a permit, in the urban area a person must not allow, cause or suffer to be kept:

i. more than 2 dogs;

ii. more than 2 cats;

iii. more than 5 domestic fowl;

c. Without a permit, on farm land a person must not allow, cause or suffer to be kept-

i. more than 5 dogs;

ii. more than 5 cats.

A dog that herds, droves, protects, tends or works stock and lives on farm land is not a domestic animal (therefore not included in number on farm).

d. Without a permit, in that part of the municipal district that is not urban area and that is not farm land a person must not allow, cause or suffer to be kept-

i. more than 3 dogs;

ii. more than 3 cats;

e. A person must comply with any code of practice, however called under an Act, for the keeping of domestic animals.

f. In this clause-

i. domestic fowl has the same meaning as the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2016;

ii. a domestic animal is an animal over 3 months old.

Consultation and review showed that the keeping of horses is covered under the planning scheme and so will not be included in the local law.

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