Community Consultation Proposed New Local Law 8 (Unsightly Buildings)

PROJECT UPDATE

Townsville City Council has resolved to create a new local law targeting unsightly buildings throughout the city.

Local Law No. 8 (Unsightly Buildings) 2020 gives Council powers to force building owners to clean up their properties that negatively impact surrounding businesses and the enjoyment of the area. The creation of this local law would improve the amenity of the city and save ratepayer money on the costs associated with the buildings in question.

This law gives Council the ability to force the owners of these buildings to clean them up, remove graffiti and to keep the buildings in a presentable condition, or face penalties for not doing so. Council will also have the power to recover the cost of any work where the building owner has not complied with the local law and Council has incurred any loss or expense as a result.

 *Please refer to Council's Media Release for more information about the adopted Local Law 8 (Unsightly Buildings) 2020.* 

Proposed new Local Law 8 (Unsightly Buildings) 2020 and Subordinate Local Law 8 (Unsightly Buildings) 2020

The Townsville City Council has proposed to make the new local law and subordinate local law:

• Local Law 8 (Unsightly Buildings) 2020
• Subordinate Local Law 8 (Unsightly Buildings) 2020

The purpose and general effect of Local Law 8 (Unsightly Buildings) 2020 and Subordinate Local Law 8 (Unsightly Buildings) 2020 is to protect and enhance local amenity by:

• requiring owners of buildings in designated areas to maintain the presentation of those buildings; and
• requiring owners and occupiers of buildings that have been marked with graffiti to remove the graffiti.

That is proposed to be achieved by:

1. empowering Council to designate areas of Townsville to which the local law will apply;
2. imposing a duty upon building owners to maintain the appearance of buildings;
3. empowering Council to call upon a building owner to show cause as to why the Council should not issue a compliance notice to the owner;
4. establishing review mechanisms in respect of show cause notices and compliance notices;
5. empowering Council to give owners and occupiers of property that has been marked with graffiti a graffiti removal notice that require the person to remove the graffiti; and
6. creating offences of failing to comply with a compliance notice or a graffiti removal notice issued under the local law.

Council invites public comment about any aspect of the proposed new law and subordinate law. You have until 5pm on 3 July 2020 to lodge your submission.

Written submissions by any person in support of, or objecting to, any aspect of the proposed local law and subordinate local law are invited for the period commencing on the publication of this notice and ending at 5pm on 3 July 2020.

During the period for receipt of submissions, copies of the local law and subordinate local law are open for inspection at Council’s Customer Service Centres located at 103 Walker Street, Townsville and 86 Thuringowa Drive, Thuringowa.

Bookings are essential when visiting the Thuringowa Customer Service Centre, you can book on Council’s website or phone 13 48 10.

Online submissions and copies of the local law and subordinate local law may also be accessed in the document library on this page.

Submissions must be received on or before 5pm on 3 July 2020 stating:

• the grounds of the submission; and
• the facts and circumstances relied upon in support of the grounds.

Public comments will be considered and, where appropriate, changes made to the proposed new law prior to the law being presented to the Council for adoption.