Council wishes to advise Leeton Shire residents of the new Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021 which comes into full effect from 1 May 2023. The aim of the act is to keep public places safe and accessible for all members of the community.
The new laws create stronger incentives for owners and others to be responsible for their property left in public – such as stock animals, vehicles, shopping trolleys, bikes and kayaks. The new laws also give councils and other authorities stronger powers to make people pick up their belongings from public spaces within a reasonable timeframe, or potentially be fined and have to collect their property from a place of temporary storage or care.
Until 30 April 2023, a grace period applies for certain offences relating to classes of property left unattended to allow the public to become familiar with the new laws and make appropriate arrangements for the ongoing storage of their property. This includes:
- Animals (typically stock animals)
- Shopping trolleys
- Personal recreational devices such as kayaks
Note however there is no grace period for any offences relating to abandoned motor vehicles.
To aid in comprehending the implications of this act, the NSW Government has prepared the below infographics.
