Following the recent major flood event, Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) has endorsed an extension of time to enable landowners to manage overgrown allotments, understanding that current soggy conditions are creating challenges and difficulties for residents to maintain properties.
The vote at the Ordinary General Meeting on Wednesday 25 May 2022 offers landowners an extended period from two to six weeks to comply with Council notices issued under Local Law No.8 (Overgrown and Unsightly Allotments), for allotments that have become overgrown or unsightly.
Council will only be issuing notices after receiving a request from adjoining neighbours and where issuing a notice is warranted. Residents who receive a notice and cannot meet the required timeframe to undertake the works are encouraged to contact Council to negotiate a revised completion date.
SDRC Mayor Vic Pennisi said that the Council vote responded to community sentiment that property maintenance was a struggle amidst wet conditions and addressed the concern regarding the ability of landowners to safely undertake the necessary works to comply with a Council notice.
“The Southern Downs has been subjected to devastating wet weather that has wreaked havoc across all corners of the region,” Mayor Pennisi said.
“Council appreciates the challenges faced by landowners to maintain properties with waterlogged grounds and understands that it will take time to dry out so that we can do the simplest things such as mowing.
“Consequently, Council has agreed to extend the response time for landowners to act upon overgrown allotment notices during these unprecedented times.
“We understand that there will possibly be situations where adjoining landowners may become disgruntled with a seeming lack of action and we will endeavour to manage the expectations of all parties.
“Recovery is a journey and will take time, so I remind our community to be patient with our neighbours and our staff, particularly as we work together to rebuild our region.”
A review of the time extension will be undertaken on an ongoing basis depending on further weather events.
To assist with the transition to recovery, Council has also established a dedicated portal on its website which will continually be updated with new and helpful resources to assist the community with the recovery process. Visit www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/floodrecovery for more information.
