Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) resolved to adopt a new approach to managing overgrown allotments at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 25 May.
The new approach adopted states that SDRC will:
1. Continue to issue Notices under Local Law No. 8 when deemed appropriate by the authorised person;
2. Extend the current time to undertake the required works from two (2) weeks to six (6) weeks;
3. That the Notice be amended to include the landowners are encouraged to contact Council to negotiate a revised completion date if they cannot undertake the required works within this timeframe;
4. That residents contacting Council regarding overgrown allotments be advised of the extended period of time for the works to be completed due to the wet conditions;
5. That a review of this approach be undertaken by 20 July 2022, with any extension required for the review to be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer.
SDRC currently has Local Law No.8 (Overgrown and Unsightly Allotments) which manages complaints from residents regarding allotments that have become overgrown and or unsightly.
With the recent wet weather event, there is concern regarding the ability of landowners to safely undertake the necessary works to comply with a Council Notice.
In the meeting agenda, it was stated that there is concern that if SDRC ceases to issue Notices in the short term, adjoining landowners will become disgruntled with SDRC’s lack of action.
“Noting that many of these Notices are issued to absentee landowners and that on occasions there can be up to three adjacent landowners may complain about the state of one allotment”.
The motion was moved by Cr Cameron Gow and seconded by Cr Stephen Tancred.
