By JESSE GRAHAM
OCTOBER will mark the beginning of the controversial cat curfew in the Yarra Ranges, which will see cats confined to their owner’s property at all hours.
A Yarra Ranges Council spokesperson confirmed to the Mail that 1 October would be the beginning of the cat curfew for the entire municipality.
The curfew will mean that cat owners must ensure their animal stays within the confines of their property at day and night, with penalties for owners of cats caught by neighbours.
However, Yarra Ranges Council’s planning, building and health director Andrew Paxton said that residents would experience “very little” change under the new curfew.
“It (the curfew) will be used to respond to customer complaints about nuisance cats, which is the current practice,” he said.
“It is often difficult for council officers to know what time of day or night a wandering cat was trapped – the 24-hour curfew will provide more clarity around this process.”
Mr Paxton said the curfew would not result in council officers patrolling for cats, and will only restrict the animals to the property owner’s fence-line and not confine them indoors.
The cat curfew was endorsed by the council at its 11 March meeting, and there has been a groundswell of opposition to the curfew, with numerous letters and online comments written and over 2000 people signing an online petition.
Mr Paxton said the council had received letters both for and against the curfew.
For the full story, see tomorrow’s Mail.
