Proposed Changes to Domestic Animal Management Plan and Local Laws

Introduction

Hindmarsh Shire Council has an obligation to make “good” local law(s) that are contextually accurate and help Council to perform their legislative functions primarily in relation to community safety, the protection of community health, the environment and to support the amenity of the municipality.

Hindmarsh Shire Council would like to make changes to its Hindmarsh Municipal Local Law (the Law); this includes editorial improvements to ensure that the Law meets current guidelines and statutory obligations.

In addition to the editorial changes, Council would like to ensure Local Law(s) are contextually accurate and will allow Council to better serve the community with services in areas that are most important to the community.

Some of the changes to the Local Law will also be reflected in the new Domestic Animal Management Plan (the Plan) which will be proposed for adoption later in the year. The new plan will cover the next four years and will outline Councils objectives in relation to the management of domestic animals over the period.

It is proposed that the Plan will be designed to primarily promote responsible keeping of pets(s), in particular cats, and will propose to offer subsidised cat desexing through the Vet Project. The intention of the program is to engage council in investing their animal management budget into providing subsidised desexing to the local community and encouraging the community members to take ownership of local stray cats that they are feeding. The veterinary surgery is 100% mobile, which allows them to move to where the services are needed most. They will provide only basic veterinary health care to keep service costs low.

To support Council in making changes to the Hindmarsh Municipal Local Law, and in the drafting of initiatives for the Domestic Animal Management Plan, please provide your feedback through the community response form linked below.

Submissions close 11:59pm on Wednesday 25 June 2025.

What happens next?

After this consultation period has ended, Council will prepare a Draft Hindmarsh Municipal Local Law and Draft Domestic Animal Management Plan incorporating the feedback received. This will be presented to a future Council meeting, and from here, will go out for anther around of community consultation before final adoption.