In a coup for sleep-deprived residents, from January 1 changes to City of Whittlesea bylaws will prohibit the keeping of roosters on land in a residential zone unless the council consents.
For the past few months the still of the night in University Drive, Mill Park, has been pierced by crowing roosters.
Lucy and her family of five had enjoyed the serenity of University Drive for almost 15 years. But it was interrupted a few months ago when another resident purchased three roosters.
Lucy, who declined to reveal her surname, said the birds began crowing about 4am every morning and continued through the day.
“This is driving me crazy, I can’t sleep,” she said. “We’ve put up with it for months.”
Lucy called Whittlesea council to complain and have the property inspected but was later told there was little that could be done as the bylaws permitted roosters on a property greater than 0.2 hectares.
Due to protected trees in the backyard, the subject property is larger than most at 2051 square metres. According to council documents, other properties in the area are all about 600 square metres.
On the advice of Whittlesea mayor Mary Lalios, Lucy lodged a written submission to the proposed General Municipal Law 2014, which is reviewed at least every 10 years.
Cr Ricky Kirkham threw in his support and put in an amendment to the new local laws to include a provision banning roosters in built-up areas.
It was just one of the changes to local laws ratified at last week’s council meeting.
“It’s a bit of a loophole,” Cr Kirkham said. “The size of the land is irrelevant; it’s about the proximity of the pen to the fence.”
From January 1, the council will also increase the penalty for doing repair work on a car or trailer on a public road, pathway or on council land.
The penalty will rise from the current $200 to $500 for a first offence and to $800 for a second and subsequent offences.
