Almost a year ago, Warrumbungle Shire Council publicly urged stock owners to stay alert and ensure their livestock was securely contained. This was due to an increase in road incidents involving wandering livestock.

A year later and new rules, clarifying wandering animals as "abandoned property," along with vehicles and shopping trolleys come into force from May 1, providing greater power to councils.

"For the safety of everyone using roads, Council is warning all community members and road users to keep an eye out and slow down if there is stock on or near the road, while stock owners are encouraged to check and fix boundary fences,” Warrumbungle Shire Council Mayor, Ambrose Doolan said.

“For stock owners, it is important to consider not only the value of the stock that may be destroyed due to an incident but also the impact on road users,” said Mr Doolan. "Wandering stock is a concern and the consequences for stock owners could be significant, if owners are found to be negligent. A big risk of straying stock can also be the biosecurity risk and owners could potentially be liable for any damage caused."

On a broader scale, unattended property can create not only an eyesore but also more substantial hazards for community members, Mayor Doolan said.

“Dealing with the problem is an issue for all councils as it takes a lot of time and money, so it is welcomed news that the changes to the law strengthen how Council can respond to abandoned property.”

“Importantly in our area, the new law includes special powers for councils to deal with stock animals wandering on public roads and causing a risk to safety. Owners of stock should be vigilant and check that fencing is in good order to prevent stock wandering,”

The Public Spaces Act 2021 has replaced the outdated Impounding Act 1993 and creates stronger incentives

for people to take responsibility for their property in public. This law has been introduced by the NSW Government.

“The new law makes it easier for councils to store and dispose of unattended or abandoned items and animals, significantly reducing red tape and the cost to local communities,” said Cr Doolan.

“There is a grace period until 1 May 2023 where warnings will be issued for unattended property in most cases, rather than fines. This is in place to give the community and retail sector time to adjust to the new rules,” explained Cr Doolan.

Further information about the new laws and what they mean for you can be found at dpie.nsw.gov.au/unattendedproperty.