Proposed Bylaws Likely to Affect You

Franklin District Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee on Thursday resolved to consult on a range of proposed bylaws over the next month. The bylaws are diverse, and it is likely that at least one of them will have an impact on you, so Council is encouraging everyone to have their say. The bylaws are: Proposed Fires in the Open Air Bylaw, Proposed Liquor Control Bylaw and the Proposed Water Supply Bylaw.

“This month we are asking for your feedback on a range of proposed bylaws of interest to most of the District. If you care about outside fires in our towns and villages, drinking in our town centres, parks and beaches, or protecting our water supply then you should take a look at what is proposed in these bylaws. Take this time to access the bylaw information and have your say,” says Franklin District Council Group Manager Strategic, Cathy Kenkel.

The proposed bylaws are:

Proposed Fires in the Open Air Bylaw

This Bylaw would allow Council to exercise control over the lighting of fires in the open air in Franklin. Council wishes to prevent smoke from such fires causing a nuisance or hazard, and prevent the spread of fires involving vegetation and stored combustible materials. It specifically bans open air fires (except barbeques and ethnic cooking fires) in the urban areas of Pukekohe, Tuakau and Waiuku, and requires the use of incinerators in all other urban areas in the District, as well as other more general provisions to prevent fires causing nuisance and hazards.

Proposed Liquor Control Bylaw

This Bylaw would allow Council to enhance safety and enjoyment of public places by banning the consumption of liquor in specified public places at specified times. While Council’s current bylaw bans liquor in the specified public places from 10pm – 7am daily, the proposed Bylaw extends these bans to between 7pm and 7am daily in most places and 24/7 at Karioitahi Beach and Sunset Beach.

Specified public places (as shown on maps attached to the proposed Bylaw) are: Alexandra Redoubt Reserve; Centennial Park; The Elbow; Hamilton Estate; Heights Park Cemetery; Hoods Landing; Karioitahi Beach; Les Batkin Reserve; Maraetai Bay; Massey Park; Pukekohe CBD; Pukekohe Hill Reserve; Rosa Birch Park; Sandspit Reserve; Sunset Beach; Te Toro Reserve; Tuakau CBD; Tuakau Domain Recreation Reserve; Waitangi Falls; and Waiuku CBD.

Proposed Water Supply Bylaw

This Bylaw would assist Council to protect the water supply system and source water, and also sets out the terms and conditions for the supply of water. It proposes doing this in a variety of ways including restricting access to the water supply system without permission and proposing that all new connections to the water supply system be assessed for cross connections and contamination hazards. If there is a risk, an appropriate backflow prevention device may be required to be installed at the customer’s expense as detailed in Council’s Backflow Prevention Policy. Existing customers considered to pose a risk to the water supply system may also be assessed and required to install an appropriate backflow prevention device.

A Statement of Proposal for each bylaw that includes the proposed Bylaw, a Summary of Information and a Submission Form can be obtained from public libraries and Council service centres, by phoning Sally McComb on (09) 237-1300 or at Council’s website www.franklin.govt.nz

The submission period starts on Tuesday 19 August 2008 and closes at 5.00pm on Friday 19 September 2008.