health and amenity plan · understand what our city’s key priorities will be over the coming...
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HEALTH AND AMENITY PLANManaging compliance to achieve positive outcomes for the Ipswich Community
1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017
Ipswich.qld.gov.au
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mayor and Chairperson’s Message ................................................................................ 5
What is a City Health and Amenity Plan? .................................................................. 7
Why does Council do compliance work?.................................................................. 7
What if Council did nothing? .......................................................................................... 8
What is Council’s compliance approach? .................................................................. 8
What is the community telling Council is a priority? .......................................... 8
2016/2017 Priorities ............................................................................................................... 9
Key elements involved in implementing the plan ................................................. 11
Monitoring and Reporting Progress.............................................................................. 11
Comments Welcome .......................................................................................................... 11
P1: CUSTOMER CENTRIC .................................................................................................... 12
P2: PET MANAGEMENT...................................................................................................... 14
P3: PARKING ............................................................................................................................. 18
P4: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND AMENITY MATTERS ................... 20
P5: PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT ................................................................................ 24
P6: PEST MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................... 26
4
MAYOR AND CHAIR MESSAGE
5
Welcome to Ipswich City Council’s first Health and Amenity Plan. Our Council is the first local government to develop a compliance plan that is available for the community to review, read and understand what our City’s key priorities will be over the coming financial year.
The Plan has been developed based on feedback from the community on what should be our priorities and where we need to focus our efforts and resources. Council has an obligation to enforce certain laws, but we also want to help ensure people are and feel safe, our environment is protected, businesses are supported to encourage growth and our residents have the latest information and tools available to help them as responsible pet owners.
Council wants to help educate people to understand the laws and importantly why they exist first and foremost. There will be circumstances and situations where enforcement action is instigated but Council will be proactive and raise awareness on how compliance can be achieved in the future. This plan showcases that Council is committed to improving its processes to reduce red tape and provide exceptional customer service at every possible juncture.
We will also be providing a six-monthly and end-of-year report card on how the actions in the plan have been carried out and the end results. This will enable Council to monitor its performance and continuously improve along the way.
The Health and Amenity Plan will be an annual document which will enable the community to provide direct feedback so Council can continue to inform, educate and enforce to protect the health and amenity of this great City.
Mayor Paul Pisasale Councillor Sheila IrelandCity of Ipswich Chairperson – Health & Community Safety
6
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS THE CITY HEALTH AND AMENITY PLAN?The City Health and Amenity Plan (The Plan) is designed to provide everyone living and working in Ipswich with an understanding of Council’s approach to compliance activities under its control.
These activities have been identified by the Ipswich community as compliance matters that require a stronger focus and higher priority to Council.
The community is providing this information through requests for services and feedback to their local Councillor. The plan will operate over the 2016–2017 financial year.
The Health, Security and Regulatory Services Department (HSRS) within Council is responsible for compliance activities. The plan will be actioned and managed by HSRS through detailed project plans and funded activities to assist in achieving the key outcomes. The plan will also help achieve the goals and strategies of Council’s Advance Ipswich Plan.
WHY DOES COUNCIL DO COMPLIANCE WORK?Councils in Australia deliver a wider range of services more than ever before. Delivering these services requires a highly planned approach to ensure that compliance management is effective, lawful, timely and consistent with community expectations and risk management principles. Council has an obligation under State legislation to enforce particular pieces of State legislation, as well as Council’s own local laws. There are other factors that add to Ipswich City Council’s responsibilities:
• devolution – where the Federal or State Government gives local government responsibility for new functions
• cost shifting – where local government assumes increased responsibility or has to provide financial support for a service previously provided or funded by the Federal or State Government
• policy choice – where Council deliberately chooses to expand or improve services or expand its range of operations
While Ipswich City Council has an obligation to enforce laws, there is an enormous positive benefit to the community through what Council does everyday – protecting the health and safety of the community and providing a pleasant amenity in all areas of the city.
7
8
WHAT IF COUNCIL DID NOTHING?If Council didn’t undertake its role as educator and regulator for compliance issues Ipswich residents would experience:
• higher levels of poor amenity in neighbourhoods and suburbs (overgrown yards, abandoned vehicles, hoarding, illegal dumping, and illegal signage)
• reduced access to parking in high traffic areas across the City
• an increase in noise nuisances affecting residential areas (eg. barking dogs, noise from commercial and industrial operations)
• an increase in sediment washing down stormwater drains leading to poorer water quality in Ipswich’s rivers and waterways
• a decrease in responsible animal management (eg. roaming dogs and cats, and dog attacks)
• an increase in signage that may be dangerous to traffic safety and pedestrians
• an increase in unhygienic food practices at food premises
WHAT IS COUNCIL’S COMPLIANCE APPROACH?Council’s compliance aim is to protect the community’s health and safety, improve amenity, reduce nuisances, and produce positive outcomes for the community. Our approach to compliance and the various tools we will use depend on the attitude to compliance of the person or entity with whom we are dealing. Where the person or entity are engaged and seeking to comply, we will focus on working with them to achieve compliance. However, where they are unengaged and demonstrate a lack of willingness to comply, we will rely on the more formal enforcement approaches including mediation, compliance notes, penalty infringement notices and prosecution.
WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY TELLING COUNCIL IS A PRIORITY?Identifying the most important compliance issues allows Council to decide what compliance priorities it will focus on and where best to allocate resources and effort. Knowledge about these problems and their associated risks is established by collecting and analysing data from a range of information sources including:
• direct feedback from the community
• complaints received by Council
• results from compliance monitoring
• trends in non-compliance areas
Six priority areas have been identified for 2016-2017.
9
2016-2017 PRIORITIES
1 CUSTOMER CENTRICImproved information & processes
2
3
4
5
6
PARKINGSafer School Parking ProgramParking on footpaths
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION & AMENITY MATTERSSediment & erosion controlsIllegal dumpingOvergrown yardsHoarding & squalor issues
PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENTUse of public land (parks, Conservation estates, and malls)
PEST MANAGEMENTNoxious weedsRabbits and wild dogs
For each priority area we have identified how we will manage each issue over the 2016 -2017 period.
NOWFUTUREVISION
ISSUEWhy are we treating this as a priority?
The current situation
COMPLIANCE STRATEGYWhat will we do?
TARGET LEVEL (OUTPUTS)The things we will deliver that we can measure.
OUTCOMEThe changes we will see in the community.
ANIMAL MANAGEMENTBarking dogsRoaming dogsRoaming catsDog control in public and on private property
10
IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN
11
KEY ELEMENTS INVOLVED IN IMPLEMENTING THE PLANFor the priorities identified, Council will action the compliance strategies utilising the key elements described below. Many strategies will encompass one, more or all of the elements listed.
MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRESS HSRS are responsible for implementing the various strategies in the plan and will do so through detailed project plans. HSRS will monitor, provide advice and report to Council and the community on the progress at 6 months and provide an end of year report. Based on the outcomes of this plan, continued analysis, and community feedback, the 2017-2018 plan will be created and implemented. The City Health and Amenity Plan will be an annual plan that operates for each financial year period.
COMMUNITY COMMENTS WELCOME Comments and feedback on the plan are welcome and should be directed to Council’s Strategic Policy and Systems Manager (HSRS). These can be emailed to [email protected] or posted to PO Box 191, Ipswich 4305.
LEGISLATION
BUSINESS PROCESSES AND COMPLIANCE ACTIVITIES
EDUCATION AND PROMOTION
• Review, amendments, advocacy, evaluation relating to local laws and State Government legislation.
• Changes to information provided over the phone at Council’s contact centre.
• Changes to how complaints are lodged and are investigated.
• Changes or implementation of proactive patrols and programs.
• Training of staff and authorised persons.
• Changes to information available online and in printed format.
• Changes and implementation of new formats to engage with the community, such as one off and regular/annual events, seminars, pop up kiosks, webinars and smart phone apps.
Customer centric means looking at all information Council (HSRS) provides, whether online or in hard copy, from the point of view of the customer. We will focus on ensuring the customer can perform the most important task easily. Council provides an extremely wide and diverse range of services to communities every day.
There is a need for simplified, de-cluttered council websites that make it easy for customers to complete their journey quickly and easily. The community are accessing government services online more and more - not only because they are on the move, but also because it is more accessible to people with limited access to the internet. The customer centric approach will support the achievement of the outputs and outcomes listed in the plan.
PRIORITY 1:
CUSTOMER CENTRIC
ACTI
ON
: Im
prov
ed in
form
atio
n an
d en
gage
men
t w
ith
the
com
mun
ity
Issu
eCo
mpl
ianc
e St
rate
gyTa
rget
Lev
elO
utco
me
Key
Elem
ents
Com
mun
ity
feed
back
is th
at
info
rmat
ion
onlin
e is
too
hard
to fi
nd o
r in
com
plet
e.
Lack
of
unde
rsta
ndin
g of
wha
t Cou
ncil
is re
spon
sible
fo
r.
Ensu
re w
e ha
ve a
resp
onsiv
e w
ebsit
e th
at p
rovi
des
good
use
r ex
perie
nces
acr
oss
all d
evic
es (s
mar
tpho
ne, t
able
ts, d
eskt
op) f
or
com
plia
nce
mat
ters
.
Regu
lar u
se o
f ana
lytic
s to
ols
to a
sses
s on
line
effo
rts
to d
eliv
er
bett
er c
omm
unity
serv
ices
.
Revi
ewin
g Co
unci
l pub
licat
ions
in
orde
r to
enha
nce
acce
ss to
Co
unci
l inf
orm
atio
n an
d se
rvic
es.
Cond
uct m
ore
com
mun
ity e
duca
tion
activ
ities
to im
prov
e aw
aren
ess
abou
t Cou
ncil’s
role
, res
pons
ibili
ties,
polic
ies
and
serv
ices
.
Off
erin
g ex
tra
and
diff
eren
t opp
ortu
nitie
s fo
r com
mun
ity
enga
gem
ent s
o th
at o
ur d
ecisi
ons
and
othe
r out
com
es b
ette
r m
eet c
omm
unity
and
cus
tom
er n
eeds
.
Prov
idin
g qu
ality
cus
tom
er se
rvic
e tr
aini
ng fo
r all
staf
f and
an
ongo
ing
prog
ram
of c
ontin
uing
ski
ll de
velo
pmen
t and
edu
catio
n ab
out C
ounc
il pr
oduc
ts a
nd se
rvic
es
Focu
sing
staf
f rew
ard
and
reco
gniti
on p
rogr
ams
on c
omm
unity
an
d cu
stom
er s
atisf
actio
n m
easu
res.
Redu
ctio
n in
the
need
to p
rodu
ce
pape
r lea
flets
or
new
slett
ers.
Incr
ease
in th
e ef
ficie
nt u
se o
f of
ficer
s tim
e.
Incr
ease
d un
ders
tand
ing
of h
ow th
e co
mm
unity
acc
ess
our i
nfor
mat
ion
and
wha
t are
the
topi
cs th
at g
et th
e m
ost ‘
hits
’ to
assis
t w
ith id
entif
ying
fu
ture
prio
ritie
s.
Redu
ctio
n in
cal
ls th
at a
re d
irect
ed
to a
noth
er a
genc
y as
it is
n’t a
Cou
ncil
man
aged
issu
e.
Incr
ease
in
enga
gem
ent
oppo
rtun
ities
for
Coun
cil.
Any
one
visit
ing
Coun
cil’s
w
ebsit
e ca
n fin
d in
form
atio
n ea
sily
on
any
devi
ce.
Any
one
visit
ing
Coun
cil’s
w
ebsit
e ca
n lo
dge
com
plai
nts
easil
y an
d ac
cura
tely
.
Any
one
visit
ing
Coun
cil’s
w
ebsit
e ca
n lo
dge
thei
r ap
plic
atio
n on
line.
Coun
cil u
nder
stan
d th
e to
pics
of m
ost i
nter
est
to it
s w
ebsit
e vi
sitor
s an
d th
e co
mm
unity
.
The
com
mun
ity
unde
rsta
nds
and
is aw
are
of th
e co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es th
at C
ounc
il is
resp
onsib
le fo
r.
Busin
ess
proc
esse
s an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion
13
Pet nuisances rank highly in terms of the number of complaints that Council receives annually from the community, with the majority focused on dogs. Considering the population growth that the Ipswich City Council region will experience in the years ahead, the cat and dog population is expected to grow alongside of it. The combined cat and dog population is approximately one third of what the human population of Ipswich is.
Excessive barking, roaming cats and dogs, and how dogs are controlled in public are all high volume complaint areas for Council to investigate and manage. Having effective control of a dog in public, including off leash dog areas, can mean less dog attacks on people and other animals.
PRIORITY 2:
PET MANAGEMENT
ACTI
ON
: Bar
king
Dog
s
Issu
eCo
mpl
ianc
e St
rate
gyTa
rget
Lev
elO
utco
me
Key
Elem
ents
Hig
h nu
mbe
rs
of c
ompl
aint
s.
Resid
ents
ca
n fin
d in
vest
igat
ion
proc
ess
com
plex
and
le
ngth
y.
Revi
ew th
e ba
rkin
g do
g co
mpl
aint
pro
cess
in
clud
ing
loca
l law
and
pol
icy
requ
irem
ents
, in
form
atio
n on
line,
pat
hway
s fo
r cus
tom
ers
to
prov
ide
info
rmat
ion
and
exam
ples
of n
uisa
nce
beha
viou
r, an
d cu
stom
er se
rvic
e sc
riptin
g.
Benc
hmar
king
bes
t pra
ctic
e w
ith o
ther
lo
cal g
over
nmen
ts to
iden
tify
impr
ovem
ent
oppo
rtun
ities
for t
he c
omm
unity
and
Cou
ncil.
Cle
ar c
onci
se la
ws,
proc
edur
es,
and
cust
omer
info
rmat
ion
on
how
bar
king
dog
com
plai
nts
are
man
aged
.
Redu
ctio
n in
leng
th o
f tim
e ba
rkin
g do
g co
mpl
aint
s ta
ke to
re
solv
e.
Resid
ents
und
erst
and
the
bark
ing
dog
inve
stig
atio
n pr
oces
s.
Resid
ents
und
erst
and
wha
t may
trig
ger
exce
ssiv
e ba
rkin
g in
do
gs a
nd e
nabl
e th
em
to im
plem
ent p
ossib
le
solu
tions
to re
med
y an
y iss
ues
raise
d di
rect
ly b
y th
eir n
eigh
bour
with
nil
to li
mite
d in
volv
emen
t fr
om C
ounc
il.
Legi
slatio
n re
view
.
Busin
ess
proc
esse
s an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es.
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion.
ACTI
ON
: Roa
min
g D
ogs
Issu
eCo
mpl
ianc
e St
rate
gyTa
rget
Lev
elO
utco
me
Key
Elem
ents
Hig
h nu
mbe
rs
of c
ompl
aint
s.
Lost
and
foun
d pr
oces
s ne
eds
to b
e im
prov
ed
to c
reat
e re
al
time
repo
rtin
g.
Revi
ew th
e ro
amin
g do
g pr
oces
s in
clud
ing
info
rmat
ion
onlin
e, c
usto
mer
serv
ice
scrip
ting,
se
rvic
e pr
ovisi
on, a
nd te
chno
logy
.
Benc
hmar
king
bes
t pra
ctic
e w
ith o
ther
loca
l go
vern
men
ts to
iden
tify
any
effic
ienc
y fo
r the
co
mm
unity
and
Cou
ncil.
Redu
ctio
n in
num
ber o
f roa
min
g co
mpl
aint
s re
ceiv
ed b
y Co
unci
l.
Redu
ctio
n in
fenc
ing
com
plai
nts.
Incr
ease
d ac
cess
to re
al ti
me
info
rmat
ion
on lo
st a
nd fo
und
dogs
(and
oth
er p
ets)
in th
e Ip
swic
h ar
ea.
Incr
ease
in n
umbe
r of
mic
roch
ippe
d do
gs.
Resid
ents
und
erst
and
the
law
s on
roam
ing
dogs
and
pr
ovid
e th
eir p
et w
ith
a se
cure
enc
losu
re to
ke
ep it
con
fined
to th
e pr
oper
ty.
Resid
ents
can
eas
ily
docu
men
t, re
port
, and
lo
cate
lost
and
foun
d do
gs (p
ets).
Lost
and
impo
unde
d do
gs a
re re
unite
d qu
ickl
y w
ith th
eir o
wne
rs.
Busin
ess
proc
esse
s an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es.
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion.
15
ACTI
ON
: Roa
min
g Ca
ts
Issu
eCo
mpl
ianc
e St
rate
gyTa
rget
Lev
elO
utco
me
Key
Elem
ents
Hig
h nu
mbe
rs
of c
ompl
aint
s.
Anec
dota
l fe
edba
ck is
th
at so
me
resid
ents
don
’t re
alise
law
s ex
ist re
quiri
ng
cats
to b
e co
ntai
ned
to
thei
r yar
d.
Uno
wne
d (fe
ral)
cats
are
an
issue
in a
reas
re
quiri
ng c
at
trap
s to
be
set.
Rese
arch
and
inve
stig
ate
cont
ainm
ent o
ptio
ns
to s
how
case
pos
sible
solu
tions
to c
at o
wne
rs.
Rese
arch
, inv
estig
ate,
and
impl
emen
t des
exin
g ca
mpa
igns
and
com
plia
nce
prog
ram
s fo
r ow
ned
and
unow
ned
cats
.
Rese
arch
and
inve
stig
ate
man
dato
ry d
esex
ing
law
s fo
r cat
s.
Redu
ctio
n in
num
ber o
f co
mpl
aint
s re
ceiv
ed b
y Co
unci
l.
Incr
ease
of d
esex
ed a
nd
mic
roch
ippe
d ca
ts in
the
com
mun
ity.
Incr
ease
in p
rom
otio
n of
de
sexi
ng b
enef
its.
Incr
ease
in p
rom
otio
n of
co
ntai
nmen
t sol
utio
ns.
Resid
ents
und
erst
and
the
law
s on
roam
ing
cats
and
pr
ovid
e th
eir p
et w
ith
a se
cure
enc
losu
re so
it
cann
ot e
scap
e.
Resid
ents
und
erst
and
wha
t opt
ions
are
ava
ilabl
e to
them
sho
uld
they
en
coun
ter u
now
ned
cats
.
Resid
ents
und
erst
and
the
bene
fits
of d
esex
ing
cats
bo
th fo
r the
beh
avio
ural
an
d m
edic
al re
ason
s fo
r th
e ca
t, an
d al
so fo
r the
w
ider
com
mun
ity (l
ess
unw
ante
d lit
ters
).
Legi
slatio
n re
view
.
Busin
ess
proc
esse
s an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es.
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion.
16
ACTI
ON
: Dog
Con
trol
in P
ublic
and
on
Priv
ate
Prop
erty
Issu
eCo
mpl
ianc
e St
rate
gyTa
rget
Lev
elO
utco
me
Key
Elem
ents
Hig
h nu
mbe
rs
of c
ompl
aint
s m
ade
abou
t ag
gres
sive
dog
beha
viou
r in
clud
ing
situa
tions
w
here
a d
og
has
atta
cked
an
othe
r per
son
or a
nim
al. T
his
can
occu
r in
off-
leas
h pa
rks,
publ
ic a
reas
an
d on
priv
ate
prop
erty
.
Dev
elop
a C
ode
of C
ondu
ct fo
r off
-leas
h pa
rks.
Expl
ore
way
s to
add
ress
the
hara
ssm
ent i
ssue
s of
dog
s fr
ight
enin
g pe
ople
from
insid
e th
eir
prop
ertie
s, pa
rtic
ular
ly in
circ
umst
ance
s w
here
a
dog
may
be
able
to a
cces
s th
e pu
blic
thro
ugh
the
fenc
e or
whe
re th
e fe
nce
is no
t sec
ure
or
effe
ctiv
e.
Redu
ce th
e nu
mbe
r of d
og a
ttac
ks a
nd
hara
ssm
ents
thro
ugh
bite
avo
idan
ce e
duca
tion
and
enco
urag
e m
ore
accu
rate
repo
rtin
g of
all
dog
atta
cks.
A C
ode
of C
ondu
ct is
im
plem
ente
d in
all
off-
leas
h do
g pa
rks
and
prom
oted
wid
ely
by
Coun
cil a
nd o
ther
sta
keho
lder
s.
Redu
ctio
n in
num
ber o
f co
mpl
aint
s m
ade
abou
t ha
rass
ing
dogs
/fen
cing
co
mpl
aint
s.
Redu
ctio
n in
maj
or d
og a
ttac
ks.
Resid
ents
und
erst
and
they
mus
t hav
e th
eir
dogs
und
er e
ffec
tive
and
cons
tant
sup
ervi
sion
in
an o
ff le
ash
area
and
how
to
min
imise
agg
ress
ive
beha
viou
r.
Resid
ents
und
erst
and
how
to re
port
a d
og
atta
ck m
ore
accu
rate
ly to
Co
unci
l.
Resid
ents
hav
e an
in
crea
sed
unde
rsta
ndin
g of
dog
beh
avio
ur to
av
oid
bein
g ha
rass
ed o
r bi
tten
.
Busin
ess
proc
esse
s an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es.
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion.
17
Resident feedback and the volume of complaints indicate that parking around schools and parking on footpaths are a concern to the general community.
Due to the ever changing populations at schools, there is a need to ensure Council regularly reminds parents and motorists who travel to schools in private vehicles about the need to do so safely. The approach by Council is to first engage with the school community (generally by way of the school newsletter), educate the community about the issues associated with parking illegally and then take enforcement action if required. Council will continue to implement proactive compliance programs at school drop off and pick up times.
Council understands that people sometimes use the nature strip because they feel it is safer than parking on the road, especially in streets that are narrow. However, the reality is that parking fully or partially on nature strips and footpaths, regardless of the intention, can be dangerous and illegal. Council have a safety and legal obligation to enforce the parking laws. Council will aim to increase people’s awareness of laws and why they exist.
PRIORITY 3:
PARKING
19
ACTI
ON
: Saf
er S
choo
l Par
king
Issu
eCo
mpl
ianc
e St
rate
gyTa
rget
Lev
elO
utco
me
Key
Elem
ents
Hig
h vo
lum
e co
mpl
aint
s of
un
safe
par
king
at
Sch
ools
incl
udin
g ne
ar
miss
inci
dent
s an
d in
jurie
s/
acci
dent
s.
Cont
inua
tion
of S
afe
Scho
ol P
arki
ng P
rogr
am in
volv
ing
scho
ols
that
ha
ve h
igh
volu
me
com
plai
nts
and
park
ing
safe
ty is
sues
.Th
e Sa
fe S
choo
l Pa
rkin
g Pr
ogra
m
is de
liver
ed a
nd
eval
uate
d ea
ch
scho
ol te
rm.
Redu
ctio
n in
co
mpl
aint
s m
ade
abou
t par
king
at
scho
ols.
Peop
le p
icki
ng u
p ch
ildre
n fr
om sc
hool
s do
so
safe
ly w
ith n
o in
cide
nts
or in
jurie
s oc
curr
ing
as a
re
sult
of p
arki
ng is
sues
, an
d un
ders
tand
why
Co
unci
l mon
itors
par
king
at
scho
ols.
Busin
ess
proc
esse
s an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es.
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion.
ACTI
ON
: Par
king
on
Foot
path
s
Issu
eCo
mpl
ianc
e St
rate
gyTa
rget
Lev
elO
utco
me
Key
Elem
ents
Hig
h vo
lum
e co
mpl
aint
s of
un
safe
par
king
on
foot
path
s in
clud
ing
bloc
ked
acce
ss to
priv
ate
prop
ertie
s an
d da
mag
e to
ut
ilitie
s.
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion
of th
e law
s tha
t exi
st a
nd p
oten
tial s
olut
ions
. In
clud
e ke
y m
essa
ging
, for
exa
mpl
e ve
hicl
es p
arke
d on
the
natu
re st
rip o
r fo
otpa
th:
• ca
use
maj
or d
amag
e to
pub
lic in
frast
ruct
ure,
bot
h ab
ove
and
belo
w th
e gr
ound
• m
ay p
reve
nt e
mer
genc
y pe
rson
nel f
rom
acc
essin
g ke
y in
frast
ruct
ure
such
as w
ater
, sew
age,
gas
, tel
ecom
mun
icat
ions
, and
dra
inag
e pi
pes
• ca
n po
se in
crea
sed
safe
ty ri
sks f
or p
edes
tria
ns a
s the
y ar
e le
ss v
isibl
e to
on
com
ing
cars
• re
stric
t acc
ess f
or w
heel
chai
r and
pra
m u
sers
Redu
ctio
n in
co
mpl
aint
s fo
r pa
rkin
g on
a
foot
path
.
Incr
ease
d pr
omot
ion
of w
hat d
amag
e,
inco
nven
ienc
es, a
nd
safe
ty is
sues
par
king
on
a fo
otpa
th m
ay
caus
e.
Resid
ents
und
erst
and
wha
t is
acce
ptab
le a
nd
unac
cept
able
whe
n it
com
es to
foot
path
par
king
iss
ues
and
com
plia
nce.
Busin
ess
proc
esse
s an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es.
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion.
Land development and building sites have been identified as a potential major contributor of sediment to Ipswich’s waterways and this is a significant concern given the current amount of construction activity due to the City’s growth. If it enters our waterways, sediment (such as soil, sand, silt, mud) and litter washed from urban areas can cause both short and long term environmental problems. The Environmental Protection Act 1994 places a legal responsibility upon all persons who cause land disturbance to minimize or prevent environmental harm. Council has a legal obligation to administer these laws and, ultimately, improve the quality of our waterways and natural environment.
Queensland’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 provides everyone with the ability to report littering and illegal dumping associated with a motor vehicle, trailer or vessel. Every year, ratepayers’ money is spent on cleaning up illegally dumped waste. Even more money is spent on fixing infrastructure and natural areas impacted by dumping. Dump sites can lower property values and also attract other illegal activities. Overgrown yards and junk/accumulation issues on private property need more socialisation for the community to understand what triggers action by Council in terms of public health, amenity and overall compliance management.
PRIORITY 4:
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND AMENITY MATTERS
ACTI
ON
: Ero
sion
and
Sed
imen
t Co
ntro
ls
Issu
eCo
mpl
ianc
e St
rate
gyTa
rget
Lev
elO
utco
me
Key
Elem
ents
Hig
h vo
lum
e co
mpl
aint
s (se
ason
al) o
n se
dim
ent/
po
lluta
nts.
Impl
emen
t and
mon
itor a
n Er
osio
n an
d Se
dim
ent C
ontr
ol C
ompl
ianc
e Pr
ogra
m (E
SCC
P) ta
rget
ing
proj
ects
in th
e co
nstr
uctio
n ph
ase
of
deve
lopm
ent,
incl
udin
g bo
th la
rge
lot d
evel
opm
ents
and
resid
entia
l ho
me
cons
truc
tion
sites
.
Incr
ease
d co
mpl
ianc
e w
ith S
tate
legi
slatio
n.
Trai
ning
, wor
ksho
ps
and
onsit
e vi
sits
unde
rtak
en
and
deliv
ered
to
dev
elop
ers,
cont
ract
ors
and
build
ers
on b
est
prac
tice
solu
tions
fo
r ero
sion
and
sedi
men
t con
trol
.
Incr
ease
in
info
rmat
ion
and
educ
atio
n m
ade
avai
labl
e on
line
to
stak
ehol
ders
.
Hea
lthy
Wat
erw
ays
scor
ecar
d ra
ting
is im
prov
ed (l
onge
r te
rm).
Ipsw
ich’
s w
ater
way
s ar
e he
alth
ier.
Dev
elop
ers,
cont
acto
rs,
and
build
ers
unde
rsta
nd
wha
t the
ir ob
ligat
ions
are
un
der p
lann
ing
cond
ition
s, le
gisla
tion
and
law
s, an
d ex
hibi
t bes
t pra
ctic
e er
osio
n an
d se
dim
ent
cont
rol p
ract
ices
.
Busin
ess
proc
esse
s an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es.
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion.
21
ACTI
ON
: Ille
gal d
umpi
ng
Issu
eCo
mpl
ianc
e St
rate
gyTa
rget
Lev
elO
utco
me
Key
Elem
ents
Hig
h nu
mbe
r of
com
plai
nts
of
illeg
al d
umpi
ng
acro
ss th
e C
ity.
Rese
arch
and
impl
emen
t new
tech
nolo
gies
for m
onito
ring
hot s
pots
w
here
ille
gal d
umpi
ng o
ccur
s.
Enco
urag
e re
siden
ts to
repo
rt si
ghtin
gs o
f ille
gal d
umpi
ng a
ctiv
ities
and
pr
ovid
e ea
sy p
athw
ays f
or lo
dgin
g re
port
s.
Enco
urag
e re
siden
ts n
ot to
leav
e ite
ms o
ut th
e fro
nt o
f pro
pert
ies u
nles
s a
kerb
side
clea
n up
by
Coun
cil i
s in
oper
atio
n.
Earli
er d
etec
tion
of
hot z
ones
whe
re
dum
ping
is o
ccur
ring,
du
e to
resid
ents
be
ing
vigi
lant
ab
out r
epor
ting
of
sight
ings
.
Redu
ctio
n in
dam
age
to in
fras
truc
ture
an
d na
tura
l are
as
as a
resu
lt of
ille
gal
dum
ping
.
Less
item
s ar
e ill
egal
ly le
ft o
n fo
otpa
ths.
Mor
e pr
omot
ion
of
alte
rnat
ive
path
way
s fo
r leg
al d
ispos
al a
nd
recy
clin
g, d
onat
ing,
an
d se
lling
of i
tem
s.
Resid
ents
and
bus
ines
ses
unde
rsta
nd h
ow a
nd
whe
re th
ey c
an d
ispos
e of
rubb
ish a
nd it
ems
lega
lly, a
nd w
here
they
can
re
cycl
e or
sell
item
s.
Busin
ess
proc
esse
s an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es.
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion.
22
23
ACTI
ON
: Ove
rgro
wn
yard
s
Issu
eCo
mpl
ianc
e St
rate
gyTa
rget
Lev
elO
utco
me
Key
Elem
ents
Hig
h nu
mbe
r of
com
plai
nts
(seas
onal
).
Som
e re
siden
ts
aren
’t su
re w
hat
cons
titut
es a
n ov
ergr
own
yard
(h
ow lo
ng is
too
long
), w
hich
m
ay re
sult
in
inac
cura
te
repo
rtin
g.
Prov
ide
mor
e in
form
atio
n on
wha
t con
stitu
tes a
n ov
ergr
own
yard
dur
ing
the
lodg
emen
t of c
ompl
aint
s onl
ine.
Prov
ide
mor
e pr
oact
ive
info
rmat
ion
and
advi
ce o
n ho
w C
ounc
il m
anag
es
and
inve
stig
ates
com
plai
nts o
f thi
s nat
ure.
Incr
ease
in
com
plai
nts
of
over
grow
n ya
rds.
Incr
ease
in
info
rmat
ion
avai
labl
e on
line
on h
ow
Coun
cil m
anag
es
over
grow
n ya
rds.
Resid
ents
and
bus
ines
ses
unde
rsta
nd w
hat a
n ov
ergr
own
yard
look
s lik
e an
d ho
w to
repo
rt s
uch
inci
dent
s.
Busin
ess
proc
esse
s an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es.
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion.
ACTI
ON
: Hoa
rdin
g an
d sq
ualo
r iss
ues
on p
riva
te p
rope
rty
Issu
eCo
mpl
ianc
e St
rate
gyTa
rget
Lev
elO
utco
me
Key
Elem
ents
Com
plai
nts
of h
oard
ing
and
squa
lor
ofte
n ta
ke a
lo
ng ti
me
to
reso
lve,
alth
ough
su
rrou
ndin
g re
siden
ts o
ften
w
ant a
qui
cker
re
solu
tion
of
thei
r com
plai
nts.
Revi
ew th
e pr
oces
s of h
ow C
ounc
il m
anag
es is
sues
invo
lvin
g ho
ardi
ng
and
squa
lor i
nclu
ding
info
rmat
ion
onlin
e, re
ferra
l pat
hway
s to
com
mun
ity
serv
ices
, cus
tom
er se
rvic
e sc
riptin
g, se
rvic
e pr
ovisi
on, a
nd tr
aini
ng.
Benc
hmar
king
bes
t pra
ctic
e w
ith o
ther
loca
l gov
ernm
ents
and
age
ncie
s to
iden
tify
any
effic
ienc
y fo
r the
com
mun
ity, in
divi
dual
s inv
olve
d an
d Co
unci
l.
Incr
ease
info
rmat
ion
prov
ided
to th
e co
mm
unity
on
hoar
ding
and
squa
lor
issue
s.
Incr
ease
inte
r-ag
ency
co
mm
unic
atio
n to
as
sist w
hen
case
s ar
e id
entif
ied
by C
ounc
il of
ficer
s.
Incr
ease
long
term
re
solu
tion
of m
atte
rs
invo
lvin
g ho
ardi
ng
and
squa
lor.
The
com
mun
ity
unde
rsta
nds
that
so
met
imes
men
tal h
ealth
iss
ues
can
man
ifest
in
sym
ptom
s su
ch a
s ho
ardi
ng a
nd sq
ualo
r. Re
solu
tion
of s
uch
sym
ptom
s m
ay re
quire
m
ediu
m to
long
term
th
erap
y.
Coun
cil c
olla
bora
tes
with
re
leva
nt a
genc
ies
to a
ssist
pe
ople
who
hav
e ho
ardi
ng
and
squa
lor i
ssue
s.
Busin
ess
proc
esse
s an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es.
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion.
The diversity of Ipswich’s parks has been strengthened in recent years with the development of new areas such as Riverheart Parklands, Robelle Domain Parkland, and Orion Lagoon. Community feedback ensures enhancements are continually being made to local parks and larger district parks such as Queens Park and conservation areas.
The Health, Security and Regulatory Services Department has a role to play in the use of these spaces to ensure fair play is observed and no damage is done to these public spaces. For example, trail bikes and four wheel drives in our conservation areas such as White Rock can create devastating environmental damage through erosion, transporting seeds from one area to another, injuries and fatalities for our wildlife, and destruction of native plants. Commercial activities in our parks need to be monitored through minimum standards and approvals to ensure there is no anti-competiveness to surrounding businesses, damage to public spaces through the placement of temporary infrastructure or create noise, parking nuisances, or safety issues to nearby residents.
PRIORITY 5:
PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT
ACTI
ON
: Fai
r pla
y on
pub
lic la
nd –
par
ks; c
onse
rvat
ion
esta
tes
and
mal
ls
Issu
eCo
mpl
ianc
e St
rate
gyTa
rget
Lev
elO
utco
me
Key
Elem
ents
Com
plai
nts
rega
rdin
g th
e ill
egal
use
of
cons
erva
tion
area
s ca
usin
g da
mag
e or
no
ise n
uisa
nces
et
c.
Conf
usio
n ov
er
wha
t app
rova
ls an
d lic
ence
s ar
e re
quire
d fo
r so
me
activ
ities
in
Cou
ncil’s
pu
blic
pla
ces,
and
who
is
resp
onsib
le
for d
iffer
ent
nuisa
nces
in
diff
eren
t sit
uatio
ns.
Cont
inue
pat
rols
of c
onse
rvat
ion
park
s to
mon
itor i
llega
l use
of
trai
l bik
es a
nd 4
wd’
s.
Ass
ist o
ther
are
as o
f Cou
ncil
to p
rom
ote
the
inte
nded
use
of
cons
erva
tion
park
s an
d th
e da
mag
e ill
egal
use
can
do.
Revi
ew C
ounc
il’s lo
cal l
aws
to e
nsur
e th
ere
are
clea
r min
imum
st
anda
rds
and
appr
oval
s in
pla
ce fo
r act
iviti
es o
n Co
unci
l lan
d.
Prov
ide
clea
rer i
nfor
mat
ion
and
path
way
s fo
r peo
ple
to a
pply
to
unde
rtak
e ac
tiviti
es in
Cou
ncil’s
par
ks.
Incr
ease
in p
ositi
ve
feed
back
from
ev
ent o
rgan
isers
on
Cou
ncil’s
ap
plic
atio
n an
d ap
prov
al p
roce
ss.
Dec
reas
e in
ille
gal
use
of C
ounc
il la
nd
iden
tifie
d.
Incr
ease
in
info
rmat
ion
avai
labl
e on
line
incl
udin
g ho
w
to a
pply
, how
to
com
ply,
and
whe
re
to g
et fu
rthe
r in
form
atio
n on
us
ing
Coun
cil l
and.
The
com
mun
ity is
aw
are
of w
hat i
s a
law
ful a
ctiv
ity, h
ow to
ap
ply
for a
ppro
val o
f an
act
ivity
and
wha
t co
nditi
ons
need
to
be c
ompl
ied
with
. Co
mm
unity
und
erst
ands
w
hat i
s a
resp
onsib
ility
of
Cou
ncil
vers
us th
e Q
ueen
sland
Pol
ice
Serv
ice
in te
rms
of n
oise
nu
isanc
e an
d ill
egal
ac
tiviti
es.
Busin
ess
proc
esse
s an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es.
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion.
25
Pest plants and animals affect the lives of all Queenslanders. They degrade our natural resources, damage precious remnant vegetation, compromise biodiversity, and interfere with human health and recreation. They cause financial losses to eco-tourism and cost Queenslanders over $600M annually in lost production and in control costs. Of particular concern to rural residents is the management of rabbits and wild dogs.
Council works with other agencies and stakeholders to assist with pest management, including the Darling Downs Moreton Rabbit Board (DDMRB), whose role it is to maintain the rabbit fence in rabbit-proof condition and to monitor compliance with State Government legislation. Ipswich City Council pays a precept payment to the DDMRB which is prescribed by legislation to manage rabbit issues in the Ipswich area. The board provides technical and other advice to landholders in the board operational area to assist with rabbit eradication. The board area is made up of eight local authorities, and covers approximately 28,000 square kilometres (7 million acres).
Another area under pest management that requires a collective approach includes ‘wild dog’ management. This term refers collectively to purebred dingoes, dingo hybrids, and domestic dogs that have escaped or been deliberately released. In Queensland, wild dogs create a number of economic, environmental and social problems - particularly for agricultural businesses. Effective wild dog control requires a cooperative ‘nil tenure’ approach. This involves landholders, local government officers and other stakeholders working together to apply a range of control methods at a ‘landscape’ (rather than an individual property) level. Control methods include baiting, trapping, shooting, fencing, and the use of livestock guardian animals.
PRIORITY 6:
PEST MANAGEMENT
Lantana Camara
ACTI
ON
: Nox
ious
wee
ds, r
abbi
ts a
nd w
ild d
ogs
Issu
eCo
mpl
ianc
e St
rate
gyTa
rget
Lev
elO
utco
me
Key
Elem
ents
Land
hold
er
pest
com
plai
nts
are
high
in
vario
us re
gion
s of
the
City
Revi
ew th
e pr
oces
s of
how
Cou
ncil
man
ages
pes
t com
plia
nce
incl
udin
g in
form
atio
n on
line,
refe
rral p
athw
ays
to o
ther
age
ncie
s in
clud
ing
the
DD
MRB
, cus
tom
er se
rvic
e sc
riptin
g, se
rvic
e pr
ovisi
on, a
nd tr
aini
ng.
Benc
hmar
king
bes
t pra
ctic
e w
ith o
ther
loca
l gov
ernm
ents
and
ag
enci
es to
iden
tify
any
effic
ienc
y fo
r the
com
mun
ity, i
ndiv
idua
ls in
volv
ed a
nd C
ounc
il.
Redu
ctio
n in
co
mpl
aint
s ab
out
pest
ani
mal
s an
d w
eeds
Land
hold
ers
unde
rsta
nd
thei
r obl
igat
ions
and
w
here
to g
et a
ssist
ance
an
d fu
rthe
r edu
catio
n on
man
agin
g pe
st
anim
als
and
wee
ds o
n th
eir p
rope
rtie
s.
Busin
ess
proc
esse
s an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es.
Educ
atio
n an
d pr
omot
ion.
27
