Georgia McAleer and her beloved guinea pig.
By Emma Sun
MORE than half of the regulations proposed under new Yarra Ranges bylaws will be scrapped, according to Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan.
The bylaws, which require residents to have a permit to hold a public gathering, sell raffle tickets or collect money, busk, keep a cockatoo or galah in an urban area, may be among those that are set to be axed.
“More than 50 per cent of the laws will be nuked,” Mr Heenan said.
“We wanted to put everything in there so people would have a chance to look through it and make submissions, but in hindsight, we probably should’ve looked at it a bit closer and taken some things off.”
The draft caught statewide media attention when 10-year-old Mount Evelyn resident Georgia McAleer wrote to the council fearing she would have to lose one of her three guinea pigs.
Georgia’s dad, Anthony McAleer, said he found it ridiculous that such a rule was written in the first place but was pleased Georgia will get to keep her furry friends.
“Some of these rules are so petty that they should’ve been culled before they were put out for everybody to look at,” he said.
“There are many kids with guinea pigs so it wasn’t just upsetting to Georgia, it was upsetting to a lot of kids in the area, too.
“Georgia is over the moon because, for her, the best part about it is that she feels they’ll be protected and she’s done that also for her friends that have guinea pigs.”
Cr Heenan said the council received both positive and negative feedback and emphasised that the bylaws were never made with the intent to hurt anyone.
“The views of people are so diverse and the community can be forgiven for thinking that’s where they’re going with it – what we achieve by limiting guinea pigs I don’t know.”
A spokesperson for the council said Georgia was a great example of how locals should utilise the community consultation process.
“We needed a document for people to give feedback – we can’t get feedback on something that doesn’t exist,” she said.
“We want to hear people’s feedback and it’s fantastic that a little girl has put her time to show us.
“Those submissions will shape a final draft that will go for a final consultation.”
