Livestock and other animals
Local Land Services
Local Land Services is a regional-focused NSW Government agency working with landholders and farmers.
Their staff can answer questions on:
- agricultural production
- biosecurity
- natural resource management
- help during emergencies
Local Land Services work with producers to ensure correct livestock identification and stock movement. They also assist with drought and natural disaster relief and can provide information and resources to:
- improve your agricultural productivity
- control declared pests and meet your legal obligations
- manage and improve our natural resources
Visit their website at North Coast Local Land Services.
Contact Local Land Services
Lismore office:
North Coast offices
Livestock
Livestock (including animals) on private land
Section 12 of the Impounding Act 1993 allows the occupier of private land to impound any animal that is trespassing on their land. There are a number of important steps that must be taken in the event an animal is impounded on private land.
Action to be taken when the identity of the animal is known
The occupier of land that has impounded an animal must make all reasonable attempts to contact the owner of the animal within 24 hours of impounding and must then either:
- have the animal conveyed to the nearest pound by contacting Council on 02 6670 2400, or
- keep the animal on the land in which it was impounded for a period no longer than 4 days (unless claimed by its owner) and then have the animal conveyed to the nearest pound by contacting Council on 02 6670 2400.
Any person that impounds an animal on their land has a number of statutory obligations under the Impounding Act 1993 including:
- provide the animal with adequate food, water and veterinary care
- ensure the animal is kept in a place that is well drained and maintained in a clean condition
- ensure the animal is provided with adequate shade for the climatic conditions
- ensure the animal is kept secure
- ensure the animal is separated from other animals that are diseased or, if the animal is or appears to be diseased, is kept separate from other animals.
Action to be taken when the identity of the animal is not known
The occupier of land that has impounded an animal must have the animal conveyed to the nearest pound within 48 hours of impounding by contacting Council on 02 6670 2400.
Livestock (including animals) on public land
An impounding officer (Council Ranger) may impound an animal that is in a public place within the Tweed if the officer believes on reasonable grounds that the animal is unattended.
An animal is not to be regarded as being unattended for the purposes of this section in the following circumstances:
- while the animal is in a public place in response to an invitation contained in a notice published by the relevant public authority and in accordance with any conditions specified in that notice
- while the animal is in a public place with the consent of the relevant public authority
- while the animal is in a public place and its presence there is authorised by or under an Act
- in the case of an animal that is stock (as defined in Part 10 of the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 (previously Rural Lands Protection Act) that is unattended on a road or travelling stock reserve, in any circumstances prescribed by section 138 of that Act.
Impounded livestock
Livestock taken possession of by Council
Council will make all reasonable efforts to locate the owner of livestock including, but not limited to, any tag/microchip/brand on animal, any registers, a notice on website, and contacting surrounding neighbours. Owner will have 7 days to claim animal, before animal will be rehomed by way of sale, given away or in limited circumstances destroyed.
There are costs associated with the taking possession of, and the release of any livestock. Fines may also apply. Call Council on 02 6670 2400 for any further information.
No livestock are currently impounded.
Moving and selling livestock
See Local Land Services and NSW Department of Primary Industry
Cattle tick spray yards
Miles Street, Kirra QLD 4225
PO Box 6545, Tweed Heads South NSW 2486
Call: 07 5536 4714
Cattle saleyards
Contact:
Mr Darren Perkins
George and Furmann
Call : 02 6662 2500
Email: darrenp@gnfrealestate.com.au
Animal keeping guidelines
Council's guidelines aim to ensure the well being of animals kept in urban areas. They are also in place to make sure animals do not create a noise, odour or health nuisance.
Background
Certain rules under Schedule 2 Part 5 - Standards for keeping birds or animals under the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 are related to these guidelines. Sometimes our guidelines suggest more onerous requirements than those specified in Schedule 2.
These more onerous requirements have been developed over many years in the Tweed. They are offered to residents as the minimum animal keeping practices which are likely to be suitable. They are intended to ensure the well being and safety of the animal and avoid disturbance of adjoining properties.
This guideline is not intended to be taken as an approval to keep animals. Officers may assess each individual case of animal keeping on its merits and variations to this guideline may be permissible on this basis. More stringent requirements than are provided in this guideline may be deemed applicable under certain circumstances, and may be enforced by way of Orders.
If you keep animals you should also be mindful of your obligations under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 and the Companion Animals Act 1998.
Dogs in towns, urban areas and villages
All dogs and cats kept within the Tweed Shire Council area must be microchipped and registered.
The number of dogs kept on premises situated in towns, urban areas and villages, other than residential units, is recommended by Tweed Shire Council as no more than two.
Kennels should be kept in a clean and healthy condition at all times.
Owners should at all times take necessary measures to prevent dogs from barking or howling. Council may offer advice or assistance in this regard.
Dog owners are further advised that 88B restrictions may apply to the keeping of dogs at certain premises.
Horses and cattle in towns, urban areas and villages
Standards stipulated under the provisions of the Local Government Act that may be enforceable by orders because that are being kept inappropriately or of an appropriate number are as below:
- Horses and cattle not to be kept near certain premises
- Horses and cattle must not be kept within 9 metres (or such greater distance as the council may determine in a particular case) of a dwelling, school, shop, office, factory, workshop, church or other place of public worship, public hall or premises used for the manufacture, preparation or storage of food.
- The floors of stables must be paved with concrete or mineral asphalt or other equally impervious material, and must be properly graded to drain.
- Horse yards and cattle yards must be so enclosed as to prevent the escape of horses and cattle.
- The standards in this clause apply to a person only if the council has served an order under section 124 of the Act to that effect on the person.
Note: The above standards are generally applied in a residential situation and not where the keeping of animals is of such numbers/nature that would constitute an animal establishment.
Poultry in towns, urban areas and villages
Poultry should only be kept under the following conditions:
- Fowls should not be kept nearer than a distance of 4.5 metres from any dwelling, public hall, school or any premises used for the manufacture, preparation, sale or storage of food and other varieties of poultry shall not be kept nearer than 30 metres from any dwelling, public hall or school or any premises used as aforesaid.
- Poultry houses should not be kept nearer than a distance of 3 metres from any lot boundary and the floors of all poultry houses should be paved with concrete or mineral asphalt underneath the roosts or perches.
- The poultry yard space should be so enclosed so as to prevent the escape of poultry.
- No more than 10 adult fowls should be kept at any one time.
- Council discourages the keeping of roosters in towns and urban areas.
- The poultry house and yard space is to be kept in a condition so as not to create odours or encourage the breeding of flies.
Roosters in towns, urban areas and villages
Can roosters be kept in a residential area?
It is not illegal to keep rooster(s) in a residential area. However if there are concerns pertaining to noise and/or conditions of the rooster(s) then this will be determined based on the circumstances of each case. Please contact the Council on 02 6670 2400 including after hours.
Swines in towns, urban areas and villages
Swine not to pollute
1. Swine must not be kept in such a place or manner as to pollute any water supplied for use (or used, or likely to be used):
- by a person for drinking or domestic purposes, or
- in a dairy.
2. Swine’s dung must not be deposited in such a place or manner as to pollute any water referred to in subclause (1).
Swine not to be kept near certain premises
1. Without limiting clause 1, swine must not be kept (and swine’s dung must not be deposited) within 60 metres (or such greater distance as the council may determine in a particular case) of a dwelling, shop, office, factory, church or other place of public worship, workshop, school or public place in a city, town, village or other urban part of an area.
2. A greater distance determined under this clause applies to a person only if the council has served an order under section 124 of the Act to that effect on the person.
Snakes in residential area
If a snake enters your yard, leave it alone and generally it will move on. The general rule of thumb is to be aware when it is snake season and to take the necessary precautions associated with the season.
Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers - 24 hour phone - 02 6672 4789 (Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers ask for a donation for snake relocations) or check the Yellow Pages for professional snake relocators.
Council does not remove snakes from private property.
Who do I report Dingo sightings to?
Please report dingo sightings in National Parks to National Parks and Wildlife Service on 02 6670 8600. Dingo sightings on any other land should be reported to North Coast Local Land Services on 1300 795 299 or 02 6621 2317
Animal owners must comply with development consents or order issued by Council that require more stringent keeping practices than those above.
For more information contact our Environment and Health Services Unit on 02 6670 2400.