Shire of Waroona to bring into effect local law to restrict gas guns

Purpose-designed legislation to regulate the use of gas guns in the Waroona Shire is now one step closer. The Shire has started the gazetting process to bring into effect a local law to restrict the use of bird-scaring devices, such as gas guns. Councillors decided to advertise the proposed Health Local Law in April and said the new law was not significantly different to the one proposed with only small changes being made. Waroona Shire president Michael Walmsley said the council was left with no choice but to introduce the restrictions. “We understand the growers need to protect their crops, but people and neighbours are entitled to amenity,” he said. “It has been through all the consultation and everyone has had input into it. We engaged with the growers as much as we could and they have had ample opportunity to have input into what we were trying to achieve.” Key differences from the draft bill include changing the time between first and last blast of a multiple blast gas gun sequence and a preference for quieter bird scaring devices. The changes were made based on five submissions made to the council, including one from the lawyer of Capogreco Farms. Three submissions came from neighbours of fruit growers and another was from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, adding to the submission from Capogreco Farms’ solicitors. The changes made included limiting the time between first and last sound of a multiple bird scaring device blast sequence from 30 to 5 seconds. Another was made to “preference” bird scaring devices “which do not detract from the amenity of the locality, particularly in relation to noise”. The Shire said the law was being gazetted by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and could still be subject to minor changes.