15-42 – New powers to help councils and others manage boat trailers in local streets
What’s new or changing
- The Government intends that the Impounding Act 1993 be amended by the Impounding Amendment (Unattended Boat Trailers) Act 2015 from 1 October 2016.
- This will enable councils and other impounding authorities that ‘opt in’ to take impounding action against boat trailers parked for more than 28 days.
What this will mean for your council
- Once the Act comes into effect, councils and other impounding authorities can apply the new measures to all or part of their operational area. This provides flexibility to meet the specific needs of different communities.
- Areas where the measures apply will be published in the NSW Government Gazette. Councils are asked to put forward areas to be declared by 31 March 2016. This will facilitate a coordinated approach to implementation.
Key points
- This change is to enable councils to improve the management of boat trailer parking on residential streets and encourage the use of off-street storage.
- Councils that wish to opt in to the provision should consult neighbouring councils and other adjacent authorities as well as their local communities.
- In any area where the provisions are applied, boat trailers must move at least every 28 days at least as far as a different block section of the same street. Council must provide notice of at least 15 days before impounding a trailer.
- The new measure will not apply to boat trailers where a residential parking permit has been issued by council and is displayed on the boat trailer.
- This complements recent changes to give councils discretion to issue resident parking permits for boat trailers under Roads and Maritime Services Guidelines, and the power to issue penalty notices for unregistered vehicles.
- Grants of up to $5 million are available for new off-street boat trailer storage options through Transport for NSW.
- Councils are encouraged to clearly communicate to residents, businesses and visitors any areas where the restriction applies.
Where to go for further information
For further information about the Bill or to opt in to the new measures Councils should contact the Legal Team, Office of Local Government on 02 4428 4100.
Tim Hurst
Acting Chief Executive