Gunnedah Shire Council enforces the NSW Government’s laws relating to pet ownership, which are outlined in the Companion Animals Act 1998. Under the act, cats and dogs must be microchipped and registered so they can always be returned home if lost, injured or stolen.

This law is designed to reduce the number of animals put down in NSW, and to encourage people to take responsibility for their pets. We encourage owners to be responsible for their pets and require them to undertake some simple measures.

If you own a cat or dog and live in NSW, you are legally required to microchip and register your pet. This helps us quickly return your animal to you, if it is lost, injured or stolen.

We also encourage you to get your pet desexed – a simple procedure that helps your pet stay healthy, avoid unwanted litters and makes them less prone to wander and fight.

Starting from 1 July 2020, cats older than four months and not de-sexed will need an annual permit obtained from www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au. This is a new requirement under the Companion Animals Act 1998.

If your pet is desexed, you'll receive a discount on your registration. Eligible Pensioners will also receive a further discount upon presentation of your Pensioner's Card.

Under the The Companion Animals Act 1998 councils have the power to impound a cat or dog that attacks a person or another animal. The act also includes very specific rules for owners of restricted breeds and dogs that are declared dangerous. Breaches of these rules can result in fines of up to $1,760.

If your animal is impounded, there will be a fee to release it upon collection by the owner.

Lost or Stray Dogs

If your microchipped pet is missing contact Council within 72 hours to report it as missing on the NSW Companion Animals Register. Phone us on 02 6740 2100. Please also notify us if your animals is found or returns home.

If your missing pet is picked up by one of our rangers, we will make every effort to reunite you with your pet. If your pet is microchipped and registered, or wearing a collar and identification tag, we will contact you promptly so you can reclaim your pet straight away.

If we can't identify the animal or contact you, we'll take your pet to the the pound.

If the animal is microchipped and registered, our ranger will continue trying to contact you.

If the animal is microchipped and registered but you can't be contacted due to your details being out-of-date or you don't respond, your pet will be made available for adoption after 14 days.

If your missing pet is not microchipped or registered it will only be held for 7 days at the pound, after which time it will be made available for adoption.

Lost or Stray Cats

As cats are allowed to roam free, it isn't possible to be sure whether they are lost or a stray. If a stray cat has been around your place for a while and you are concerned about it or you want to adopt the animal, check if the cat has a microchip by taking it to the vet or contact the Council.

The vet or ranger will advise you about the cat's ownership, and then the process outlined above for dogs will apply. If relevant, you can discuss adopting the cat with the ranger or the pound.

Vets may accept a stray animal and will then contact the Council to impound the animal. Please note that vets are not obliged to accept an animal unless it is injured.

Impounded dogs and cats are kept at the shelter for 14 days if they are microchipped and 7 days if they are not. This gives owners a chance to come forward. If the animal is not claimed within these time periods it is then made available for adoption.

E-waste (electronic waste)

Electronic waste bins are located at the Gunnedah Shire Waste Management facility, allowing residents to deposit unwanted electronic items free of charge.

E-Waste refers to any item that needs a battery, power cord or a plug that is no longer wanted or working. These items contain potentially toxic metal elements and need to be separated from general waste.

Accepted scheme items include:

• CRT Televisions, CRT Computer Monitors, Flat Screen TV’s – LED, LCD or Plasma, Flat Screen Monitors –LED, LCD or Plasma.
• Desktop Printers, Fax Machines, Multi-Function Devices, Scanners, Sound Equipment, Cameras, Networking Equipment, Routers/switches, Gaming Consoles, Computer Peripherals (keyboards, mice, joysticks, webcam), UPS Units, Landline Phones, Tablets/I-pads/I-pods.
• Computer towers, laptops, mobile phones.
• Electrical and electronic tools - sewing machines, drills, saws, welding tools, electric mowers and tools for other gardening activities. Small household appliances - kettles, toasters, irons, vacuum cleaners, carpet sweepers, irons, electric knives, electric.

E-Waste can be deposited during opening hours at the Gunnedah Waste Management Facility, located at 418 Quia Road.

Other metal kitchen & household appliances with electronic components, such as microwaves, white-goods and kettles are accepted free of charge as scrap metal at all transfer stations.

Please refer to www.recyclingnearyou.com.au for further information.

Reduce and reuse waste

According to The Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average Australian creates just over 2,000kgs of waste each year. Each household spends $1,266 on goods purchased but were never used. Around $600 worth of food is wasted by each household every year. This includes waste from our kitchens, bathrooms, laundries and our gardens. Although we've made great improvements in our waste disposal habits over recent years, there are still lots of ways we can do more.

Some Useful household tips to reduce and reuse waste:

• Reduce the amount of packaging you buy. Look for products without packaging and avoid individually wrapped portions
• Favour products with a high recycled content
• Buy in bulk, or choose concentrated products in reusable containers.
• Donate unwanted clothes and or household goods to charities or your local Transfer Station to be resold at the Buyback Shop.
• Give old magazines and books to nursing homes, charities, schools, hospitals etc.
• Compost your food waste to create a mulch. This will improve soil structure and texture and promote aeration which increases the soil's water-holding capacity.

Please remember the importance of 'give it some thought and have a sort'. It is important to ensure that garbage is disposed of correctly to aid recycling and protect our environment.

Gunnedah residential households receive a three bin service for general household waste, recyclables and greenwaste.
1 x 140L Red lidded Bin for general household waste (weekly)
1 x 240L Yellow lidded bin for recycling (fortnightly)
1 x 240L Green lidded bin for greenwaste (fortnightly)

Curlewis, Carroll and rural residential areas receive a two bin service for general household waste bin and a recyclables.
1 x 140L Red lidded Bin for general household waste (weekly)
1 x 240L Yellow lidded bin for recycling (fortnightly)

New Service

New homes within the designated waste collection area will receive kerbside waste collection service, once a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued and the property owner has completed and submit a Residential Bin Application to Council.

After you submit the form and the application is processed, Council will charge your rate account for the waste collection service.

Your bins will be delivered to the footpath, and must be moved inside the property boundary as soon as possible.

Please contact council Customer Service Team on 02 6740 2100 if you require a copy of this form.

Bin Repairs

Repairs can be made to the lids, pins and wheels on the garbage bins.

When you request repairs to your bin, you must:

• place your bin outside the property on the footpath
• leave the bin there until the bin is repaired

You can continue to use the bin while it is awaiting repair.

Please contact JR Richards on 1800 208 141 to arrange for your bin to be repaired.

Alternately, submit a Bin Repair and Replacement Form to Council.

Missing or Stolen Bins

For queries related to missing or stolen bins, contact JR Richards on 1800 208 141.

Alternately, complete and submit the Bin Repair and Replacement Form.

Commercial Bins

Council offers businesses and organisations in the waste collection zone who have waste that needs to be collected on a regular basis a kerbside collection.

The Commercial Service provides a red lidded 240L bin which will be collected weekly and a yellow lidded 240L recycling bin which is collected fortnightly.

To obtain the service the property owner needs to complete and submit a Non Residential Bin Application to Council.

After the form is submitted and the application processed, Council will charge the rate account for the waste collection service.

Please contact Council's Customer Service Team on 02 6740 2100 if you require a copy of this form.

Additional Bin Services

Only property owners can apply for an additional bin service or upgrade the size of their bins if their current service is not sufficient.

For each additional bin service requested fees and charges apply and are added to the rates of the property.

To obtain an additional service the property owner needs to complete and submit the relevant Bin Application Form to Council.

Weeds and legislation

On July 1, 2017, the Biosecurity Act 2015 came into effect, replacing the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 and nine other Acts dealing with general biosecurity in New South Wales.

It is available at: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/legislation/list/biosecurity-act-2015

The Biosecurity Act applies to all land and waters across the state. It has a tenure neutral approach, which means it applies equally to public and private land occupiers. Both private and public land occupiers have the same responsibility to manage biosecurity risks.

The Biosecurity Act in part allows for all land managers to develop weed management programs that address their individual obligations under the Act. Weed management agencies are required to negotiate reasonable weed management outcomes on behalf of their communities.

The broad objectives of the Biosecurity Act 2015 are to manage biosecurity risks from animal and plant pest diseases, weeds and contaminants by:

1. Preventing entry into New South Wales; and
2. Quickly locating, containing and eradicating any new incursions; and
3. Effectively minimising the impacts of those pests, diseases, weeds and contaminants that cannot be eradicated through robust management arrangements.

How does this affect me as a landholder?

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015 everybody who deals with biosecurity matter or a carrier in New South Wales has a general biosecurity duty. Biosecurity matter is any living thing or part of any living thing, except a human, or a disease or contaminant.

Landholders have a biosecurity duty to prevent, as much as possible, the introduction of new weeds onto their land. While you are not expected to know everything about biosecurity risks, you should know about the biosecurity risks that directly relate to your farming operation.

The Biosecurity Act 2015 does include strong enforcement tools, including significant penalty provisions for wilful or reckless acts under Section 23 of the Act:

“A person who fails to discharge the person’s general biosecurity duty is guilty of an offence.

“Should the failure to discharge a person’s biosecurity duty be proven to be intentional or reckless, that person could be fined a maximum $1,100, imprisoned for 3 years or both. In the case of a corporation, that fine increases to $2.2 million.”

How do I know what weeds pose a risk?

Unlike the old Noxious Weeds Act 1993, the Biosecurity Act 2015 does not have a specific group of weeds to which the Act applies. A general biosecurity duty exists regardless of whether a weed is listed on a regional plan.

A biosecurity risk is created by weeds if they create, or have the potential to create, an adverse effect on the economy, environment, or the community through a dealing that leads to the introduction, presence, spread or increase of a weed species in New South Wales or part of New South Wales.

Further information about weed species is available on the NSW Weedwise App at www.weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au

Who determines a weed is a biosecurity risk?

Regional Weed Advisory Committees are community and technical committees that advise each local Land Services Board. The committees identify priority weed species for each region through a risk assessment process using the NSW Weed Management System. This system provides a standard, nationally accepted process to make decisions about the introduction, prioritisation and listing of weed species.

The regional priority weeds list and the relevant legislation and strategic response can be found in the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan (RSWMP) in Appendix 1. The plan relevant to Gunnedah is available at https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/722917/North-West-Regional-Strategic-Weed-Management-Plan-2023-2027.pdf

Remember, a general biosecurity does apply to all weeds, not only the weeds included in the Regional Priority List.

How do I know my weed management measures are adequate?

Appendix 1 of the RSWMP (link listed above) includes the expected outcomes and recommended measure for controlling priority weeds. If you are achieving the outcomes to demonstrate compliance with the general biosecurity duty, your measures are adequate.

Who will make sure I am doing this?

Gunnedah Shire Council is responsible for overseeing effective management of priority weed control and carries out inspections of private and public property, provides relevant education and training for both private and public land managers, and manages biosecurity risks on Council roadsides and reserves. Local Control Authority (LCA) Weeds Officers are appointed as authorised officers under the Biosecurity Act 2015 by their LCA.

Will my property still be inspected for weeds?

Yes. LCA Authorised Weeds Officers carry out inspections of private and public property. Property inspection reports will include weed species, density and locations. Discussions relating to weed management outcomes may also be documented. In some cases, this documentation may form part of a legally binding undertaking.

Weed Biosecurity Property Inspections Fact Sheet.pdf

Will it cost me anything?

Usually, no. Property inspections, advice on best management practices and community education are considered to be an integral part of the new Biosecurity Act, and there is no cost to landholders. Where re-inspections or other follow-up actions are necessary due to non-compliance, costs may be recovered at Council’s discretion. Costs could include variations to agreement/certification. Recovery of costs may be sought under Part 20 Div. 1/Sect. 320 of the Act – Recovery of Administrative Costs and Other Amounts.

For further information

If you need further information, you can contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Weeds Officer on (02) 6740 2100 or NSW Local Land Service on www.lls.nsw.gov.au

Working together

The NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 gives all stakeholders a voice in how we protect the biosecurity of New South Wales. Biosecurity risks require vigilance at national and state borders, and it is important everyone works together to protect our primary industries, environment and community from introduced biosecurity threats.

Domestic Animals

Roaming and/or dangerous domestic animals should should be reported to Council and our Ranger will be notified to tend to the animals. Roaming and/or dangeous animals will be impounded by Council and held for a statutory period in which time they can be collected by their owners. For further details please see our Animal Pound section.

Native Animals - Snakes, Possums, Koalas, Kangaroos and other Protected Species

Contact WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue & Education Services) to report an injured animal or to report a snake that is posing a threat.
Wires: Phone: 1300 094 737.

Magpie Attacks

For most of the year magpies are not aggressive, but for four to six weeks during nesting they will often defend their territory vigorously. People walking past may be seen as 'invaders' of the territory, prompting the magpies to fly low and fast over the person.

Magpies and the Law

Magpies are protected throughout NSW, and it is against the law to kill the birds, collect their eggs, or harm their young. If you feel a magpie is a serious menace, it should be reported to the police or the nearest office of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

National Parks and Wildlife Service – Coonabarabran Office
Phone: 02 6842 0200

The NPWS can issue a Section 120 License to the owner of the property where the magpie is located. This license allows the property owner to ”harm native fauna”. However, the person given the responsibility of destroying/removing the bird, must also obtain a Section 121 License.

Say no to native animals as pets

We know we have amazing wildlife literally on our doorstep, but please don't think about keeping any as pets. The Council does not endorse keeping snakes or other native Australian wildlife as pets.
As the RSPCA states, such animals are "adapted to the wild, rarely enjoy human company or handling and are predominantly nocturnal in their habits".
Let's leave them in their own homes, not ours.

Graffiti is the act of marking or defacing property without permission. Its prevention and removal is very costly.

The best thing you can do to help reduce graffiti and vandalism in our community is report it when you see it.

It is important to report graffiti as quickly as possible, as it's easier to remove it in the first 24 hours from when it occurs. Removing graffiti in the first 24 hours also minimises the chance of it reappearing.
You can report graffiti on any property by contacting the NSW Graffiti Hotline on 1800 707 125. This is a free call, with the hotline operating from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. If you see graffiti on Council property, we encourage you to contact our Customer Service Centre on 02 6740 2100, so we can quickly remove it. Council properties include:

• Council buildings
• parks and playgrounds equipment and facilities
• sporting facilities
• Cemeteries

Please report vadalism in public places to our Customer Service Team on 02 6740 2100 and provide as much information as possible, including the nature of the vandalism and the exact location.

Dumping Unwanted Goods is Illegal

Illegal dumping is an environmental, economic and social problem because it:

• pollutes our waterways through the stormwater system
• is a waste of resources because dumped items can often be recycled or reused
• can be dangerous, for example discarded needles and syringes
• attracts vermin such as rats and cockroaches
• looks unsightly and blocks access for pedestrians, bikes and vehicles
• is a financial burden to the Town and ratepayers

Gunnedah Shire Council actively prevents illegal dumping and encourages initiatives such as Clean Up Australia Day. Council has also installed CCTV cameras in identified problem areas for illegal dumping to reduce and prevent dumping.

Please report instances of illegal dumping to our Customer Service Team on 02 6740 2100.

What can you do about neighbourhood noise?

In the first instance, approaching the person making the noise may solve the problem amicably. Often people are unaware their activities are affecting others.

Council's Planning & Environment Department addresses significant noise nuisances, taking action if the noise is considered a public nuisance.
Under the Protection Operations Act 1997, local councils can serve various notices on people occupying homes and businesses, requiring them to control offensive noise and advising them what noise levels are acceptable.

For a comprehensive list of noise sources regulated in residential areas, visit the Environmental Protections Agency's (EPA) website.
To make a complaint regarding a significant noise nuisance please contact us.

How to prevent neighbourhood noise problems:

• Let your neighbours know in advance if you are going to be doing something noisy like having a party, doing building workor using a chainsaw etc.
• Be mindful of your neighbours when playing amplified music or using power tools etc.
• Keep the noise in your backyard or on your balcony down so it won't disturb your neighbours, especially during the evening and at night.
• Avoid revving the car's engine repeatedly when you turn on your car's ignition.
• Choose quiet models when buying equipment such as air conditioners, pool pumps, and gardening equipment including leaf blowers and lawn mowers
• Think about the impact on your neighbours when installing household equipment such as air conditioners, pumps and rainwater tanks.
• Enclose pool and spa pumps to muffle the noise so it doesn not reach your neighbours and run pumps only when necessary within the permitted times.

Barking Dogs

If a dog is well looked after, it will generally not bark excessively and disturb neighbours. Dogs tend to bark for a reason – if they are chained up, hungry, thirsty, bored, sick, lonely, neglected or being provoked by a roaming dog or the cat next door.
If a neighbour’s dog is barking excessively, talk to the owner first. Your neighbour may not realise their dog is bothering you, especially if it barks when they aren’t home. In many cases, the owner will be happy to find a solution to the problem.
The council can also follow up complaints about barking dogs. You should keep a record of when the dog barks, the duration, frequency as well as the behaviour of the dog. The ranger investigates complaints and can issue a nuisance order to the dog’s owner. Heavy fines apply if the owner fails to act on the order and stop the barking.

Please note the Council would only investigate in the case of:

• The presence of animals creating nuisance
• Animals being dangerous or harming health
• Unhealthy premises and offensive odours.