Central Coast Council has adopted a policy that sets minimum standards for keeping animals in residential areas.
Administrator, Dick Persson, said the policy allowed people in residential areas to keep certain animals while ensuring that public health and safety requirements were met.
“This policy strikes a balance for residents wanting to keep chickens, birds or bees with the requirements for public health and safety, particularly for their neighbours,” he said.
“The policy also ensures that the keeping of animals does not impact on native wildlife.”
It does not apply to dogs and cats, as they are covered in the Companion Animals Act.
When it went on public exhibition late 2020, there were 21 submissions, and from those, two minor changes were made to the policy to address small farm animals and beekeeping concerns.
The revision for keeping of bees is consistent with Department of Primary Industries’ requirements.
Public concerns were raised about the number of animals allowed to be kept, with some people concerned about animal welfare, while breeders said permissible numbers were restrictive.
The previous Keeping of Animals Policy was from Wyong Council days, dating back to 2015, and Gosford Council did not have a policy.
Sue Murray