Update

July 2024 - Special Meeting of Council

At the Special Meeting of Council held on Tuesday 30 July 2024 Council considered next steps in relation to cat management in the City of Tea Tree Gully and decided to proceed with community consultation on draft Cat By-Law No 7.

Council decisions/outcomes


Read the community engagement outcomes report

Some key findings from the survey result indicated that:

  • 80% were supportive of having rules or legislation to address cat management and control in our Council area
  • 94% of respondents supported that all cats must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age
  • 85% of respondents supported compulsory desexing of cats younger than six months
  • 85% of respondents supported a possible provision of cats being contained at home at night.

At its meeting on Tuesday 22 August 2023, Council considered the feedback received from the community and decided to write to the Minister for Climate, Environment & Water stating Council:

  • remain supportive of statewide cat management legislation
  • will await the state government’s draft legislation as part of plans to amend the Dog and Cat Management Act
  • that 80% of survey respondents are supportive of having rules or legislation to address cat management and control within the City of Tea Tree Gully
  • will provide a copy of the community engagement outcomes report regarding cat management (inclusive of verbatim comments)
  • will use data from the community engagement process on cat management to inform Council’s response to the draft legislation when received
  • will await making any further decisions about cat management in the City of Tea Tree Gully until the proposed legislation is passed through both houses of the South Australia Parliament to avoid duplicating or contradicting any incoming laws or regulations

While Council voted in favour of awaiting possible state government cat control measures, Council also resolved that if state government legislation is not progressed by 30 June 2024, the matter will return to Council for further consideration, including draft by-laws and a community engagement strategy.

Read the Council reports and minutes for the 22 August 2023 Council meeting

Read the latest news article on our website

Background

We are inviting our community to let us know their views on the management and control of cats in the City of Tea Tree Gully.

The South Australia government intends to change (amend) the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995. Part of these changes will be provisions for state-wide cat management and enhanced breeder registration requirements.

Council's current position is that cat management should be managed similarly to dog management on a statewide basis through legislation.

The State government is working on a draft Bill for public consultation to amend the Act.

In the meantime, Council would like to understand the community's views on the management and control of cats in our City.

It is important to know that Council has not made any decisions about cat management. Council does not currently have a by-law in relation to cat management in our City.

Council will consider the survey results and all feedback received at a future meeting of Council. This feedback will help inform Council's next steps in relation to cat management in our City.

Links to the relevant Council reports and Council meeting minutes are available on the right hand side of this page.

To get involved and have your say:

  • Provide your feedback by completing the survey
    Hard copies are available on request and at Council's Civic Centre reception, 571 Montague Road, Modbury
  • Have a question? Ask us below.

If you need assistance to participate in this consultation, please call us on 8397 7444 or send us a message

Survey

Community views on cat management & control survey

Let us know your views on the management and control of cats in the City of Tea Tree Gully by completing our survey.

The questions asked about cat management in this survey are as per the Council decision from the 9 May 2023 Council meeting.

These are largely in line with potential provisions for cat management on a state-wide basis, as outlined in the 2022 Review of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995

Council will consider all feedback at a future meeting of Council. This feedback will help inform Council’s next steps in relation to cat management.

This consultation is now closed.

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